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'WE GOING GREEN' worldwide, green has become the new ‘BLACK’
What trends will 2011 see in terms of home decor?
In 2011, the emphasis is on bright colours in furniture and accessories with interesting finishes like lacquer and decoupage making their presence felt.
Fabrics are natural and a palette of deep greys, indigos and soft teals act as neutrals. Simple white candles, fresh white flowers, crisp white sheets and
fluffy white towels never go out of style.
Why Go Green Indoors?
Why should any of us bother to go green inside our homes? You've probably already heard that the world's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate,
taking with them a lot of our best planetary carbon storage capacity. The more carbon dioxide gets into the atmosphere, the more the earth heats up. It's
said that more trees are cut to make furniture than for any other use except paper, and perhaps fuel.
You might be surprised to find out what goes into standard home furnishings. Did you know that particleboard and plywood contain formaldehyde? Or that the
foam in sofa cushions is petroleum based? Paint is another hot topic; oil-based paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). All these materials give
off gases into the air inside your home (a process called offgassing). Many people, especially children, are sensitive to these compounds and can develop
health problems from exposure to them. The problems are worsened when homes are weatherstripped and insulated to conserve energy. Going green at
home makes a lot of sense.
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