You’ve purchased your first home, and you can’t wait to fill it with your taste and style. However, with the state of the environment, you want to choose furniture pieces that will last and are eco-friendly. You may wonder where to begin and how you can find furniture that’s made from recycled materials and built to last. Often the purchase of non-eco-friendly pieces comes from people needing a fast and quick fix. With a little preparation on what to look for and where to start, you can avoid choosing convenience over the environment. Read on for a few tips to help you get started with your eco-friendly furniture shopping.

Shop Online

If you can’t find a local source that repurposes furniture, give online shopping a try. Not only can you take the time to find reviews, but you can order from wherever you want. Just make sure to keep an eye on shipping and the date it will arrive. Some furniture stores will allow you to try out the furniture before committing. If you’re looking for a new mattress, find an eco-friendly business that allows for a mattress trial and rest easy knowing you have time to make the right purchase for your back and the environment.

Online shopping helps you dig for interesting pieces that you may not have locally. With the world at your fingertips, you can narrow your searches to your specific tastes and wants, allowing you to curate a home you’ll love being in.

Know Your Brands

Green furniture companies work on making sustainable furniture through recycling. Many companies will say their products are green when in actuality, they aren’t using recycled or reclaimed materials, and if they are, they’re using toxic chemicals on the material. Watch out for toxic substances used on furniture and read the certifications carefully. Solvent-based lacquers create a higher pollution air quality, making the air quality in your home less pure. Instead, focus on finding pieces that use water-based lacquers which won’t ruin the air quality because they won’t admit unstable organic compounds.

Green companies include truly recycled materials and concentrate carefully on what they put on their furniture. You can search for biodegradable furniture and should see pieces made with wood, plant products, and paper. When looking for a biodegradable piece, it’s best to focus on furniture that will inevitably wear out, like the mattress. Of course, for sitting furniture, you’ll want something built to last.

Wherever you decide to search, remember you can keep an eye out for green labels. Don’t forget to check the certifications and materials to make sure your furniture is all the way eco-friendly.

Avoid Fast Furniture

Fast furniture, or cheap furniture, will often be made of lower-quality materials that are not recycled. The furniture comes with a cheaper price tag because the employees who are outsourced to create it, are often paid unlivable wages. The pieces themselves aren’t made with care and attention but are built for speed and cheap material cost. Fast furniture will wear out quicker than a quality piece. Not only do you get furniture that is cheaply made, but you’ll be harming the environment with your support of fast furniture.

It can be daunting trying to find the search for an affordable yet eco-friendly furniture piece for your home. Don’t give up the search and if you feel tempted to buy fast furniture, remember where it comes from, the wages the people are paid, and what it’s doing to the environment. It’s ok to take a little extra time when shopping for the right pieces.

Conclusion

Shopping eco-friendly can be overwhelming, but with a little preparation, you’ll be better equipped to know what to look for and where to start. Online shopping has brought the world to your fingertips and allows you to do your research. Look for eco-friendly labels, pay attention to the chemicals, and avoid fast furniture. If you do these things, you’ll be off to a great start in finding eco-friendly furniture you love and want.