Have You Ever Checked Out Organic Decor?

Organic decor is becoming an increasingly popular trend in 2009 as more and more people are looking to have eco-friendly, green homes that are healthier not only for the environment, but also for their bodies.

Going organic means choosing products that are grown from natural ingredients, are biodegradable, and manufactured without pesticides and all sorts of toxic chemicals. For the home, organic decor often refers to furniture that is ‘organic by construction,’ which means that in addition to the materials themselves being organically grown, the wood is also sustainable or reclaimed (the wood has either been recycled or taken without destroying anything). Therefore, all the components of the furniture are free of toxins and irritants.

So let’s get on to the organic decor! Here are some great ideas.

One of the best areas to start going organic is with your bed. Everyone agrees that sleep is important, and research has shown that mattresses made of organic materials are much more breathable, therefore regulating your temperature and helping you sleep better. The natural next step is to get organic bedding, linens, and pillows which also help reduce allergies. Today, more and more designers are creating stylish organic bedding, so you can be assured that you won’t be sacrificing style when trying to create an organic bedroom.

Don’t forget organic rugs and carpets. These can be made from organic wool, bamboo fiber, jute, cotton, hemp, and are dye free, which makes them so healthy that you should consider making a change now in your child’s room or baby’s room. Normal rugs usually are full of additives such as biocides to prevent mold. The air we breathe in a room is almost always affected by our carpeting, particularly if your home is fully carpeted.

Furniture that is organic by construction is also becoming more widespread. You can find stylish furniture made from sustainable wood that is upholstered with organic fabrics. Flooring is also important and can become a lovely decor element in your home. Organic bamboo or cork flooring is not only incredibly durable and healthy, it is also a beautiful decor element and can compliment your organic furniture.

Today, the organic decor trend fits in well with zen decor, feng shui, and other trends and is synonomous with a holistic approach to overall wellness. Nearly every store for home products or furniture has a ‘green’ section and carries organic products.

Here are some links:

www.organicconsumers.org – Has a section that provides a listing of all businesses carrying organic products in your area.

www.modgreenpod.com – Has organic home textiles and a neat link to a room creator.

Black and White Decorating Ideas

Black and white décor is an affordable way to make your home look sophisticated, elegant and dramatic. You can easily transform any room into this style by repainting old furniture and purchasing a few basic accessories.

Try framing pictures such as black and white photos, with bold black frames. These will provide a great contrast to a stark-white wall. Using other black and white artwork or framing objects is also a great black and white room decorating idea. The point is to have lots of contrast.

To keep your black and white rooms from being too boring try using large, interesting accessories with unusual and creative shapes. Large black candle sticks on a bright white table can add to the dramatic effect, and you can find candle sticks in all different shapes and designs. You can also try using a funky contemporary looking black or white lamp, bowl or coffee table.

A black and white checkerboard tiled floor is classic and never gets boring, but it can be pricey to redo your whole floor. An area rug can have the same effect for a much lower price. Try using contrast here again having either a black table on a white rug or the opposite.

An important principle to keep to when decorating in black and white is to only buy one or two items that are both black AND white. Otherwise, have your pieces be only one color to avoid making the room look too busy. Also, if you ever want to change to another color scheme, you can easily integrate the solid color pieces.

If a room that is entirely black and white seems too much for you, try using an accent color. Kelly green and yellow can be great accent colors, but the best is to stick to what you like. Remember, only to use a little bit of this color, like in a photo on the wall, a pillow case or a few small accessories.

Black and white decorating ideas aren’t too hard to come up with and they make your room look elegant almost instantly. This is why I personally love them!