The Green Bedroom

IF YOU’RE REDECORATING 

Your Paint

You don’t need to change your paint to go green. But if you're considering repainting your room, look for paint cans with low or no volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs . You can also look for paints with the Green Seal stamp of approval. “You want to buy paints that have minimum toxins and minimum violates so when you’re painting, the fumes aren’t toxic,” says Chipperfield. Benjamin Moore, Dutch Boy, MAB Paints, and Cloverdale are just a few name brands with the Green Seal. You can find a full list at the paints section of the Green Seal website.

Your Floors

Look for carpet that comes from recycled content. Not only are you recycling, but if you or the next owner decides to replace that carpet, it’s recyclable, too. If you’re thinking of hardwood, look for products approved by the Forest Stewardship Council, which certifies companies and products that practice responsible forest management.

Your Furniture

Remember the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle? The same goes for furniture, so consider going consignment if you’re in the market for a new bedroom set. “At the end of the day, you’ve saved about 10 trees,” says Terri Bowersock, of Terri’s Consign and Design in Phoenix, AZ, plus you can save 50 percent on cost. To make sure you’re buying good wood, look at the back and underside of dressers to make sure you’re buying solid wood instead of pressed wood covered in a veneer. Also, pull out the drawers to see how they’re slotted into the dresser. Wood on wood is best. Plastic wheels on thin metal slides? Pass.

Small changes can turn your bedroom into eco-friendly green. Just remember to recycle what you're not using anymore — whether you go green now or later.

Ideas for going green in other rooms can be found in these bobvila.com articles: "The Green Office," "The Green Bathroom," and "The Green Kitchen."