Designing an Eco-Friendly Kid’s Room
When we “think” eco-friendly, we have to consider all that goes into protecting our environment and ourselves. In fact, “going green” has become a pervasive effort in everything from “smart” cities, to architectural design, to individual homeowners.
This is especially important in kids’ living and sleeping spaces for two reasons:
one, we want to protect them from toxic materials that can cause physical harm, internally and externally
two, we want to raise kids who are environmentally conscious as teens and adults, who honor every living thing on the planet, and who avoid non-renewable products
This is a tall order, but it begins in infancy and carries through to teaching and modeling as they grow.
Let’s unpack what an eco-friendly kid’s room might “look like” in terms of design and materials.
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The Bed
For soon-to-be parents, it’s fun shopping for baby room furniture, especially that crib. And there are so many great designs. The most important consideration is two-fold:
The crib itself should be made of organic, renewable materials, as opposed to synthetics. If someone you know has such a crib that their child has outgrown, offer to buy it.
Where was the crib manufactured? Part of being eco-friendly is buying products made by manufacturers who have fair labor standards.
Think bamboo. This amazingly versatile wood is enormously eco-friendly. Bamboo grows at the rate of about 12 inches in a day. It’s renewable and recyclable. Further, it doesn’t involve deforestation.
Bamboo is also one of the hardest woods (30% harder than oak, for example) and is a perfect wood for durable furniture. At the same time, it is lighter than other woods and can be moved about easily.
More on this amazing wood to follow.
One final note: If you buy a crib that converts to a youth bed, even better. This one purchase can last up to four-five years.
Mattress and Bedding
Again, the operative word is organic and all-natural. The best choices are all cotton or, again, bamboo.
When purchasing a mattress, mattress cover, bumper pads, or sheets/blankets, be certain to look for the Greenguard Gold label. This certifies that the product has no chemicals that could emit toxins into the air that your child breathes or that could harm the skin.
And of course, choosing a manufacturer with fair labor standards is also vital.
Paint
Commercial paints usually contain dangerous levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Not only do these deplete the ozone, but they release toxins into the air that you and your child breathe.
Surprisingly, Kilz is eco-friendly, so it can be used as a primer to cover stains and such before applying the finish coat.
Paints made of chalk and milk are probably the most popular eco-friendly paints. And, while some commercial paints contain animal by-products or are actually tested on live animal skin, these two do not.
Flooring
Wall-to-wall carpeting in a child’s room is not a smart idea. There are spills of all kinds. For this reason, many parents choose some type of flooring that is easily cleaned and disinfected.
Again, many types of flooring do include toxins embedded during the manufacturing process. Laminates are notorious for this. Choosing eco-friendly flooring will include such materials as bamboo or cork, as well as some natural hardwoods.
Bamboo and cork are the best choices because they do not involve deforestation. And cork is renewable and recyclable, just as bamboo. Sealants are also a consideration. Many are tested on animals and also include VOCs.
Purchase sealers that are water or plant-based, and read the ingredients very carefully.
If you choose a cork or bamboo flooring, you may want to use an area or scatter rugs. Again, only organic and natural ingredients – all cotton or bamboo, but nothing that is synthetic or made from animals.
Windows
Obviously, it is important to use as little energy as possible. A huge energy waster is old, single-pane windows without good seals. Replacing windows can be expensive initially but will pay for themselves over the long-term in reduced heating and cooling costs.
Window Coverings
Whether you go with blinds, curtains, or a combination of both, avoid plastics or synthetic wood products. There are VOCs in these. And remember that plastics take about 450 years to degrade.
Again, only organic and natural materials for curtains
Toys
Children’s rooms are generally filled with toys – everything from stuffed animals to plastic objects of all sorts, to blocks, to puzzles, and more.
Avoiding plastics as much as possible goes with the saying. First, they can contain toxic materials (especially in the paints); second, many are made under unfair labor conditions in third-world countries; third, they are non-biodegradable.
If your child longs for a specific plastic toy, see if you can find one at a garage sale or from a friend whose child has outgrown it. At least, this reduces the increase in plastics in the environment.
Toys made from all-natural products are the best – woods and cotton for soft toys.
Another issue is where the toys are made. Many manufacturers have fair labor practices and will have certification labels on their toys. Look for those before you buy.
Natural Green
Plants. Your kid’s room needs plants. Obviously, you want ones that are non-toxic to humans – spider plants and or African violets in hanging planters. They will improve the air quality in a room, as you know. And, as your kiddo grows older, he can be responsible for caring for those plants.
Lighting
Natural lighting from outside will be the biggest money-saver in lighting. But switching out old bulbs with LEDs can save a large amount of energy use. In fact, change them throughout your entire house.
Use Only Environmentally-Friendly Detergents
Every bit of material product in your child’s room will have to be laundered regularly. As you consider this, be careful about the detergents you use.
Chemical compounds such as nitrogen and phosphorous are dangerous when released into wastewater. The result is too much oxygen and over-growth of algae, which consume too much oxygen and threaten normal levels of flora and fauna.
Chemicals used for dirt and stains are toxic to water ecosystems and even work to break down fish skin, making those fish more susceptible to infections that can prove fatal.
The chemical impacts of laundry detergents and other common household cleaners have been the subject of many academic papers. This matter is of interest for professional thesis writing too, especially in the areas of chemistry and environmental science. Many of these eye-opening writing assignments are published and available to review online.
Teach Your Children
It takes lots of research, thought, and commitment to make certain that your child’s room is eco-friendly. And initially, it may be a bit expensive. But you need to think long-term. And, as your child grows, he needs to begin to understand why you do the things you do to keep his room environmentally safe and to make an individual impact on the larger picture of protecting the planet. The goal is to raise a child who becomes as environmentally conscious as you are.
Author’s Bio: Jessica Fender is a professional content creator, copywriter, and editorial manager on Writerscapital. Her experience in digital marketing and professional development has enabled her to write better articles, essays, and case studies on these topics. Jessica enjoys reading personal development lit and listening to podcasts.
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