Raising your children to be environmentally conscious doesn’t have to be a hard task. If you are already “Going Green This Summer,” then you already have a great head start.
However, there’s still plenty that you can do when it comes to your home’s interior. Designing your child’s room to be eco-friendly can have a huge influence helping to create a “green” attitude at home. Children who learn what it means to live eco-friendly life early in their childhood will develop habits that are consistent throughout their life.
At Smart Home Construction, we are experts at building eco-smart homes and we have a few ideas on how to keep your children’s room green.
Building a Green Room for Green Kids
1. Natural Lighting and LED Lights
Natural sunlight is always the best lighting for any room. With multiple windows, or even skylights, your child’s room can be pleasantly filled with natural light.
When night time comes around LED light bulbs are very energy-efficient, and they even come in nightlight sizes, just in case.
2. Carpets
If you decide you want to add a few carpets to your child’s room, go for natural fibers instead of synthetic. Wool or cotton carpets are always a good alternative.
3. Temperature Control
At Smart Home Construction, we take the western exposure of your home when we position it on a lot to ensure we minimize energy usage. With this in mind, purchasing the right blinds and curtains for your children’s room can provide even greater energy efficiency. Natural materials are always a good choice.
Ceiling fans can also be energy-efficient and can be reversed in the winter to save on heating costs too.
4. Natural Furniture
If you really want to go green, then when purchasing your children’s furniture, consider purchasing solid wood items, assembled with non-toxic glue, and finished only with oil.
Try to avoid foam, furniture glue, and traditional paints and varnishes, especially the stain- or water-resistant finishes. Instead, use sealants to deter off-gassing (chemical emissions) from existing finishes that may be toxic for you.
5. Painting Your Childs Room
When painting walls in children’s rooms use paints with little to no volatile organic compounds. Fumes from VOCs can release into the air, causing unhealthy conditions for you, your child, and the environment.
Check out your local home improvement store for eco-friendly paints.
6. Fabrics and Sheets
When it comes to bed sheets and covers, cushions, rugs, and even curtains, try your best to provide your child with natural and organic materials.
For example, wool and cotton are excellent choices. Not only will you have a nice look with eco-friendly materials, but your child will have significantly less chance of developing allergies.
7. Natural and Fun Decor
There are many fun and engaging DIY projects that kids can enjoy and use as décor in their room. You can even use natural material from outside to make decorations for their room.
