My home is my castle! This phrase can often be heard from people seeking to make their home as safe as possible from external enemies. However, we do not always think about the internal security of our home. Meanwhile, invisible enemies can easily attack us and harm our health. We are talking about toxic chemicals in our internal environment, which do not contribute to the strength of our health.
The fact is that at the moment there is a wide variety of furniture on sale that is beautiful and comfortable. However, manufacturers in the process of a competitive race often do not focus on the safety of their products, but rather think about making them sell better and faster due to beauty, functionality, and cheap prices. In such cases, the consumer himself has to learn to navigate the peculiarities of the furniture market.
Let's figure out what materials to make modern furniture and determine the most suitable for use in our home.
Solid wood.
Usually considered the most environmentally friendly furniture. Such furniture is made of pine, birch, oak, walnut, redwood, alder, etc. It is the most expensive on the market and is often devoid of ultra-fashionable appeal (in the form of prints, colors, designs), and for that to meet your needs - most often it is made individually, to order. It is more durable and safer in terms of the release of hazardous substances. However, even in it there may be some danger from the point of view of the environmental friendliness of the adhesives used in its manufacture, varnishes, paints, as well as special additives for surface treatment from pests, water ingress. Such furniture must be ordered only from reliable manufacturers with quality certificates for their products.
Chipboard.
Chipboard is made from sawdust and shavings, which are glued together with special resins, alas, most often containing formaldehyde, then polished and painted with enamels that may contain phenol. After the production of boards, they are usually laminated - covered with a paper-resinous film and then the material acquires the name laminated chipboard.
Typically, this film prevents harmful aldehydes from being released into the air. Therefore, if you have chipboard furniture, then check its integrity on the surfaces, and, if necessary, glue these places with PVA or varnish. Also, make sure that all edges and seams that expose the chipboard material are intact, so you will reduce the concentration of hazardous resins that can be released through them.
Fiberboard.
Fiberboard is made by pressing wood fibers, with the addition of binding elements, also most often containing phenol and formaldehyde, etc.
MDF.
Medium Density Fiberboard is made by dry pressing the fibers and gluing them together with paraffin and lingin (natural wood glue). Thus, MDF boards are safer for our health, but only if they are made of high quality, since manufacturers can use instead of natural adhesives epoxy resins, chemical adhesives that also emit formaldehyde.
Plastic.
Plastic furniture is safe only if it is manufactured in accordance with quality standards and is used in rooms without temperature drops, outside of exposure. sun rays and heating (batteries, next to gas stoves etc.) In this case, the risk of the release of polymer compounds (styrene) is quite low. However, you should not abuse its amount in the interior, because over time, an imperceptible destruction of the outer covering layer and the release of harmful substances occur.
Furniture made from other natural materials
: vine (branches of shrubby willows), rattan - vines of a palm tree, reed meets all the requirements of environmental friendliness and will bring a pleasant variety to your interior.
Whatever furniture you choose, always ask the seller for an environmental safety certificate, which will indicate the formaldehyde emission factor: E 0 is an ideal option, E1 is an acceptable option, E2 is an average level, E3 is a dangerous option.
Thus, natural materials and MDF are the safest for furniture, provided they are made of high quality.
Home furnishings play a significant role in maintaining and maintaining human health. Wall and floor decoration, furniture, textile materials can cause serious complications and exacerbations of chronic diseases if harmful components were used in their production. V modern world many manufacturers focus on the release environmentally friendly furniture, which is in increasing demand among buyers who prefer a safe and healthy environment for their home.
Furniture items are bought for more than one year, therefore, even an insignificant content of harmful impurities in the materials, varnishes and paints that were used in their manufacture can be harmful during prolonged contact with a person. One of the most dangerous substances used in furniture manufacturing is formaldehyde. Even a small concentration of it in the air can provoke allergies and asthma. Therefore, when buying furniture, especially for a children's room, for a bedroom, it is important to purchase environmentally friendly products.
Why choose wooden furniture
Give preference to furniture made of natural wood - right choice, because the tree contains beneficial phytoncides that stand out even when the product has served for several years. In addition, it is no secret that trees have positive energy. Do not think that solid wood furniture is not affordable for everyone. Domestic producers make excellent products from inexpensive species - birch and pine.
In addition, the tree fits perfectly not only into, but also to almost anyone.
Vine furniture - a variant of eco-furnishings for home and summer cottages
Beautiful and practical wicker furniture is in great demand. Originally designed for country houses, she has successfully taken root in city apartments. Elegant tables, cabinets, armchairs and especially beloved rocking chairs are made of rattan, willow or bamboo. There are also combined options with glass or steel. Such items, despite their grace and visible fragility, can last up to 25 years. They do not require special care, can be easily cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, and their only drawback is that they are afraid of rain.
How to check if your furniture is environmentally friendly
- When buying, ask the sellers for an environmental certificate. The certificate guarantees that the product does not contain, for example, cadmium used in paints or lead.
- If New furniture emits a pungent smell, you should think about its environmental friendliness. Despite the fact that according to GOST, the smell should disappear no more than after 2.5 months, such a purchase may turn into an unnecessary headache. After all, well-being largely depends on the air in the apartment.
- When choosing a bed or sofa, avoid products on foam rubber - over time, it decomposes, which leads to the release of harmful substances.
- Give preference to upholstery made from natural, non-electrifying fabrics.
Buying very expensive things, or household goods, completely free from harmful impurities, you automatically become an eco-consumer. Eco-furniture - is it so safe? Which upholstery is better to buy and which one to refuse?
It is useful to buy things that are safe for both the buyer and the manufacturer, only then can they be classified as completely environmentally friendly.
Eco-friendly furniture: truth and myths
Wooden furniture has always been considered sustainable. Is it really? It turns out that the purest of all is an array treated with oil or wax.
But natural solid wood will not always be an environmentally friendly material. You should not purchase a bleached array, since during processing, in order to achieve such an effect, chlorine-containing substances are used.
MDF or chipboard, what to choose? Is chipboard really so dangerous?
- Chipboard should not be placed in the sun and near heat sources - on a warm floor or near a radiator, it can emit harmful substances.
- And also you should be afraid of chips and scratches.
In all other cases, chipboard is quite safe, but it can in no way be attributed to an environmentally friendly material.
MDF is more prosperous, but not ideal, because it is not natural material... Both materials must be varnished or laminated. It is important to pay attention to what kind of varnish or composition the MDF is covered with.
Only water-based varnishes do not emit harmful substances, but they will also last less.
Is the filling of upholstered furniture fraught with danger?
Do you know what your sofa, pillow, armchair is filled with? Is your mattress dangerous? Do not know? And completely in vain! can be dangerous, and the pillow can cause allergies and various diseases. How do you know what to buy?
Let's start with polyurethane foam, the most common material in everyday life.
You can only buy PPU without freon, which should be written on the product tag. This means that inside synthetic fibers, either processed down or feathers. But even here there are skeletons in the closet, some manufacturers treat fluff and feathers with chemicals. So that dust mites do not settle in them. Better when processing is done by sterilization. These items are marked with a green tag.
Dangerous Cotton - Non-Hazardous Linen
Are you sure that cotton is an environmentally friendly and safe material? Do you know how it is going? Even during harvesting, cotton is exposed to chemical attack. So that the leaves crumble and the cotton box is exposed, the plant is sprinkled with detergents. But that's not all - after that, the cotton is treated with bleaching, lightening and dyed with synthetic dyes.
But flax is not afraid of insects, it is easier to collect - flax is not processed with the help of chemistry. Looking for a completely safe eco-friendly material? Choose unbleached linen.
What clothes are safe for health?
Choose clothes that wrinkle. Inconvenient? Be prepared for an unpleasant filling: so that the upholstery does not wrinkle, it is treated with a mixture of resins that contain a very unpleasant cocktail of formaldehyde and glyoxal. To make cotton white-white, it is impregnated with special substances that contain dioxins. Alas, environmentally friendly products are available only in the elite segment, everything else is fiction. For such goods, raw materials are collected by hand, without using chemicals... And then covered with beeswax, paraffin or oil. How do you know if a product is safe?
Look for a tag with the "Green Cotton" badge
Surprise upholstery
If your sofa upholstery or mattress cover can be washed, you shouldn't rejoice - it contains chemicals that help the cover not to shrink, often treated with artificial resins, which can easily contain formaldehyde.
So, in order not to be afraid of your own sofa and upholstery, choose upholstery that is subject to dry cleaning only.
Another way out is to buy sofas with organic wool upholstery, look for such an inscription on the tag - Wolle organic wool. Organic wool is not exposed to any impact. But you should know that the price of such wool is enormous, as it is rarely found.
Silk upholstery is quite safe for humans, but since chemistry is used to grow faster, sometimes formaldehyde and substances that disinfect can be found in it. In order to make the silk heavier, they use solutions of metal salts and silicates. It is not dangerous to humans, but when disposed of, it is very harmful to environment, which is why silk is not considered a fully organic product.
Often, cheaper materials from primary raw materials are used in eco-style, usually three twisted ribbons can be seen on the tag.
Is leather an environmentally friendly material? Yes, the leather is quite environmentally friendly, even though natural acids and chromium salts are used during processing - all these substances are safe for humans. But colored leather can be dangerous, because it is not clear what dyes were used.
There is no organic category for furniture as is used in food and clothing labeling. Although some elements may have the word organic in the product name or description.1. Choosing upholstered furniture
Let's start with home furnishings, where you can find the word organic on the label or in the product description.- Soft furniture: Look for chairs and sofas upholstered in natural organic fabrics and filled with natural latex foam.
- Mattresses: organic cotton, organic wool and natural latex are good alternatives to the materials used to create regular mattresses. Most organic latex mattresses have core wrapped in wool (naturally flame retardant) or cotton or a combination of both, and some are usually wrapped in a combination of these materials. Choose organic cotton or organic wool mattress toppers.
2. Consider bamboo
Bamboo furniture is not a bad option. While not technically a tree (it is grass), it looks like a tree and is generally grown without pesticides. Because it is already growing so quickly that resilience to renewal is not a problem for it. The only drawback is the transport footprint.3. Transport
Since transportation also uses energy, transportation responsibility is also part of getting sustainable, sustainable furniture.- Furniture must be efficiently transported without overcoming excessive space and energy during transport.
- Local furniture using only local production and raw materials has less.
4. Stay away from toxic materials and finishes
The easiest way to avoid toxins like formaldehyde is to buy furniture made from materials that do not contain them.Choose hardwood furniture that contains less paint. Less commonly, glass and metal furniture.
5. Try to avoid:
- Upholstery marked STAIN-RESISTANT, may be toxic
- Inflatable furniture, faux leather and vinyl furniture covers. All can contain phthalate based PVC.
- Furniture made of chipboard, fiberboard, plywood - anything that may contain formaldehyde adhesives.
- Avoid all tropical hardwoods (mahogany and teak) as well as mahogany and many western cedars, which tend to be made from irreplaceable old forests - unless certified.
Look for local furniture makers and artisans in local newspapers, theme sites, and craft fairs. Look for handicraft furniture made from salvaged trees and wrought metal, organic wool and cotton, and recycled fabrics.
7. Choose functionality
The furniture must also be functional and durable.- Give preference to multifunctional furniture
- Durability also matters because well-made furniture with a longer functional shelf life contributes to a healthier planet without filling up landfills.
8. Vintage furniture
Vintage and antique furniture are two of the more sustainable options you can make to furnish your home. There is no hard distinction when furniture becomes antique; for some people this is all that is well forgotten old, others argue that the elements must be at least 20 years old.Antique furniture is technically anything made 100 years ago. Most people simply assume that this is furniture made at the turn of the 20th century. In any case, if it is old, it does not use any additional energy, water or other resources associated with production.
When choosing antique furniture, keep the following in mind:
- Furniture must comply with current safety regulations. Please note that the furniture is not radioactive.
- Vintage painted furniture made before 1978 may contain lead. Old antiques - early 19th century - most likely not. Lead paint is a problem, if it peels off, you can coat it with varnish, for example, but it can affect appearance and the value of the work. If you have small children around, you might want to think twice before buying these items, or put off buying them until your children get older.
- Decorating or restoring antiques is also usually best left to the experts. If you are thinking of re-painting or re-painting 20th century furniture, you will find that all paint contains lead and you should take appropriate precautions when handling them.
9., restoration and repurposing
Getting creative with reusing household items is a great way to come up with furniture and accessories that are truly one of a kind. It can also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. According to the American Society of Interior Designers, 90 percent of all US production ends up in landfills less than a year after production.10. Furniture
If you have a love of tinkering or have a fellow craftsman, you can make your own furniture from scratch. Work with wood that has been extracted from rivers, lakes, reservoirs, old buildings - or work with wood that has a history that can make this furniture even more special.The situation in a house or apartment plays a significant role in maintaining and preserving the health of a child: finishing walls and floors made of harmful substances, synthetic textile materials, furniture made of poor quality plastic can cause an exacerbation of chronic diseases and serious complications, therefore, when arranging a child's room, it is necessary to give preference to objects furniture and accessories, in the production of which exclusively environmentally friendly and safe materials were used.
Furniture items for children are bought for several years in advance, so even a small amount of harmful impurities and chemicals in varnishes, paints and materials can harm a child with prolonged contact. One of the most dangerous substances, which is nevertheless widely used in furniture production, is formaldehyde, a low concentration of which in the air can provoke asthma and allergies.
Design of a small children's bedroom in modern style: what should you pay attention to?
You can find out how to decorate a nursery for two children of different sexes in the detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
In today's article, the command Stylingroom prepared for you a selection of photos of environmentally friendly furniture for children's rooms from the famous furniture company Kalon.
Environmentally friendly and safe playpens for the little ones
In the arena, small children spend a lot of time playing and sleeping. The design arenas from the Echo Crib collection are 100% made of natural, high-quality wood, covered with harmless varnishes and paints on water based... Stylish minimalist playpens have high strength and durability, perfect for decorating a children's room at home or apartment, made in any style and color scheme.
So, the photo below shows one of these arenas from the Kalon company. The playpen, made in neutral light shades, fits perfectly into the minimalist children's room, the walls, floor, ceiling and furniture of which are decorated in white tones, using light wood.
Stylish, environmentally friendly arena from Kalon.
In the photo below, we see another environmentally friendly and safe playpen for children from the Caravan Crib collection. The piece of furniture is made of natural maple covered with safe water-based dyes. The minimalist playpen in light, neutral colors goes well with the light wood furniture of the children's room and the crisp white floor, and also creates an interesting contrast to the dark gray matte walls of the room.
White minimalistic playpen in a stylish nursery.
The stylish playpen in the following photo also belongs to the Caravan crib collection. The furniture is made of natural wood in light shades, and the rods of the arena are painted in a classic black color. Designers used a minimalistic playpen to decorate a small children's room, the walls, floor and ceiling of which are made in neutral, light colors and shades.
A minimalistic playpen in a small stylish nursery.
Kalon designers offer their customers not only playpens made in classic neutral colors, but also playpens in various bright colors and shades, for example, red, pink, blue, green, yellow. The Caravan Crib in the next photo is made from natural, high quality wood, and the rods of the arena are painted in a bright blue.
An unusual arena with bright blue partitions.
Eco-friendly dressers and wardrobes for children's rooms
The designers have also released a collection of safe and non-toxic children's wardrobes and dressers made exclusively from natural materials. So, the photo below shows a small wooden chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection, which will perfectly match the arena from the Caravan Crib collection, since when creating both collections of children's furniture, Kalon designers used identical materials and colors.
Small stylish chest of drawers from the Caravan Dresser collection.
If you want to make your child's nursery bright, sunny and cheerful, then use items of furniture and accessories in a rich yellow color. So, in the next photo we see a stylish minimalist chest of drawers and playpen from the Caravan collections, made of natural light wood, using elements of bright yellow color. Stylish, environmentally friendly children's furniture fits perfectly into the interior of a small room in a private house, made in neutral light colors.
Unique chest of drawers and playpen with yellow elements.
The designer chest of drawers in the following photo is from the IoLine Dresser furniture collection. A stylish, massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech is perfect for complementing not only a child's room, but also a child's parents' bedroom or living room. The chest of drawers is equipped with comfortable drawers, in which the child can put his things, toys, books, school supplies.
A massive and roomy chest of drawers made of natural beech.
Unusual pieces of furniture and accessories for children's rooms
At the end of our article, we have prepared for you a selection of truly unique, unusual and original, and most importantly, environmentally friendly and safe pieces of furniture and accessories that will be an excellent addition and decoration of a modern children's room.
So, in the photo below, three wooden blocks from Kalon are provided, which can be used as shelves for storing things and toys, chairs, as well as to create an interesting play space that your child will certainly like. Wooden blocks will not take up much space, they can be placed, for example, in a corner, thereby filling the free, unused space of the room.
Fancy wooden blocks from Kalon.
Particularly noteworthy are the stylish wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection, which designers produce in bright red, yellow, green, blue and pink colors. Wooden baby chairs at the international exhibition Salone del Mobile (2010) were recognized as the best product of the year, they are perfect for decorating a children's room and will appeal not only to children, but also to adults.
Multi-colored wooden chairs from the Hut-Hut Kids collection.
The multi-colored colorful chairs will perfectly fit into the nursery, made in neutral, light colors and shades, they also go well with the chest of drawers and playpen from the Caravan collection.
Small nursery with environmentally friendly furniture from Kalon.
Designers produce wooden chairs Hut-Hut Kids not only in a variety of colors, but also made of various materials... So, buyers can order chairs for the nursery from the following FSC-certified materials: bamboo, cork, maple, white acacia, black walnut. Wooden chairs are highly durable and reliable; not only children, but also adults can sit on them, so such chairs will also be an excellent decoration for a living room or a veranda.
Doing repairs in one-room apartment? You can read about how to equip a stylish nursery in a one-room apartment here.
Interior of a room for a teenage girl: tips and tricks from real professionals.
Not sure how to properly decorate a nursery for two boys? Read the detailed article by the Stylingroom team.
Eco-friendly Hut-Hut Kids chairs in the living room interior.
Rules for choosing environmentally friendly furniture for children
When choosing furniture for decorating the interior of a children's room, you must be guided by the following rules:
- Give preference to natural wood furniture. Thus, pine furniture for children is light and sunny, has high strength, pine wood is rich in ascorbic acid. Birch furniture has a relatively high strength and hardness, dried wood for most mechanical characteristics looks like a beech. Children's furniture made of solid beech has a red-brown color, is in no way inferior to oak furniture in strength and hardness, the texture of beech is distinguished by its beauty and high decorative qualities. Oak children's furniture is beautiful and durable, as well as absolutely safe for adults and children.
Oak furniture has a very beautiful colour and texture, to give wood high decorative qualities, it is often subjected to bleaching, staining or pickling (staining means long-term aging of oak in water, from which the material acquires an unusual dark purple color).
- Please note that the nursery wooden furniture can only be coated with a harmless water-based varnish.
- The fabric used to cover furniture must also be environmentally friendly and safe, the following materials are perfect: organic cotton, polar fleece, remy, sasavashi, sisel, silk, soy, lyosel, bamboo, linen. So, when growing organic cotton, pesticides and other chemicals are not used; the production of such material has international certificates OEKO-TEX, Organic Exchange or GOTS. Polar fleece is a synthetic material that comes from cleanly washed bottles. Polar fleece furniture is suitable for children from 3 years old, as infants often have overheating and sweating from synthetics. Remi is a natural material made from a special plant native to western Asia. Sasavashi visually resembles flax, has hypoallergenic and antibacterial properties. Sisel is a cellulose, which consists of a natural polymer that preserves living plant cells and algae fibers in its structure. Liosel is made only from trees that are grown without the use of chemicals.
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