You may find furniture shopping quite exciting and fulfilling! When an empty space is filled up with a few beautiful pieces, it gives the space a different dimension, doesn’t it?
Furniture is not only functional in your rooms; it can also dramatically change the mood of the setting. The kind of furniture you choose primarily depends on your taste. These are pieces that you will probably not replace frequently, which is why you should be very careful while choosing them.
The first few points that you should consider when buying any piece of furniture are:
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Your basic aesthetic taste as a family
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The material you should use (You may want all eco-friendly ones only)
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The weight of the pieces. Sometimes you may need to rearrange their positions, and it should not become a difficult task in that case
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The durability
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The budget
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Whether the functionality is up to your comfort – for example, some find a low bed more comfortable, while others prefer a higher one. It is totally up to your requirement and comfort level that will finally decide which piece to buy
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Maintenance – The lesser the maintenance, the better it is, obviously!
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Whether it can be detached in pieces and shifted elsewhere easily
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Recyclability
With all of the above in mind, let us give you a little idea of the different kinds of materials that could be used for eco-friendly furniture and why you should go for eco-friendly furniture.
To ensure that a manufacturer actually offers you an eco-friendly product, you may check for their materials to be FSC certified. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a body that controls and dictates the terms and conditions that need to be fulfilled to ensure that the wood is eco-friendly and obtained in a sustainable manner.
All of the above pointers are supported by eco-friendly furniture, and you should be personally determined to use them. Now let’s look at the available options for materials.
Reclaimed Wood
The wood that is derived from old and used items and given a new form to be used further is reclaimed wood. Basically, these are recycled wood.
Reclaimed wood is becoming increasingly popular due to various reasons. The most important factor making it hugely popular is the fact that no damage to the environment is done in the process.
Old and seasoned wood often has better grains, and with little polish, they can look awesome. This kind of wood can be used in flooring, beams, frames, and also some furniture.
You may often find reclaimed wood from doors and beams being used to make new furniture. If you just turn on your creative side for a while, magic can happen with reclaimed wood.
Wood
There are many types of wood that can be used to make furniture. Depending on your need and functionality, you may choose any of them.
To ensure that a manufacturer actually offers you an eco-friendly product, you may check for their materials to be FSC certified. FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a body that controls and dictates the terms and conditions that need to be fulfilled to ensure that the wood is eco-friendly and obtained in a sustainable manner.
This is considered a very high standard for obtaining eco-friendly wood.
You may understand that many people are die-hard fans of wooden furniture, and the good news is that just because you are concerned about nature, you don’t need to sacrifice what you love.
Bamboo
This is a great material for furniture. It has good strength, is good for outdoors, is very durable, and can be given unique designs and shapes.
Over the years, bamboo furniture has become very common for outside seating, as it does not expand or contract with changes in temperature like wood does.
Aesthetically, it has its own character and can truly transform a space. These days, items other than furniture, like lampshades and décor items, also use bamboo because of its uniqueness.
Cane
Cane is a part of the rattan plant, which has its roots in Southeast Asia. The Philippines, however, produces the maximum amount.
Very strong, durable, and kind of water- and stain-resistant, this material is usually woven and made into furniture. Cool in its nature, it allows enough air circulation because of the weaving. It is a very popular option if you are looking for eco-friendly products and furniture.
Stone
There might be a few disadvantages which you should keep in mind. The weight and the maintenance can become a bit of an issue. Stone is heavy by its nature, and if you use unpolished stone, dust and dirt might accumulate.
However, with polished stones, the problem of maintenance is eliminated. These are sturdy pieces that can be passed down through generations. Marble, granite, limestone, and some specific sedimentary stones can be used in furniture.
Have an eye for the grains, and you will notice each block of natural stone is different. Before making a choice, you should keep the patterns and grains in mind, as your décor is directly related to the kind of material used if it is stone.
You will find a great variety in all kinds of stones. It is advisable to do some research before you zero in on a choice.
Bio-degradable Furniture
Have you ever wondered what happens to the big and chunky pieces of furniture when they are discarded? Many of you shift houses, renovate existing ones, or simply try to get new furniture for a change.
How do you make sure that the old ones do not cause nuisance value? The answer to this is biodegradable furniture.
If you have life plans where you need to move frequently or do up your space often, you may want to go for biodegradable furniture.