How To Go Green in the Bedroom

When people start considering going green, there are usually a few initial assumptions on the most important steps to take. People will begin recycling, switching out disposable items for the reusable, and cutting down on their utilities usage. But one place people often look over is the bedroom.

Your bedroom is arguably the most important room in your home. It’s where you spend almost one-third of your life! (Sleeping, that is, but the point still stands.)

When you want to get serious about living sustainably, your bedroom habits will need some attention. Follow these simple steps to go green in your bedroom in 2019.

 

Step 1: Swapping out your mattress

When you think about your bedroom, what’s the first thing you think about? Your bed!

Your bed is most important item in your room, so it’s a perfect place to start when you’re turning your bedroom green. Choosing a new bed is difficult, and there are an overwhelming amount of option, so make sure you do proper research on your options. You’ll want to look for organic mattresses that are constructed with 100% natural materials. You can look for approvals from Oeko-Tex or a GREENGUARD Certification from the UL Environment.

Before you go tossing your old mattress to the curb, think about more socially responsible options for its disposal. Is your mattress still in proper condition? Consider donating to a local charity or community member in need. If your mattress isn’t in donating condition, don’t worry. You can find ways to have it recycled with just a little bit of research.

 

Step 2: Shop for green bedding products

After covering the bases with an organic mattress, you’ll want to make sure you’re using green bedding products as well.

For your sheets, blankets, and pillow cases, you’ll want to look out for a Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certification. This will ensure these fabrics are made from organically certified materials. There are many brands dedicated to organic purity and sustainability, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a wide range of options available. If you have trouble, start with this list of the 10 best organic bedding sources.

 

Step 3: Update your lighting

You may not be thinking about the lighting in your bedroom, especially because most of the time you’re spending in there is with the lights turned off. However, there are ways you can update your lighting situation to be more environmentally friendly if you’re a nighttime reader who keeps a lamp on for extended periods of time.

Switch out your conventional incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that reduce your energy output by up to 80%. These alternatives also have a much longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs so you won’t have to change them out as often.

 

Step 4: Spruce up your bedroom with some greenery

Plants are a great decoration piece that add some liveliness to your bedroom, but they also are sustainably practical additions to your room. Plants can help to mitigate pollution and gases in the air which will improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) and your health. With better air quality you’ll be able to get better sleep, too!

 

Step 5: Get some “green” paint

You don’t have to choose the color green, but you can find eco-friendly paint for your bedroom walls! “Green” paint acts as an alternative to petroleum based paint products. This paint will have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) so you won’t have to worry about toxic off-gassing from the paint in your home.

 

Step 6: Clean green!

When it comes to cleaning your carpets and bedding in your bedroom, you’ll want to make sure you’re using green products. It’s always best to avoid harsh chemicals, but sometimes navigating the shopping for green cleaning products can be confusing. Which is really the best? Which is the safest? Which are actually “green”?

To avoid this mess, you can make your own natural homemade cleaning products for your bedroom. All it takes is white vinegar, water, washing soda, Borax, and soap to get your floors and bed clean in a natural way! You’ll rest easier knowing you’re avoiding unknown harsh chemicals.

 

Step 7: Use natural sleep aids

If you spend your nights tossing and turning, struggling to get better sleep, you may be tempted to turn to sleep aids. Instead of going for prescription or over-the-counter drugs, you can use natural alternatives to ease your mind and help you get better sleep at night. Here are a few easy ones to try out:

• Take a warm bath. By raising your body temperature a few degrees before bed, you’ll be able to fall asleep quicker in bed as your temperature drops back down. Add some essential oils to maximize your relaxation.
• Drink a warm cup of herbal tea. Those with chamomile and lavender are known to help improve your relaxation and sleep.
• Try nighttime yoga stretches. These will relax your mind and body, helping prepare you for better sleep.

Article written for WhosGreenOnline.com by Laurie Larson

Author’s bio: Laurie Larson is a freelance writer based in NC. She writes on home and health topics.