Our homes have become hubs for work, rest, and everything in between! Being at home so much these past few months has prompted many of us to revamp our spaces, especially our bedroom. While you're renovating, this can also be an opportunity to make environmentally conscious choices for your space. So, here's 7 sustainable swaps that you can do for your room!
Swap #1: LED Lights
Next time your light goes out, switch it out with an LED bulb! It’s a minor change to your room, but their impact is giant. To put it into perspective, if every person changed one bulb in their home to an LED one the energy savings would be equivalent to 800,000 cars worth of greenhouse gas emissions! And just to make it better, they use much less energy and can last longer than other lightbulbs.
Swap #2: Curtains, Drapes, and Blinds
When the summer heat is kicking in, it’s easy to switch on the fan. However, a more sustainable and easier option is to close your drapes, curtains, or blinds. Closing a dark-colored drape with a plastic backing can reduce heat in your room by up to 33%. For winter months, let sunshine enter your room and close your drapes at night to retain the heat.
Picture by @rinsroom_ on Instagram.
Swap #3: Bed Sheets
Cotton uses a significant amount of land and resources to produce. Polyester is a synthetic, petroleum-based fiber making it nonbiodegradable. These are two of the most commonly used materials to make bed sheets and pillowcases. An alternative is finding sheets that use organic or recyclable materials. One option is silk which uses a considerably smaller amount of water, chemicals, and energy than other fibers. It’s naturally anti-bacterial, so a great material to decrease your water consumption. And, since it’s a natural fiber, that means it’s also biodegradable.
If you’re looking for silk pillowcases, we strongly recommend Cloud 9 Silk Pillowcases! ;)
Swap #4: Beds and Pillows
While keeping your current mattress and pillows is the most sustainable option when it’s time to switch them out, be sure to also look out for the type of materials that the bed is made of. Like bedsheets, find ones that are made from organic or recycled materials.
Swap #5: Smart Power Strips
Power strips are notoriously convenient but help us forget to unplug when our devices are fully charged or not in use. To lower your electricity bill and be more environmentally conscious, opt to using “Smart” Power Strips. Unlike traditional ones, these have outlets that will automatically cut power once they detect that your device is in a standby state.
Swap #6: Thrift Your Decor
If you’re looking to change up your space, the least expensive and most sustainable option is to go second-hand. Thrifting slows down an item’s lifetime and prevents them from clogging up landfills. On top of that, your decor will be unique! While thrift stores and antique shops might not be operating at their full capacity right now, alternatives could include looking through Facebook Marketplace and local groups, or use apps like Offerup and Letgo.
Plants are also a great way to decorate, and they keep your skin and air clean. Here are some of our recommendations!
Picture by @tatiana_home_decor on Instagram.
Swap #7: Soy and Coconut Wax Candles
When we’re lighting up our favorite candle to wind down the day, we’re actually filling up our space with toxic air pollution. Most candles are made with paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product. Organic and non-toxic alternatives are soy or coconut wax candles. Both organic materials burn cleanly, produce much less carbon soot, and are also longer-lasting and stronger scented than paraffin wax candles.
Sunday Candle uses a blend of pure coconut wax and soy in their candles, and they’re earth (and lung) friendly self-care!
Creating a sustainable bedroom doesn’t mean overhauling everything and starting from scratch. That can be expensive, and just not practical. Using whatever you have right now to its maximum use is the best thing you can do for the planet. Once they’re done, and you’re ready to make a swap, refer to the above!