How to think “Green” when changing your decor

It seems today living “Green” is a top priority – at least in theory. However, actually putting these theories into practice can be expensive and time consuming. So what is reasonable? How can you make an impact on helping the environment without breaking the bank during these economic times?

I've come up with a list of 4 things you can put into practice today. As you can see, many of these changes aren’t so much to do with major changes in how you life your life, but more to do with evaluating what you do when making everyday decisions.

Quality vs. Quantity

Don’t sacrifice purchasing a quality piece of furniture that you love for a less expensive, lower quality piece that you don’t love, just because it’s cheaper. In furniture pieces such as sofas and case-goods, you get what you pay for. A quality piece of furniture will withstand the wear and tear of everyday living, which means you’re making that big ticket purchase ONCE! When you spend money on lower quality, cheaper furniture, you may feel like you've saved money - but in the long run it ends up costing you more. You will need to replace the piece, which adds to your overall investment, and you then need to dispose of the old item. This means more junk being added to our landfills.

Be Aware of Trends

Like clothing styles, furniture and décor items will also fall in and out of fashion. If you want to keep your home looking fresh, it’s best to limit trendy purchases to smaller décor items such as vases, throw pillows, candle holders, etc. That way, when they fall out of favour you haven’t spent thousands of dollars on furniture you now don’t like. It's much easier to store and re-use small items and change them up for the seasons then it is to be stuck with a large furniture item that no longer works for you or your family.

Stick to the Classics

When considering large purchases such as a sofa, area rug or case-good items keep to simple classic styles. If you look for items that are well made with clean lines and limited adornments, they will stand the test of time and never look outdated. You can always jazz things up with a blanket or throw pillow. If you look at many of the older sofa styles, many of them are relevant today. They may just need to be re-upholstered. Many of the world’s best designers only re-design their home once every 10 or 20 years because when they do a design it does not date itself – this is the true test of good design.

Consider Vintage

When looking for new items consider looking in second hand stores, antique stores, garage sales, etc. Many of the best treasures can be found here. Sometimes only needing a coat of paint or a light sanding, these pieces can become showcases in your home. Plus you’re helping out the environment by recycling products. One of my favourite chairs is a piece from my in-laws first living room set. It has great lines and is of a smaller scale. Once I have it re-upholstered it is going to look brand new, modern and very unique.

Quality Control in Living Room Basics - Coffee Table

Our last item to discuss in our series of Living Room Quality Control is the coffee table.

Like most wood furniture, coffee tables can be made of hardwood or softwood. For durability, look for a "solid wood" table and not one labelled "all wood". Solid wood tables are made of solid boards, while furniture labelled all wood is madeof engineered plywood and particleboard. Tables that are veneered may be either solid wood or engineered wood underneath, be sure to ask the retailer.

A well-made table shouldn't be wobbly or creaky. It should have legs permanently attached with mortise and tenon joints, or, in the case of removable legs, with brackets and lag bolts. Tables with legs that are stapled or glued won't have the same longevity. If the table has a drawer, look for one with dovetail joints. Dovetail joints are much stronger than stapled ones.

The finish should never feel rough or sandy. On a quality piece the finish will feel silky. The underside of a quality piece will also be stained and lacquered, to prevent moisture from penetrating the wood.

Quality Control in Living Room Basics - Rugs

Last week we discussed sofas and what to look for when buying a quality piece. Today we are going to discuss Oriental rugs. Keep in mind that wool contemporary rugs would follow these same standards.


Oriental Rugs
Quality Oriental rugs are usually made from silk, wool or a combination of the two. Wool is resistant to wear and tear and retains its appearance for years to come. Silk is softer underfoot than wool and has a wonderful, luxurious sheen. But it stains more easily and may flatten with heavy traffic.


A handknotted Oriental rug should have a base of either cotton for wool version or silk for a silk version. The base is made up of the warp (horizontal strings, which extend to become the fringe at either end) and the weft (vertical strings). Individual strands are knotted tightly onto the warp and weft by the carpetmaker.


A key measure of a rug's quality is the knot count, measured by the square inch. Flip the rug over and count the knots: a good rug should have at least 100 knots per square inch; a high-end silk rug can have as many as 1,000. There shouldn't be any gaps between knots. The higher the knot count, the denser and more durable the rug will be. If you can't make out any knots and the fringe appears to be stiched on, the rug is most likely machine made. A good quality rug should have even colour with no faded spots.

Quality Control in Living Room Basics - Sofa

When furnishing a living room, the plethora of choices can be overwhelming. The old saying "you get what you pay for" usually rings true - but what exactly does that mean in today's day and age? We are going to take a look at three different items found in the living room, how they are made and what to look for when purchasing. Let's start with everyone's staple item - The Sofa.

Sofa Frame
The frame of a sofa should be made from 100% hardwood (ash, birch, maple or oak). The hardwood should be kiln dried, meaning it's been dried in an oven. If the hardwood has been air dried it will be less strong since over time the wood will continue to dry and subsequently warp.

A sofa of less quality will have a frame made with laminated plywood or particleboard; these sofas will be lighter in weight, not as strong and won't last as nearly as long or be as durable.

Sofa Seat
The seat deck will consist of a Kevlar layer attached to the frame and topped with a spring system. Over the springs will be a layer of burlap, two layers of felt and then the upholstery. The best way to spring a seat deck is with an eight-way hand tied web and coil spring system. A lesser quality spring system will be known as "no-sag", "zig-zag", "seamless coil" or "sinuous spring".

Sofa Cushions
Good quality seat cushions are generally made from high-density polyurethane foam wrapped in down, synthetic down or cotton batting. A layer of cotton or Dacron should wrap the whole cushion before the upholstery layer. Depending on the style of sofa the cushions may have only foam for a boxier look. If buying foam cushions, ask about the density of the foam (look for a density rating of 1.8 to 2.2 lb per cubic foot).