We all love our health; for this reason, we strive to safeguard it. Maintaining good health is vital since there are so many ways our health can be affected. The saddening part, however, is that some of the ways we become unhealthy are not obvious to us, for instance; it is unimaginable to believe that our furniture can damage our well-being. When we go to buy furniture, we mostly consider the cost, design, and size; however, we hardly think about the sustainability of the furniture. We rarely take into account their impact on our health and the environment.
Many of us will probably take our old furniture to the store, use them as a fuel, or even dump them. However, we can convert these aged items into incredible products by either repurposing or recycling them. Repurposing is also applied to new items, for example; you can modify your living room desk into a bathroom dressing table.
Recycled Furniture
Recycled furniture refers to furniture made from old items such as old doors, pallets, chairs, tables, wood from deconstructed buildings, and orchards among others. Recycling is an environmental friendly method since it prevents unnecessary dumping that may pollute the ecosystem. You can either recycle the furniture yourself or hire a professional if you need advanced or stylish designs. In addition, there are many almost innumerable designs that can come out of these old items for instance; wood from deconstructed buildings can make swinging beds, bookshelves, headboard planters, and corner benches.
Repurposed Furniture
With repurposed furniture, we take wood that would otherwise be dumped and create finished wood products such as furniture or flooring. For example, you can turn your kitchen cabinet into a washstand. Just like recycling, repurposing helps to reduce the dumping of items, and it is also a cost effective method. It also helps in creating space in the house. With repurposing, you can virtually achieve anything you desire without spending too much.
Buying Furniture
When buying any furniture, consider the following aspects:
Certification– It is beneficial to ascertain whether the furniture has a logo of the certification. If not, then it is not the right option for you. The good thing about certification is that it helps you trace the origin of the material used. One of the most popular certification logos is that of Forestry Stewardship Council, a non-profit making international organization.
Materials– A good furniture is made of organic fabrics and filled with natural latex foam. The mattress used must be from pure cotton, wool, natural latex or a combination of these. If it has futons instead of a mattress, they too must be from natural substances.
Durability– It is important to consider the lifespan of the furniture before making the purchase. Cheap items in most cases last for a short time, and subsequently, they will require frequent replacements. It is prudent to go for expensive items since they are durable.
Wood type– You should avoid procuring furniture made from tropical woods since they are virtually irreplaceable. Further, woods, such as redwood and cedar, are also not a good option. However, you can consider items made from bamboo since it is long-lasting.
Origin– You should also ascertain whether the furniture is imported or made locally. It is good to consider local products because foreign items may not meet the health standards of your country.
Buying furniture, whether used or new, can be challenging, especially if you are desirous of sustainability. The good side of buying sustainable furniture is that it is cost effective as well as a safeguard to your health. Green furniture is also easy to manage and reuse.
