The idea of popping into a high street department store and filling up on cheap colourful cushions and bedding might seem like a good way to refresh a space but ultimately you will be filling your indoor air with invisible toxic chemicals that are imbedded in the materials. During my research into healthier materials and decor products for the home, I was particularly stunned to discover there are many toxic chemicals used in flooring, electronic gadgets, carpets, couches, and even the mattresses we sleep on. If you have trouble sleeping, suffer from headaches, nausea or even just an itchy throat now and again, it could be the products you have in your home.

What can you choose instead?

Natural materials will bring warmth and a holistic sense to your home. Their authenticity, texture and serene colours can help create a sense of wholeness.
Choose woollen throws; natural wood for shelving and coffee tables; willow baskets; hand-thrown pottery objects; linen curtains; water hyacinth storage units; and relaxed organic cotton bedding.
Choosing natural materials can mean there are less chemicals involved in the production process but with crops like cotton they are water intensive and involve a lot of pesticide-use so be sure to only buy organic.
Sustainably sourced products are important. The aquatic water hyacinth plant for example grows quickly, however it can also cause problems - choking rivers and lakes, upsetting the biodiversity of the area by impeding growth of other species. The live plant can be toxic to both humans and pets however, the dried stalks, once woven, are perfectly safe. From what I can make out from my research, they don’t generally undergo any chemical treatment so woven baskets and storage units should be safe for your home. Some retailers give the background story to the plant and the community who grow and weave it. Invest your money where it can make a difference and farmers and weavers are being paid a fair price and managing to maintain the plant and biodiversity of their land.

Try and reduce your exposure to fabrics that have performances attached to them eg. ‘non-iron’, ‘‘water-resistant’, ‘stain-proof’ and so on.
As we spend a third of our lives asleep, the bedding we sleep on really should be toxic-chemical free. Organic options are not as expensive as they used to be and there are a larger number of reputable online retailers that have a small organic range. It is worth hunting these down for the longterm health of yourself and your family. Try John Lewis, Dunelm or La Redoute.

My favs at the moment are La Redoute’s Aska Organic cotton muslin throw - perfect for this in-between weather; Hopewood’s Handmade Willow Vegetable Basket* available at Toast and Bedfolk’s Oeko-Tex certified relaxed cotton bedding. I adore the rust colour - it makes me want to curl up with a good book. (I don’t have rights to their images so I haven’t added them to this blog but you can find them by clicking the links.)

*such a talking point for storing veg - the weaver, Sarah, soaks the willow for a fortnight until it is pliable, hand weaving her unique items in the UK. This is the kind of item, if well looked after can be handed down from generation to generation.

If you’d like help understanding healthier options for your home or just want a chat about your interiors project, book my FREE discovery call and let’s get your beautiful healthy home project off the ground!

CONTACT

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than you may print or download to a local hard disk extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only

You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content. Nor may you transmit it or store it in any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

JOURNAL

Why choose natural furnishings?