Decorating Guides
Decorating Styles
So Your Style Is: Green
Way beyond a hue on a paint chip, green means a healthy home with a unique style designed around sustainability
What it is: Green style isn't so much a design aesthetic as a commitment to living lightly on the earth. It's a two-prong approach of sustainable materials and environmentally conscious practices, all with an eye toward shrinking carbon footprints and thinking about the big picture of our planet.
Why it works: Living green has a direct, positive impact on our health and quality of life. Plus, it carries ramifications far beyond our local communities, or even our country — it affects people and places across the globe, both directly and indirectly.
You'll love it if ... You sort recyclables in your sleep. Nothing lifts your spirits like a walk in the woods. Your idea of beach reading is The Omnivore's Dilemma. You were composting way before it was cool. Your favorite holiday is Earth Day.
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Why it works: Living green has a direct, positive impact on our health and quality of life. Plus, it carries ramifications far beyond our local communities, or even our country — it affects people and places across the globe, both directly and indirectly.
You'll love it if ... You sort recyclables in your sleep. Nothing lifts your spirits like a walk in the woods. Your idea of beach reading is The Omnivore's Dilemma. You were composting way before it was cool. Your favorite holiday is Earth Day.
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Style Secret: Repurposed Materials
"Reduce, reuse, recycle" goes the mantra. Live up to the reuse part by using construction materials carried over from a previous life. There are repurposed options for just about any surface you care to name, such as glass tiles made from old bottles, countertops crafted of recycled paper and scrap metal turned into wall panels. The walls in this home are made from reused copper, which lends both warm shine and a striking, totally original texture.
Put it into practice: Salvage yards, flea markets and thrift shops were hotbeds of sustainability long before most of us knew that green was anything more than a color. You'd be surprised at what you can find: old sinks and tubs in near-perfect condition, enough weathered hardwood to dress all the floors in your home, entire countertops that can be cut to fit your kitchen.
"Reduce, reuse, recycle" goes the mantra. Live up to the reuse part by using construction materials carried over from a previous life. There are repurposed options for just about any surface you care to name, such as glass tiles made from old bottles, countertops crafted of recycled paper and scrap metal turned into wall panels. The walls in this home are made from reused copper, which lends both warm shine and a striking, totally original texture.
Put it into practice: Salvage yards, flea markets and thrift shops were hotbeds of sustainability long before most of us knew that green was anything more than a color. You'd be surprised at what you can find: old sinks and tubs in near-perfect condition, enough weathered hardwood to dress all the floors in your home, entire countertops that can be cut to fit your kitchen.
Style Secret: Sustainable Woods
Environmentally friendly woods take a few major forms. There are easily renewable materials such as bamboo, which grow so quickly that they don't incur problems with deforestation. There are conventional and exotic woods grown in carefully managed, sustainable forests and harvested under ecoconscious practices. And there are reclaimed woods preserved from old buildings and other infrastructural elements, which have the bonus of a pleasing patina.
Put it into practice: Do your homework to make sure that the material you're purchasing is as ecofriendly as it claims to be, particularly if it comes from a country whose regulations are less stringent. Look for a mark of certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and if you don't see one, press the retailer for more details. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a good source for information about tropical and other woods for which sustainability tends to be an issue.
Environmentally friendly woods take a few major forms. There are easily renewable materials such as bamboo, which grow so quickly that they don't incur problems with deforestation. There are conventional and exotic woods grown in carefully managed, sustainable forests and harvested under ecoconscious practices. And there are reclaimed woods preserved from old buildings and other infrastructural elements, which have the bonus of a pleasing patina.
Put it into practice: Do your homework to make sure that the material you're purchasing is as ecofriendly as it claims to be, particularly if it comes from a country whose regulations are less stringent. Look for a mark of certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and if you don't see one, press the retailer for more details. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a good source for information about tropical and other woods for which sustainability tends to be an issue.
Style Secret: Water Conservation
Responsible water usage is key to the green lifestyle — not only cutting back on what flows from the faucet but also collecting what falls from the sky. Rain chains, such as the one shown here, and barrels divert and store runoff for use within the home (you can find them at major home improvement retailers). Fixtures such as low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and dual-flush toilets also help to reduce water waste.
Put it into practice: Now that you've got the equipment, apply water smarts to your daily life. Simple measures such as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, not rinsing dishes before you load them into the dishwasher and checking for plumbing leaks can go a long way toward preserving the planet's water supply.
Responsible water usage is key to the green lifestyle — not only cutting back on what flows from the faucet but also collecting what falls from the sky. Rain chains, such as the one shown here, and barrels divert and store runoff for use within the home (you can find them at major home improvement retailers). Fixtures such as low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators and dual-flush toilets also help to reduce water waste.
Put it into practice: Now that you've got the equipment, apply water smarts to your daily life. Simple measures such as turning off the tap while you brush your teeth, not rinsing dishes before you load them into the dishwasher and checking for plumbing leaks can go a long way toward preserving the planet's water supply.
Style Secret: Solar Panels
Solar power holds a lot of promise as a clean, renewable energy source, and it's relatively easy to retrofit many homes with roof-mounted solar panels. You'll need to check building codes in your city and the bylaws of your homeowner's association (if you have one); once you've gotten the green light, you'll want to do some research to source the best panels for your house. Also, you'll need a solar power inverter to channel the sun's energy into a form that your home's appliances and other electrical devices can use.
Put it into practice: Want to take energy conservation one dramatic step further? Consider a living roof. These beauties have insulation benefits that help to reduce a home's heating and cooling costs significantly — plus, they help to clean polluted air and promote water conservation. Consult a structural engineer and a landscape architect to ensure that your roof can handle the added weight and other considerations.
Solar power holds a lot of promise as a clean, renewable energy source, and it's relatively easy to retrofit many homes with roof-mounted solar panels. You'll need to check building codes in your city and the bylaws of your homeowner's association (if you have one); once you've gotten the green light, you'll want to do some research to source the best panels for your house. Also, you'll need a solar power inverter to channel the sun's energy into a form that your home's appliances and other electrical devices can use.
Put it into practice: Want to take energy conservation one dramatic step further? Consider a living roof. These beauties have insulation benefits that help to reduce a home's heating and cooling costs significantly — plus, they help to clean polluted air and promote water conservation. Consult a structural engineer and a landscape architect to ensure that your roof can handle the added weight and other considerations.
Style Secret: Indoor Plants
Indoor plants provide more than just a pretty touch of greenery — they also fight air pollution. Not only do they soak up toxic fumes from compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene, but some, such as English ivy, also can offset mold and other allergens. Consider philodendrons, Boston ferns, ficus trees and peace lilies — all easy to find, easy to grow and champs at keeping the air healthy.
Put it into practice: Incorporate plants as part of thoughtful design rather than sticking them in random corners. Mass several large planters together for graphic impact, as in this space; arrange smaller ones in a grid on shelving; or mount an indoor window box.
Indoor plants provide more than just a pretty touch of greenery — they also fight air pollution. Not only do they soak up toxic fumes from compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene, but some, such as English ivy, also can offset mold and other allergens. Consider philodendrons, Boston ferns, ficus trees and peace lilies — all easy to find, easy to grow and champs at keeping the air healthy.
Put it into practice: Incorporate plants as part of thoughtful design rather than sticking them in random corners. Mass several large planters together for graphic impact, as in this space; arrange smaller ones in a grid on shelving; or mount an indoor window box.
Style Secret: Recycling Made Simple
Good habits are easier to adopt when you make them as painless as possible. Set up a recycling center in an easy-to-access spot, such as the kitchen, garage or mudroom, to make sorting plastic, paper and glass second nature. There are plenty of ready-made systems on the market, including some that tuck away behind cabinets, but you also can mix and match bins and receptacles to design your own.
Put it into practice: Look for opportunities to reuse household items that aren't going out to the curb. Perhaps old magazines can be used as wrapping paper or decoupaged onto vases and boxes; empty jars might hold craft supplies or corral silverware at casual cookouts; the last dregs of paint in the can could be splashed onto a canvas for DIY artwork. And don't forget to take advantage of community programs for recycling electronics, hazardous waste and other items beyond everyday discards.
Good habits are easier to adopt when you make them as painless as possible. Set up a recycling center in an easy-to-access spot, such as the kitchen, garage or mudroom, to make sorting plastic, paper and glass second nature. There are plenty of ready-made systems on the market, including some that tuck away behind cabinets, but you also can mix and match bins and receptacles to design your own.
Put it into practice: Look for opportunities to reuse household items that aren't going out to the curb. Perhaps old magazines can be used as wrapping paper or decoupaged onto vases and boxes; empty jars might hold craft supplies or corral silverware at casual cookouts; the last dregs of paint in the can could be splashed onto a canvas for DIY artwork. And don't forget to take advantage of community programs for recycling electronics, hazardous waste and other items beyond everyday discards.
Style Secret: Concrete Surfaces
Concrete earns brownie (greenie?) points for several reasons. It's typically manufactured with local materials near its point of use, which makes for a smaller carbon footprint, and it doesn't require a ton of resources to make. It stores heat in warm weather and releases it in cool weather, so it's a natural at keeping your home comfy without blasting the furnace or AC. And it blocks air leaks to cut energy costs even further.
Put it into practice: If a home made entirely from concrete doesn't appeal (and for most of us, it doesn't), use it just for the floors — you'll still enjoy a lot of the benefits. Worried that it won't jibe with your traditional decor? You might be surprised at how much you like the edgy note. Or lessen the juxtaposition by having it scored and stained to resemble stone or tile.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | Cottage | French Country
Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Preppy
Concrete earns brownie (greenie?) points for several reasons. It's typically manufactured with local materials near its point of use, which makes for a smaller carbon footprint, and it doesn't require a ton of resources to make. It stores heat in warm weather and releases it in cool weather, so it's a natural at keeping your home comfy without blasting the furnace or AC. And it blocks air leaks to cut energy costs even further.
Put it into practice: If a home made entirely from concrete doesn't appeal (and for most of us, it doesn't), use it just for the floors — you'll still enjoy a lot of the benefits. Worried that it won't jibe with your traditional decor? You might be surprised at how much you like the edgy note. Or lessen the juxtaposition by having it scored and stained to resemble stone or tile.
More 'So Your Style Is':
Traditional | Arts & Crafts | Hollywood Regency | Rustic | Old World | Cottage | French Country
Transitional | Contemporary | Midcentury Modern | Industrial | Eclectic | Coastal | Preppy
Swapping inefficient light bulbs and fixtures for models that cut down on energy consumption is one of the easiest, least expensive green measures you can take. Traditional incandescent bulbs are gradually being phased out on store shelves, replaced by compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). The good news: The new generation of CFLs casts a warmer, softer light than the harsh, unflattering glow of their earlier cousins, so you won't dread looking in the bathroom mirror.
LED lights, which tend to provide a more concentrated beam, are ideal for recessed cans, pendants and other task lighting and undermounted applications such as kitchen cabinets and toe kicks. And there's a new raft of efficient light fixtures on the market that reduce energy use even more.
Put it into practice: Selecting the right bulbs and fixtures is half the deal; the other half involves using them correctly. Remember your mom nagging you to switch off lights when you exit a room or leave the house? She was right. Avoid turning lights on in the daytime when sunlight will do just as well, and never flip on more lights than you need at a given time.