Aiming for a greener home does not have to lead to a radical adjustment to your lifestyle.

There are many ways to be eco-friendly without having to have a complete overhaul to your home and life.
Being more eco-friendly also has the added bonus of saving you money…

Focus on energy saving improvements and energy efficient appliances which you can build into your eco friendly life.

-Quick Guide: How to be Energy Efficient –

Insulation in the Home

One of the most important ways to be more energy efficient is to make sure you have adequate insulation. Nearly half all energy lost in the home is through poor insulation of the loft and walls.
As well as checking that your loft and walls are properly insulated, it is also worth checking your floor’s insulation and filling in gaps and draughts- Although remember to always keep some form of ventilation in your house, especially in rooms with fires, heaters, boilers and especially the kitchen and bathrooms.

Also, opt for double-glazed windows – they are a fantastic solution to eco-friendly living and can help you save up to half your heat and energy loss.

Re-decorating your Home

Firstly, try not to buy too many new products unless they are necessary. You can always try a neighbour’s garage or thrift shops to find what you are looking for. If you have to buy new products then make sure you choose natural products as far as possible.
Natural materials include wool, silk, sissal and sea-grass.

Also, always try and choose sustainable products. Avoid imported timber and any wood from non-sustainable sources. Also, choose local and natural products or products made from recycled materials and substances.

Day-to-day

• Energy saving lightbulbs
• Install a low flow shower head
• Recycle, reuse and compost – reduce the amount of stuff you send to the landfill
• Find out about recycling programmes in the community
• Properly dispose of hazardous waste - Cleaners, oils, paints, pesticides, batteries and solvents should never go out with the household garbage as they end up contaminating the soil and groundwater in your community

Houseplants are a great addition to any home. As well as serving to beautify your interior, houseplants provide oxygen and help to clean the air. Specially selected plants are even used in orbiting spacecraft because of their beneficial air purifying properties. However, keeping houseplants healthy and fresh can be a troublesome task. That’s why we’ve listed a top number of tips to help you keep your greens green and hassle-free.

The first step is to select the correct plants for your climate region and your specific home.

Plants are fascinating life forms. They utilize photosynthesis to create organic compounds from carbon dioxide, unlike animals that need to consume other living organisms to produce energy in order to survive. However, plants use light as their energy, to transport water up through their stems and extract minerals from the soil using their roots.

Different plants need different levels of light. Choose low light plants for areas that are far away from the window, or suffer from a particularly dark seasonal climate. You can use shadows to measure the strength of light in a particular area. For example, if the shadow of the plant is hard to detect, then the light in that area is low. If the shadow is detectable but not sharp, then light is medium strength. If the shadow is sharp, then light is bright and plentiful.

Think about using sheer curtains to increase the amount of light entering the room. However, you should be careful about placing plants between a curtain and a window during cold weather spells, especially if the plant species is not very tolerant of low temperatures.

Plants tend to bend towards the direction of light, ao make sure you turn the plants regularly to keep them growing in an attractive shape. Note that some plants do not tolerate excessive sunlight, so it pays to do your research before ordering.

Plants that come from rainforest environments are often the easiest to grow indoors because they are adapted to living under a canopy with limited sunlight. Such plants include the Ficus, Cheese Plants, Rubber Tree Plants, Dracaeana and Begonias. However, these plants are also adapted to plenty of moisture as they come from the Rain Forest, so they will need frequent watering.

As  many houseplants are tropical species, they tend to like humidity. They also prefer warm environments. However, generally humidity is more important than temperature, so you will need to take this into consideration when thinking about the right environment for your plants.

If your houseplants are losing leaves or yellowing, then lack of humidity may be the cause. Heated rooms tend to be dry, although steam and water heaters are less drying than air heaters. The correct humidity for most houseplants ranges between 50 to 70 per cent. To raise the humidity in a room, increase the number of plants you have (each plant generates humidity of its own). Placing jars of water in the room will also work, or you can set plants in a tray full of wet gravel. Misting plants regularly is also beneficial (unless they have fuzzy leaves). You should mist at least once a day, and for many plants several times a day is better. And, if you’ve got the cash to flash, purchasing a humidifier that pumps water vapour into the air may be the answer.

Never allow temperatures to dip below 50 degrees F, as most houseplants are not adapted to cold weather. Also remember that windows tend to be colder than other areas of the room because of poorer insulation. You might want to consider double glazed windows for their extra insulation.

Soil is another important element in keeping houseplants healthy. Make sure you use fresh soil and only use fertilizers that are specifically made for houseplants. Use fertilizers only during the spring and summer, a bit in the autumn, but not in the winter. You can also groom plants by trimming off withering parts, or faded flowers to keep them in good-looking shape, and encourage re-growth.

Keeping your houseplants fresh is fairly simple once you have taken time to learn about specific types, and have started a regular routine. The benefits however, both aesthetic and health-related, are well worth the effort!

Since the beginning of time, mankind has endeavoured to add a sense of individuality to their living environment. Today, we have many spaces we call our own where we can express our personal taste. The interiors and exteriors of our homes are a great potential canvas for our personal creativity. Occasionally, however, we’re out of ideas. Mentally blocked. Completely stumped. While using the colour ‘black’ to perk up a room may seem like a daunting prospect, it’s actually far better decorating option than perhaps it seems. 

 Black is best used to add drama and contrast to a room, and is frequently the colour of mystery, sleekness, and elegance. While many shy away from using large amounts of the colour on walls and panels, it can be a great way to add a luxurious, modern touch to a room, providing it is well illuminated and in a large, open space; it is not advised for small, dark places as it will enhance that hemmed-in feeling.

Black also makes a great accent colour. Accent colours can be picked up in throw pillows, curtains, rugs, and other decorative accessories. Black shutters, accent trim, and front doors can also makes an excellent accent to your exterior paint colour, diffusing borders and highlighting show-off areas.

Black is frequently used in conjunction with white to make the ultimate monochrome contrast. The vibrant pop of primary colours used in contemporary styles aids a room by creating the impression of depth when used alongside black, just like the vivid hues of a sunset against a black landscape. Rugged black iron work can add a whimsical touch to an eclectic interior. Black also works great against any paint colour from soft pastels to jewel tones.

Each room of the house can benefit from a black decorative piece. Black curtains in a bedroom can add a sexy richness to the room. Black curtains also have the added benefit of letting less light in for the late sleepers. Really, black curtains can be used to great effect in any room. The bathroom can be updated with black towels and toiletries. Black appliances give a kitchen a clean, modern look. Lamps with black bases or black shades make excellent accent pieces in any room of the house. A black blown-glass bowl set on a side table can be a great conversation piece.

Searching for the perfect black focal piece can be an adventure in itself.  The Internet provides a great variety of choices, and you can also shop for the best price. Other great places to look are interior decoration stores, home improvement stores and department stores. If you are looking for a deal, try flea markets and garage sales. Hunting for a find at these venues can be like treasure hunting; a productive and exciting way to spend a Saturday morning.

Try decorating with black. Don’t be scared of it. Adding small black accents to update your style, or think ‘big and bold’ to really create a statement. After all, it does go with everything.

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