Thinking about the environment means looking at what one spends money on when it comes to children. Diapers, clothing, bedding and also nursery furniture and all considerations of an eco-friendly upbringing. When one first starts looking at these things in detail, it can be surprising to find that there are a lot of potentially hazardous issues. This article is going to talk about nursery furniture and nursery materials and their potential hazard to the health of your baby and the environment and what to look for instead.
First of all when it comes to the nursery there are many things one wants to do with it; paint it, put in new flooring and clean it. Carpets, paint and cleaning products all can emit toxic fumes called volatile organic compounds of which some are carcinogenic and can irritate the lungs and thus one’s breathing. Children are much more susceptible to toxins then adults as their lungs are smaller and they also breathe much faster. Babies are even more susceptible especially as their lungs are much smaller and haven’t developed as far as a child’s or adult’s. Their immune and nervous system are only in the early stages of development. They also breathe faster. As a result they inhale more toxins than adults do and have much smaller bodies. This is also a caution for pregnant women, as inhalation of toxins can also affect the baby.
First of all one will want to paint the nursery and many people leave to the last minute. If you are going to paint the nursery it is best to do it as soon as you can and ventilate it well. If you are pregnant this is a job best left to someone else to be extra safe. When painting you need to give at least a month or so for the room to properly air before putting your baby in there. The longer you leave a room to dry and let the paint settle the better. It is also best to avoid conventional paint and look for eco friendly paints and ones low in VOCs. You could also try looking for milk or natural paints. There are also paints that are completely VOC free and thus do not emit any fumes. These are well worth looking for to be extra safe.
Besides paint there is also the floor to contend with. Carpet is far from ideal when it comes to toxins and being green. New carpet will emit VOCs and with its flame-resistant properties will also add more toxins into the mix. Carpets can also trap in dust, mold and pesticides and your baby will be crawling on it and be very close to it. Carpet is best avoided but there are some great alternative carpets such as cork or bamboo that you could use without the toxic issues. If you do not like the idea of a bamboo or cork carpet then wood flooring is the better option. You can also use natural rugs on the floor for particular areas to add some cosiness and make it softer for your moving baby.
Lastly there is the issue of furniture. Many people do not think that furniture could possibly admit toxins – I didn’t at one point. However if you are buying cheap MDF/chipboard style furniture, this type of furniture usually contains formaldehydes that can be hazardous to health. Avoid them at all costs and only go for furniture that is formaldehyde free or solid wood.
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘Flooring’
A kitchen remodel not only adds significant value to your home, but it can also improve your quality of life. If you are thinking of giving your outdated kitchen a much needed overhaul, it is important to consider current kitchen trends. This will allow you to create a space not only pleases you and your family, but also appeals to prospective future buyers. Below you will find an over-view of the most current kitchen trends that will help enhance your lifestyle and the value of your home.
The Sustainable Kitchen. Eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but most notably in the kitchen where a few small changes can make a significant impact. You can use inexpensive recycled or natural materials such as recycled glass counter tops or formaldehyde-free bamboo for work surfaces and flooring. Convenient built-in recycling centers and food composters can save space and make recycling simple. The overall idea is making the kitchen effortlessly eco-friendly so that being green isn’t a sacrifice, it’s just an easy part of your everyday life. Multi-functional Convenience. Since your kitchen remodel should focus on making life easier, multi-functional features are the way to go. Some examples of this trend include sinks with accessories, such as built-in preparation boards, colanders, and/or drain trays. Storage that is both stylish and highly engineered can save you both space and frustration. Cupboard inserts and custom storage areas with adjustable dividers and pull out baskets are big value-adders. Some of today’s homes have appliances set on wheels or movable islands which allow you to easily rearrange the kitchen for convenient preparation, cleaning, and entertaining… which is not just multi-functional, but also kind of fun. The High-Tech Kitchen. Just like every other aspect of our lives, kitchens are featuring more technology than ever. A lot of this technology is focused on making the kitchen more enjoyable and adding a bit of the “wow” factor. From flat-screen televisions and computer-based entertainment systems to retracting ventilation hoods and gas burners, technology can make the kitchen more fun, convenient, and cool. The kitchen is both a social and functional space in the home. Small additions, like a small mobile device charging station, really illustrate this point. Imagine your family returning home in the evening, immediately plugging in their mobile devices, and congregating in the kitchen to catch up with each other. The Fresh, Foodie Kitchen. The rising popularity of celebrity chefs and shows like Top Chef help demonstrate a cultural shift towards culinary appreciation and fresh food preparation. The result is the growing popularity of restaurant grade appliances and features that promote fresh, healthy food preparation. Commercial grade stoves are more popular than ever. Filtered faucets and refrigerators with multiple cooling and humidity settings for keeping food fresh longer are in demand. Copper sinks have made a comeback due to their rustic appeal and natural anti-bacterial properties. State of the art food storage and fresh herbs on the window sill are easy, inexpensive ways to incorporate this trend into your kitchen. The Come-Back of Color and Shape. Unexpected flashes of color and bold shapes are all the rage, and offer a nice juxtaposition to the earthy mellowness of the eco-friendly trend. Colorful paint, tiles or back splashes add some punch to an otherwise monochromatic space. Vivid blues, oranges and corals are particularly popular. Stainless steel appliances are still accepted, but colorful appliances are more cutting-edge, and seem at once both modern and retro. Likewise, unexpected shapes – it could be anything from your windows to accessories purchased at the flea market – add interest and character to your kitchen space. The idea is to make the space fun and unique, but not obnoxious, so be careful to self edit if you find the color and shapes taking over.
The degree of allergies varies from person to person. It can especially be disheartening to see a young child with allergies to the extent that they cannot even have a pet. Could you imagine having a pet for years, and all of a sudden finding out you are no longer able to keep it? Is there a means to deal with pet allergies that may lessen or even eliminate altogether the suffering for adults and children?
What Are You Allergic To? **
By establishing whether your pet is really the origin of an allergy is certainly the best starting point. Regardless, that can be a difficult task if you already have a pet since the allergens are very difficult to eliminate entirely.
If an existing pet can be removed and the home thoroughly cleaned (carpets, walls, furniture etc.) you MAY be able to verify the allergy in several months. Obviously that is not the easiest solution.
Having the child stay with a friend or relative for a week or two (as long as there are no pets in the house) may show an improvement that might point to an allergy to the family pet.
A visit to your physician can authenticate an allergy with a simple exam. The tests vary, but some can be mildly uneasy and would likely not be considered if the symptoms were mild.
Some symptoms are compounded by exposure to several allergens. By identifying different sources and removing them you may find the reaction to pets is lessened and not a barrier to enjoying their company.
Establishing an Allergy Friendly Home **
There are several steps you can take to reduce the build up of allergens and bring relief to allergy sufferers.
The initial suggestion is to have hardwood or other smooth surface for your flooring. Carpets hold far more of the particles that cause allergies and hard flooring makes it easy to disinfect.
Leather furnishings is also ideal for homes with pet allergies. For the exact reason as hard flooring is more suitable than carpet, leather holds far less allergens than fabric.
Keep a chair for the allergy sufferer that pets are not allowed to sit on. Also be certain that animals do not sleep on the beds or enter the bedrooms of allergy sufferers. Think about keeping the sleeping area of the home as a pet-free zone.
Making Your Pet as Hypo-Allerggenic as Possible **
There are even things you can do with your pet to lessen the allergic effects of having them in your home.
Frequent grooming and bathing with a mild soap to prohibit over drying will reduce the dander that is one of the leading causes of pet allergies. It would be recommended that someone without allergies take on this task.
Washing hands after playing with a pet and avoiding touching your face with unwashed hands will also help. Since some individuals are also allergic to the saliva of pets it would be sensible to not allow your pet to lick you.
In the instance of more serious allergies or asthma it may be necessary that no pet share the home. For older children or adults it may be feasible to find a medication or treatment which makes the situation tolerable if they prefer to keep the pet in spite of the allergy.
Being a “green parent” has been growing in popularity over the past few years as people become more conscious of their impact on the environment and their overall health. Many parents want to bring up a child in a safe environment and want to be able to provide for them without having a huge impact on the environment they live in.
Green parenting can encompass a whole host of issues, which are not only exclusively related to material objects. A great place to have a “green clean” is your baby’s nursery. Of course one of the best things you can do for the environment and for your baby is to co-sleep. This not only provides extra bonding time between parent and child but also creates a safer and more comfortable environment for a baby. A baby wants to be close to their mother to ensure that they are safe and loved. This way also you avoid all the common toxins associated with the nursery.
However if you do decide that you want a nursery for your child there many things you need to consider that most people overlook and do not realize could be a health hazard.
Paint – Most people paint their nursery, however paint can be high in Volatile Organic Compounds, which pollute the air and can be harmful to your baby and you. Many people also paint just before their baby is born and the paint does not have a proper chance to fully air. At least a month is needed for this. Instead of using standard paint, if you want to paint the nursery look for eco-friendly paints, natural paints, milk paints or ones low in VOCs.
Flooring – Not only do people give their baby’s nursery a lick of paint, they also tend to change the flooring. New carpet can be toxic too. They can contain endocrine disruptors, which can cause birth defects, imbalances in the body’s natural chemical processes and a whole host of issues. Carpet also contains brominated flame retardants, which can also be hazardous to health. Instead of using carpet, linoleum and vinyl try going with wood or an eco-friendly material such as bamboo or cork.
Furniture – Many people want to buy brand new things but this isn’t good for the environment. Instead it is much better to opt for second hand goods. However even with second hand goods make sure that the product is made from quality solid wood and avoid cheap pressed-wood products as this contain adhesives that can cause rashes, breathing issues and headaches. Avoid the cheap options if you opt for new too and look for furniture that is from a sustainable source.
Bedding – Bedding is also an important factor to consider when dressing a nursery. Try to go with organic cotton or wool when it comes to the mattress, as non-organic materials can contain high levels of chemicals that are harmful to one’s health. Going organic will mean you avoid harmful chemicals, pesticides and dyes.
Toys - When filling your baby’s nursery with toys it is much better to buy wooden toys or toys made from organic cotton or material. Plastic toys can contain phthalates that are harmful to one’s health and have a huge impact on the environment.
If you’re hiring a professional to redo your kitchen or any other space in your home, be prepared to spend money over and above the cost of materials because you have to factor in the time he or she spent on your home. However, how much you should pay in interior design fees varies based on a number of factors.
The complexity of your project, the size of the space, the amount of time estimated for project completion, the area that you live in and the skill of the interior designer will determine fee structure and payment options.
Hourly Rates
Some interior designers prefer fees in the form of a fixed hourly rate. They prefer this method especially in the planning and sketching stages when they have to put in hours at the office drawing up plans and making revisions. Others like to carry on this method till the project is done as they can then be paid for over time they put in as well as fussy customers who are always changing their mind. For instance, a designer can rate $50 an hour as his interior design fees for redecorating your family room.
Flat Fee
Other designers prefer a lump sum amount for a project so in case they are done sooner than expected or even if it takes the longer, the client doesn’t have to watch the clock. For instance, a designer can charge $5,000 in interior design fees for redoing your kitchen. Clients have to remember that interior design fees cover the time and expert opinion of the designer and not the cost of the materials you choose to put in. You can be as modest or as extravagant with the appliances and light fixtures, flooring and faucets of your kitchen and hence that depends on your taste and budget. The designer is there to draw a plan and help you reach your goal with minim waste in time and effort.
Cost Plus
One of the most popular ways interior designers calculate fees is by this method. Here they add up the cost of the project and then add a percentage or flat fee for their time. So, for instance if your bedroom makeover cost $7,000 in furniture, paint and accessories, the designer can add 20 per cent as his charges and bring the total to $8,400.
If you’re on a budget, hiring an interior design student is one of the cheapest ways to go. They are eager to build a portfolio and are fresh in theory. You can save big bucks by enlisting their help; however it may be at the expense of years of experience. http://www.snslamps.com