It’s a great time to be going green. Organic food is plentiful and there’s easy access to all sorts of green products, from cleaning supplies to clothing to energy sources. Plus, there are supportive communities around the globe—a green movement, really—to help if you have questions. One question we get asked frequently at Modern Kids Design is,  “What are some of the best ways to green a child’s room?” There is plenty of information on greening your nursery and we’ve even written a post on it, which you can read here.  In this post, apart from the crib recommendation, we offer thoughts to keep in mind as you consider the ways in which you’d like to green your child’s room regardless of his or her age.    The featured picture by Spot On Square shows just how lovely an Eco-friendly kid’s room can look when you consider brands such as theirs.  Here are our 12 tips for greening your kids room.

1. Buy a crib made of sustainably harvested solid wood or reclaimed, recycled MDF. The same goes for your child’s furniture. Pressed wood is often made from formaldehyde glue. 

2. Get an organic mattress whether for your infant, toddler, child, or teen.

3. Use organic cotton sheets and blankets.

4. Reduce the use of artificial fragrances and stick to naturally scented laundry detergent, dryer sheets, room sprays, and even candles—but only if your child uses them with supervision. This is worth reading up on because it has been well documented that many artificial fragrances contain chemicals that can be hormone disrupting, and not something we would knowingly want to expose our growing children to.
   

5. Purchase an air purifier with a HEPA air filter to clean your child’s air. To decrease the “electro smog” in your teen’s room, get an air purifier with an ionizer.

6. Go PVC- and phthalate-free for your child’s furniture, toys, and his or her in-room snackware!

7. Use low- to no-VOC paint in your child’s room and in every room of your home. It is virtually odorless and creates no harsh fumes. Some are now even certified as “asthma and allergy” friendly.

8. Avoid chemically treated carpeting and choose natural fiber rugs made from cotton, wool, or seagrass instead.

9. If you choose to tear down walls or strip paint, consider the date of your property. Older homes (prior to 1980) nearly always contain lead.

10. Clean your child’s room with non-toxic, plant-based and enzymatic cleaning products to avoid leaving chemical, toxic, and synthetic residues behind.

11. Avoid anything treated with fire retardant chemicals that are now recognized to be highly toxic. (Hint: Organic wool is a natural fire retardant. Look for it in your child’s bedding.)

12. Open a window to let fresh air in.  Surprisingly, outside air often tests as having less pollution than indoor air.

There are plenty of ways to green a kid’s room. If you would like to explore the subject of greening your child’s room in more depth, we invite you to sign up for our “What’s Trending at Modern Kids Design” newsletter. We’ll send you a free guide as soon it’s ready on how to green your kid’s room from the early years to the teenage years just for signing up. As always, thanks for reading! 🙂