A Healthier, Happier You!

You feel your best when you are rested and ready to face the day. So why not start this year by making some green changes in your bedroom?

It’s easy to overlook the bedroom when you’re trying to go green – what’s the point if you’re asleep in there the whole time anyway? But the bedroom is actually the place where we spend most of our time at home: in fact, you’ll spend about a third of your life in bed! And because getting a good night’s sleep is such an important part of any healthy lifestyle, we want to help you make greening your bedroom a priority. To get you started, here’s a list of five ways you can keep your bedroom safe, clean, and green.

1. Get comfortable

The quickest way to a good night’s sleep is to get comfortable, so take the time to find the right mattress and bedding to suit your needs. Try out an eco-friendly memory foam mattress or a more traditional boxspring topped with natural wool, both of which are made without plastics or fireproofing chemicals that release VOCs. It’s also worth it to invest in organic cotton sheets and pillows to keep yourself cool, comfortable, and allergy-free.

2. Be sustainable

Finding the right bed can be time-consuming and expensive, so you want to make sure you do it right. Look for wooden frames certified by the FSC as coming from sustainably managed forests, and also try to find frames made without VOC-releasing paints and polishes. Another important part of being sustainable is properly disposing of old mattresses – they take up huge amounts of space in landfills, so look in your area for companies that recycle mattresses or places that accept donations.

3. Improve the air quality

You spend eight hours a night breathing the air in your bedroom, which means you want to keep the air in there as clean as possible. An air purifier will remove toxic chemicals like VOCs and smoke as well as allergens that stuff up your nose and disrupt your sleep. You can also prevent VOC build-up by choosing natural carpeting and furniture that is made without the nasty synthetic chemicals found in pressed wood, carpet glue, or plastic fibers.

4. Use your nose

We all know how hard it can be to fall asleep, but before you run out to the pharmacy why not try a natural sleep aid? Aromatherapy candles and sprays use soothing herbs like lavender and chamomile to you put your mind at ease and help you drift off to sleep. Be sure to look for natural air fresheners that don’t release VOCs or phthalates and non-paraffin candles made from beeswax or vegetable waxes. You can also use essential oils to make your own soothing nighttime scents.

5. Clean green

Keep your bedroom clean using safe, natural green cleaning products. Eco-friendly carpet shampoos and natural wood polishes will keep toxic chemicals out of the air, and phosphate-free detergents will keep your sheets soft and clean without leaving behind toxic chemicals that can irritate your skin. It’s good for you and for the environment!