The bedroom is, for many people, one of the most important parts of the room. Whether you live alone or with others, host parties or not, the bedroom is the one area you yourself, make the most of. So, if you want to live a greener live and do your part, where else to start but the bedroom? Here are 10 easy hacks to get you going and green up your bedroom!
The Right Mattress
The bed really is the focal point of any bedroom, so it helps to make this as green as possible. Take for instance, the materials used in your bed. Are you using natural materials where possible, or relying on plastic-based materials? Similarly, is your bed made from sustainable timberand how easy are your bedsheets to clean? If you're using something that needs a lot of washing and work, you're likely to waste more water and electricity. Add Plants
There truly is no room where plants aren't a benefit. In the bedroom, their ability to oxygenate the room helps you feel refreshed. Furthermore, this helps reduce the need for air conditioning, such as filters, or opening a window and having to re-heat the room with gas or electricity. There are many non-flowing plants, such as spider plants, which are suitable and fit easily into any space.
Increased Insulation
On a similar note, the bedroom is full of many weak points, such as doors and windows that let heat out. Since you�re sleeping at night, why not pad the room? Drape a towel over the doors, use thicker curtains, or even add additional screens or drapes to add extra layers of heat. This will cut down on the need for a radiator.
Green Cleaning
Sometimes it's not what you have but how you take care of it. Any bedroom can be green if you treat it in an eco-friendly fashion. Throw away the industrial cleaners and start using friendly methods. When it comes to green cleaning, your holy trinity of go-to cleaners is a combination of lemons, baking soda and vinegar. Mixed with water, all make great sprays and wipes. Control Your Lighting
There are many ways to make your lighting more environmentally friendly, all of which involve cutting down on usage. Overhead lights aren't always needed when a simple table lamp on a dimmer bulb will suffice. Similarly, timers and other control devices can be used to ensure you don't risk leaving a light on by accident before you go to sleep � this also applies to the TV!
Eco-Friendly Paint
Unless you know your walls were painted with toxin-free paints, it's time for a change. Not only are these alternatives better for the environment (as the toxins are often quite damaging to produce) they are also better for your health. If any paint chips off, you're not releasing harmful chemicals into the air.
Sustainable and Reused Furniture
Everyone gets the itch to upgrade their bedroom from time to time, but sometimes you don't need to buy entirely new furniture. Sometimes a new lick of paint (eco-friendly of course) can bring new life to a room, without having to invest in new furniture. Another alternative might be getting some storageboxes in place of the furniture you really need to get rid of. If you must have new furniture though, consider reusing items from the neighbourhood (or a second hand shop) and consider sustainable materials. Sustainable wood is a big advantage but leather and suede are not. Cut down on accessories
How many accessories do you need in the bedroom? Most bedrooms often have additional chairs, throw pillows and lamps that aren't used. All these add up to a significant carbon footprint and, if you're not using them anyway, they can be put to better use elsewhere.
As you can see, there is no shortage of options when it comes to the bedroom. From adding plants to increasing insulation, there are plenty of ways to live greener. As an added bonus, many of these either improve your health or help reduce your bills, so there's really no excuse not to!
About the Author
Jessi Lampard of London Carpet Cleaner has been an active advocate of green cleaning and sustainability in the cleaning industry for several years. She also has a passion for writing and her primary goal is to promote the healthier environment through her contributions on various platforms.