Tag: ecohome

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Eco Tips Featured Furnishings

How to Create a Meditation Spot at Home

Life can become stressful, whether you’re raising a family, getting through school, working full time or running a business. Meditation is a wonderful way to wind down and relax, especially after a long day. The goal is to find your own unique space and method for meditation. Here are a few simple ideas for you to create a meditation space at home:

  • Find a quiet spot inside your home, outside in the garden or in a screened patio.
  • Make your space comfortable and suited to your personality. For example, decorate your meditation space so that it becomes a sweet escape from your busy world. Use your favorite colors in soft tones for a relaxing effect.
  • Avoid bringing in too many objects into your meditation spot. You don’t want a cluttered space when the goal is to feel relaxed and at ease.
  • Use a mat or throw rug to sit with some comfortable pillows for support. A side table would be beneficial so that you can place candles, books or plants.
  • Add peaceful aroma to your space by lighting some soy candles that have a nice, fresh scent. Candles that smell like fresh linen, cotton, or lavender will have the most relaxing effect. Another option is to use incense. Fragrance helps to create a pleasant atmosphere and will help bring focus to your meditation practice while relaxing and soothing the body and senses.
  • Bring something from nature into your space. For example, put some of your favorite flowers in a vase, a water feature that creates a soothing sound of water falling, or herbs hanging on your wall.
  • Music is another great element to bring into your meditation spot. You can use nature sounds or soft music for added tranquility.
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Eco Tips Featured Home Design Uncategorized

4 Quick Eco-Friendly Interior Fixes and Facelifts

Vintage Charm. Switch old pressed fiberwood cabinet or closet doors with antique swirled or crackled glass. The textured or crackled glass will still keep your kitchen looking open and airy while hiding the interior cabinet contents on occasions when things aren’t completely orderly.

Easy Update. Give your cabinets and kitchen drawers an updated look with a fresh coat of no or low VOC paint and new drawer pulls. Use one style on drawers and a contrasting style on doors.

Hide Floor Flaws. No need to entirely refinish a scratched, scuffed wooden floor. You can creatively cover scratches and scuffs with a coat of ECOS VOC-free Floor Paint. Find a variety of colors and finishes at Ecospaints.net.

Beadboard Display. Camouflage that unattractive stove hood by covering it with repurposed beadboard and adding some molding or finials to display china or heirloom kitchen collectibles.

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Eco Tips Featured

5 Natural Alternatives to at Home Air Fresheners

According to recent studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), most store-bought air fresheners contain formaldehyde, petrochemicals, p-dichlorobenzene and aerosol pollutants (these chemicals can cause asthma, watery eyes, respiratory problems and more)! Store-bought air fresheners release pollutants more or less continuously. Upon reading about all those harmful chemicals in air fresheners I immediately started researching natural and eco-friendly ways to freshen my home without risk of potentially putting myself at risk. Here are three ways to leave your home smelling fresh without using harsh chemicals and most of the ingredients can be found in your pantry!

Simmer Spices. You can simmer spices such as whole cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg on the stovetop or place them in a crockpot for all day smell.

Use Essential Oils. Dab a little on a light bulb or a warmer to gently scent a room. You can also combine then with other scents and make one uniquely your own!

Cooking Odors. Eliminate cooking odors by placing a shallow bowl of vinegar nearest the scent. It will help “capture” the scent and rid it of your house!

Create Your Own Potpourri. Create your own potpourri from bulk herbs, flowers, and spices and leave a little in a bowl or place them in sachets. You can use your left over herbs from your herb garden and flowers from your flower garden as well!

Odor Absorbers. Use a neutral odor absorbent such as a box of baking soda in a stinky area (especially in the refrigerator to help capture smells). You can also sprinkle especially smelly spots (such as the garbage can) with a little vinegar and baking soda to help with the smell.

Sources: kimberlysnyder.net, (http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2012/03/10/the-danger-of-air-freshener-and-10-alternatives-for-a-great-smelling-home/)

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Green Building Home Design

5 Benefits of Remodeling with Bamboo

There certainly is a lot of buzz about bamboo these days. Bamboo flooring is not only beautiful and stylish, but it has been proven to outperform traditional hardwood flooring in many ways.

Renewable resource. Bamboo is actually a fast-growing grass, which makes it a renewable resource. The roots of the plant continue to produce new shoots even after the mature plants have been harvested.

Finish options. You’ll find a variety of bamboo finishes on the market these days. There are floor panels available with grains running either vertically or horizontally, and those that come in either a dark or light finish.

Durability. Bamboo floors are generally more durable than wood. Just be sure to do some initial research on the bamboo materials that will be used by your contractor. Mature bamboo plants are strong, but overall durability depends on several factors. Ask questions about the age of the plants when harvested (young bamboo is softer and more susceptible to damage), ask if there are any materials or adhesives added, and ask about the source of the plant.

Cost. Bamboo floors are cheaper than most other flooring options the plants can grow almost anywhere and grow quickly. Bamboo floors are also easy to install, which helps further minimize the expense.

Easy maintenance. A simple dust mop is the most effective cleaning method for bamboo floors. Dry mop at least twice a week to remove dirt or grime, and then follow with a lightly dampened mop using warm water and a small amount of vinegar.

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Eco Tips Featured

4 Things to Help Keep Your Kitchen Eco-Organized

Space is a valued commodity in most kitchens, so we came up with a few new uses for old items that most of us already have stashed away or collecting dust in a closet.

Vintage ceramic crocks. Keep an eye out for ceramic crocks at a second hand store or antique shop. Use them in the kitchen to hold utensils or dried herbs.

Wicker baskets. Wicker baskets are easy to find at most resale shops or just stashed around the house. Use larger baskets for organizing or storing placemats, plates or silverware.

Glass jars. Old glass jars can be labeled and reused as small canisters to hold healthy snacks like almonds, granola or dried fruits.

Loaf pans. Retired loaf pans are ideal to use for neatly classifying and storing kitchen spices or seasonings in cabinets. Label each pan based on general use:  baking spices, poultry seasonings or meat seasonings.

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Eco Eats Gadgets & Gear

5 Reasons to Invest in Eco-Friendly Cookware

As with any other product that is marketed as being green, you need to take the time to do your research before buying. Cooking with an eco-friendly set of pots and pans should not only cut your kitchen energy use, but also ensure harmful chemicals are not ingested by you or your family. We checked into de Buyer’s line of Mineral B Elements Cookware and found that the old adage rings true: you get what you pay for. We’ve listed a few of the reasons why these pans are a good choice when it comes to eco-friendly cookware.

Constructed of natural iron. Iron is recyclable, better for the environment and better for our bodies. Studies show that cooking with iron cookware can also increase the iron content in our foods.

No harmful coatings or finishes. The beeswax-based finish protects the pans against oxidation, helps in the seasoning process and improves nonstick quality (PFOA and PTFE free guaranteed).

No chemicals added. The cookware is made using an environmentally safe production process and made entirely of metal. These pans are all-natural (no chemical coatings).

Allows cooking on high heat. High heat keeps more vitamins and nutrients in the food while enabling you to cook on a lower heat setting and use less energy.

Natural non-stick properties. The more the pans are used and seasoned, the more the natural nonstick properties are brought out. The pans “age” gracefully and should be thought of as a long-term investment.

Resources:  Kitchen-Universe.com

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Eco Tips Featured

4 Ways to Recharge After the Holidays

Even though the holiday season means spending treasured time with friends and family, it can also be pretty hectic due to all the shopping, cooking and cleaning. Consider a few of these post-holiday tips for staying energized and centered all year long.

Use energizing essential oils. Try adding an essential oil to a diffuser and place the diffuser in the bathroom as you get ready in the mornings. Essential oils like Grapefruit and Ylang Ylang have uplifting and motivating properties.

See the light. Research has shown that even just 20 to 30 minutes of sunlight each day can improve your mood. Get outdoors (just remember your sunscreen) or sit and read a book in a sunny, window filled room. Natural sunlight encourages the body to produce vitamin D and protects us from seasonal mood changes.

Plan a sabbatical. A sabbatical is defined as, “A break or change from a normal routine (as of employment).” There is a reason people take sabbaticals and are given vacation time. Don’t use yours getting things done around the house or, worse yet, skip it altogether. Planning a time for some future R&R is important and gives you something to look forward to after the holidays.

Get moving on the weekends. Create a weekend routine that will get you up and out of bed. Leave a set of gym clothes next to the bed before you go to sleep so it’s easier to hit that early AM yoga class. Or, make a brunch date with that bubbly friend you’ve been anxious to catch up with. Her mood will be contagious. It’s a downer to feel like you’ve spent your Saturday or Sunday moping around all day, so find a reason to get up and get moving!

Source:  Definition of sabbatical, Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sabbatical)

 

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Eco Tips Featured

6 Eco-Friendly Resolutions To Put Into Practice

As the current year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to assess how we have been running our lives and homes. Most of us can easily take a step back, learn to plan better, and put a few smart practices into place.

Reuse and recycle by donating your stuff. The New Year provides a good opportunity to clean out, simplify and start fresh. Have household items you no longer use? Give them away on Freecycle.org. Have clothes or shoes you don’t wear anymore? Donate the items to a local shelter, drop off at Goodwill or host a clothing swap.

Go dairy free and meat free once a week. Join “Meat Free Mondays” and make a green, animal-friendly, earth-friendly resolution for the coming year. By going meat free, you reduce your carbon footprint, limit cancer risk, reduce the risk of diabetes, help curb obesity and lessen the chances of heart disease.

Grow something. Start small with a pot of basil or thyme on your patio or kitchen windowsill. Plants give off additional oxygen, help clean the air, and bring living energy to a room. Having your own pesticide-free organic herbs to use when cooking isn’t a bad thing either.

Install and use smart power strips. Get in the habit of using smart power strips to turn off TV’s, computers, kitchen appliances, and other electronics completely. You just might notice your electric bill go down.

Replace the standard light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent ones. Energy-smart bulbs use 70-75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer.

Replace your air conditioner filter every 30 to 60 days. A dirty filter will block the airflow and cost you more to run since the unit has to work twice as hard. Have extra filters on hand at all times.

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Featured Home Design

How to Select the Right Paint Colors

A fresh coat of paint is one of the quickest and easiest ways to give a room a new look, but there are so many color choices available now. How do you select shades that you’ll be able to live with for several years even if you decide to change furnishings or accent pieces? What about the overall color palette that ties the rooms together throughout your home? Choosing the right colors can be tricky. Here’s a few tips to help you select a palette of satisfying shades.

Consider how the space is used and the feeling you want to convey. If you have a favorite piece of art, vase, chair or rug, then let that serve as a starting point for inspiration. Just be sure to keep in mind the effects that color can have on feelings and moods. Calming colors in shades of blue or light green are good choices for bedrooms, for example, since they support relaxation.

Take note of neutrals and earth tones. It’s hard to go wrong with shades of beige or gray since they are neutral enough to be paired with many combinations of bold colors. Earth tones in shades of brown, tan, green, orange, yellow and blue are also good choices if you’re trying to achieve a natural look and feel.

Consider the flow from one room to another. Each room in your home can have it’s own feel and color scheme, but should also integrate smoothly. Tie a sunflower yellow room with an adjoining room by painting the trim in both rooms white or using a common accent color for furnishings or accessories.

Always swatch test your final choices. Different qualities of light can cause changes in appearance for many colors. Paint one or two samples directly onto the wall or paint the colors on a poster board and set it in the room. Leave the samples on the wall for several days, so you get a chance to see the paint color in different lighting situations throughout the course of the day or night. The newer eco-friendly low VOC or no VOC paints are formulated to be just as durable and washable as regular paints, but may take to your walls a bit differently if you not accustomed to using them.

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Eco Tips Featured

5 Money-Saving Eco Holiday Tips

Time and money are in high demand for almost everyone during the Yuletide season. How do you keep our environment and your pocketbook from suffering the effects of all the holiday excess? Here are five helpful tips.

Bulk Up. Buy holiday nuts and spices in bulk from bins at your local health food store or supermarket. When you buy in bulk, you can purchase just the right amounts of spices or nuts you need without paying for excess packaging or more of a product than you know you’ll ever use.

Green Décor. Use citrus, nuts in the shells, cinnamon sticks, pomegranates, rosemary, and pomander balls to make gorgeous centerpieces or table arrangements.

Organic Wines. A bottle of conventional wine may contain hundreds of different chemicals and preservatives. Think organic wines are more expensive? It’s a myth. You can pick up a bottle of Tarantas 2007 Cava Sparkling Wine at $14.95 a bottle at EcoVineWine.com.

Creative Ornaments. Deck the halls and your tree by recycling vintage toys, jewelry and small photo frames into ornaments by attaching a hook and ornament hanger.

Reduce Disposable Plastics. Having a holiday party? Don’t spend extra dollars on plastic plates and trays for treats. Ask each guest to bring a favorite Christmas themed metal or ceramic plate. Everyone will enjoy admiring the different designs and there’s less to throw away.

Check back later this week for more green living tips from Ecohomeideas.com.