When it comes to home décor today, “green living” is a trending topic, and for good reason. There are many advantages to incorporating green elements into the rooms of your house. It ensures a healthier home for you and your family, gives a fresh look and feel to your space, and demonstrates that you care about protecting the environment.

The next time you decorate and make updates to your home, consider these easy ways to add touches of eco-friendliness.

Buy Items Made from Recycled Materials

With an ever-increasing awareness of our environment and ways we can protect it; it’s easy to find items made from recycled materials while you shop. If you’re looking for new furniture, try seeking out pieces made from reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood is essentially wood harvested a long time ago that has been salvaged for re-use, and it has a vintage character that can add charm to your home. If you want to buy new carpet, opt for one made of recycled plastic. When replacing your flooring, consider bamboo or cork, which are rapidly renewable. This is a better choice than a hardwood floor.

Conserve with Lighting

CFLs, or compact fluorescent light bulbs, are the best option for conserving energy when it comes to lighting. They are designed to replace traditional incandescent bulbs, and they save a very large amount of energy. The cost of an incandescent light bulb may be a lot lower, but not compared to the cost of energy over the lifetime of the bulb. A CFL will cost you more, but it saves you money in the long run and is meant to last much longer. You can choose whichever type of lamp or shade you like – all you need to do is buy a new bulb.

Recycle Your Used Items

When it’s time to get rid of your old décor, find out if it can be recycled before putting it in the trash. See what kinds of items are accepted at your local recycling center, have a garage sale, or donate used items to a charity if they are still in good condition. You can even find companies with a carpet recycling program that will save you trouble by recycling your carpet for you.

Add Plants and Flowers

What better way to create a green home than by adding a living plant? Plants are easy to maintain, look nice, and can improve air quality. Choose a large potted plant to go next to a couch or table, or choose a smaller one to sit on a window sill. You can always pick up some flowers at your local nursery very inexpensively to add a touch of elegance and a pop of color.

Lindsay T. writes about home décor and interior design on behalf of Empire Today. Empire specializes in carpet, laminate and hardwood flooring, window treatments and more. Visit Empire Carpet online to find more ideas for home decorating.

Image courtesy of ponsulak at FreeDigitalPhotos.net