Turn Rooms Into 'Eco-Chic' Shangri-Las
We can all help save the planet — and do it in style!
So says environmental lifestyle expert Danny Seo, who's written a series of books on the topic called "Simply Green."
"You can save money, you can save the environment, and you can have a beautiful room, all at the same time!" Seo told The Early Show co-anchor Rene Syler Thursday.
He refers to it as "eco-chic."
Green living isn't a trend, Seo says, but a cultural shift that more and more Americans are embracing every day. Ecological can also be economical: Saving energy at home saves you money and helps preserve the environment.
That's not only the right thing to do, Seo adds — it's now more possible than ever to be environmentally friendly with style: You can have your (organic) cake and eat it, too!
Seo showed Syler how to create an eco-chic room.
ELEMENTS FOR ECO-CHIC ROOMS
PAINT: Chose a low VOC paint. VOCs are "volatile organic compounds" — the only bad "organic" you should avoid. It's the odor in paint that causes migraines and forces you to ventilate a room when painting. But companies like Benjamin Moore are producing low VOC paint called ECOSPEC. It's virtually odorless and can be tinted almost any color. TIP: Add some vanilla extract to the paint to make it totally odorless. It's an old trick that somehow works! Danny's paint choice is Absolute Green. It reflects nature — that of leaves and rocks.
Benjamin Moore EcoSpec latex paint. PRICE: varies per store; www.benjaminmoore.com
FLOORING: Cork flooring is an ecological and durable choice. Cork used in wine making has been eased out over the years as winemakers have opted for plastic corks to prevent spoilage. This is bad news for cork forests, where many endangered animals live. To collect cork, the material is stripped from trees without killing them, which makes it a green choice. But with no market for cork in the wine industry, these forests are being clear cut for farmland. The solution is cork flooring! Not only is it beautiful and durable, but you're helping to save these cork forests. Cork also works well as sound-proofing — ideal for apartment living or for use on the second floor of a home to prevent footsteps from being heard downstairs.
Cork Flooring by U.S. Floors. Available at Lowes, PRICE: ranges $4-7 per square foot; www.lowes.com
WINDOW TREATMENTS: Choose bamboo for blinds. It's an eco-friendly choice because it's not wood at all, but a fast-growing grass that can be made into wood-like products. Not only is this natural material highly durable, but it's very in vogue right now. Natural Horizons is a leading maker of custom blinds for homes and offers a line of eco-friendly blinds that can be custom-made to fit your windows. These blinds come in a variety of colors, shapes and textures. The best part? Installation is a breeze. No measuring and no fuss. ... just screw in two long screws and it's installed — eco and easy. Bamboo
Blinds by Natural Horizons; PRICE: varies per size/order; www.horizonshades
FURNITURE: Ecological and Multiple Usage. Smith and Hawken's teak furniture is designed for outdoor use, but it can be just as good indoors. The teak wood is sustainably harvested from tree plantations — farms for trees — that are not cut from rain forests. The furniture is durable and strong; use it indoors during the winter and bring it outdoors in the summer for extra seating when needed. The best part? If you spill something on the furniture, you can hose it down outside or (for those deep-penetrated stains, like red wine) just sand it down. The teak is not finished. There are natural oils in the wood that preserve it, so a light sanding is fine to remove a stain and make it look as good as new.
Avignon Lounging Chairs, PRICE: $895, Avignon Ottoman $395, Avignon Side Table $295; www.smithandhawken.com
LIGHTING: Conceal to save money and brighten a room. Ikea offers lamps that are affordable and gorgeous. They are designed to accommodate a compact fluorescent light bulb (those funny-looking bulbs that last seven times longer than a regular light bulb and use up to 10% less energy — a money-saving choice). These lamps conceal the bulbs well, making their white bright light less harsh. The best part? Ikea will recycle your used compact fluorescent light bulbs at its stores.
Ikea SAMTID floor lamp; PRICE: $34.99; www.ikea.com
BATTERIES: Recycle your rechargeable batteries. Rechargeable batteries are good for the environment; you can charge them over and over. Eventually, you need to replace them. Don't toss 'em — recycle them. Batteries from cordless phones or cell phones can be recycled in a free non-profit program called CALL2RECYCLE. Bring them to any free recycling box in 30,000 locations in stores like Home Depot, Radio Shack and Best Buy. They will recycle rechargeable batteries and make new metal products. It's free and good for the environment, and you can do it the next time you shop!
PERSONALIZE!: Frame a Chinese food menu from when you first move in to symbolize your first meal in your home. Laminate the blueprints from your home and use them as placemats and table runners. Be creative! Use what you have, and make sure everything has a personal connection!