Can you get budget green furniture?

It’s super hard to find green furniture on a budget. Trust me, I’ve been sofa and bed shopping as of late and finding something eco-friendly and somewhat affordable has been a nightmare. There are a few things you can do to get greener furniture for less though, such as…

Go used: Used furniture is mostly green furniture because it does save stuff from a landfill AND cuts out manufacturing energy and resources used. There are some downsides. Older pieces may be coated with toxic finishes and paints or be covered with non-organic, non-sustainable fabrics. The upside is you can change many pieces with some alterations. You can refinish wood with non-toxic finishes or re-stuff and recover soft pieces with organic and or sustainable fabrics.

Go local: Nine years ago I bought a futon made with a sustainable frame and the cushion was made with recycled plastic bottles. I had seen some like it online for a lot of money. Luckily, a local company was also selling items like this and I paid a ton less plus didn’t rack up shipping emissions.

Go IKEA: Personally, I’m not a huge IKEA fan;  mainly because their style is not my style, but they are a light shade of green – not so hardcore as some green furniture companies, but better than many conventional furniture companies. The company is working towards using only sustainable wood and they limit chemicals in their pieces. Plus, you won’t find furniture this inexpensive from most green furniture companies.

Bite the bullet and save for a piece: Green is not normally expensive. I’d say that three areas that differ in eco-products include beauty, clothing, and furniture which all do seem to run expensive. Furniture is one major area though where green is totally worth the cost. Think about it – you spend years in bed and plenty of time on the couch or breathing in the same air as your bookshelf. It should be green and healthy. Many green products are affordable, so saving up for a big piece like a couch that’s eco-friendly or an organic mattress, can be a priority.

[image via stock.xchng]