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Eco-Friendly Bedroom

You spend up to a third of your life asleep. So it is worth investing in your own health by eliminating – or at least reducing – chemicals from your bedroom. Many of the common chemicals found in Australian homes have been linked to illnesses such as cancer, or to allergies and asthma. Although these links are not always conclusive, it makes sense to err on the side of caution and turn your bedroom into a natural, chemical-free haven.

Try to make your children’s bedrooms as chemical-free as possible, too. Children’s immune systems are still developing, which makes them more susceptible to harmful toxins found in chemicals. Reducing the amount of artificial chemicals we use is good for the environment too, reducing the toxic pollution created when items with chemicals are thrown away and the toxins end up in the air, soil and water.

Bedding

Cotton, while natural, is grown with heavy use of chemical pesticides and fertiliser. Choose organic cotton or hemp instead, coloured with natural dyes, for your sheets, pillowcases and doona covers. Similarly, look for organic cotton pyjamas, dressing gowns and so on.

Furniture

For beds, chairs, wardrobes, chests of drawers and bedside tables, avoid composite woods such as particleboard, plywood or fibreboard. As well as not lasting, they contain toxins such as formaldehyde. Solid wood is better, but ensure that it comes from a sustainable source by looking for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. Or look for second-hand solid wood furniture.

When you repaint or revarnish furniture, use natural paints and varnishes (see below).
Canvas or wicker chairs and clothes baskets are other natural eco-friendly options. Steel furniture is not natural but it is long-lasting and can be recycled, so it can be considered environmentally friendly.

Use natural paints

Use natural paint for your bedroom. Standard paints have a petrochemical base and are often coloured with dyes containing toxic chemicals. Many of these toxins are then “outgassed” – which means they slowly escape from the painted walls into the air, where you breathe them in. Natural paints are water-based and use plant and mineral ingredients instead.
However, it’s worth noting that indoor plants (see below) absorb some of the toxins emitted by standard paints.

Flooring

Typical nylon carpets contain toxic artificial chemicals in the nylon fibres (nylon is derived from petrol), in stain-resistant and fire-retardant coatings, and in the nylon backing. Consider timber or bamboo flooring instead. For extra warmth in winter you can put down a rug made of wool, organic cotton or natural fibres such as sisal or jute. If you do want carpet, the most environmentally friendly option is a wool carpet with a natural fibre backing, or a natural flooring material such as sisal or jute (although these may feel a bit rough under foot).
Carpets are hideouts for allergy-causing dust mites. Vacuum carpets regularly to get rid of dust. Rugs can be hung outside from time to time in sunlight to kill dust mites.

Keep appliances out

Avoid having televisions, radios and computers in your bedrooms if you can. All electrical equipment contains toxic chemicals. If you do have appliances, don’t leave them on standby - turn them off properly before going to sleep.

Fresh air

Open windows regularly to get rid of stale air – the air quality inside homes is typically five times worse than the air quality outside. If it’s too cold at night then open windows during the day to let some fresh air in, or use extra doonas.

Plants

Put some indoor plants in your bedroom. Houseplants absorb toxins such as formaldehyde, ammonia and benzene. Palms, ferns, spider plants, bamboo and peace lilies are all good decontaminants.

Dry cleaning

Dry cleaning can leave a range of toxic chemical residues on clothes – that’s what produces that distinctive “dry-cleaned” smell. If you must have clothes dry-cleaned, don’t store them in your bedroom.

Energy saving in the bedroom

As well as removing chemicals, save energy (and greenhouse gas emissions) in your bedroom. Appropriate insulation, passive solar design and use of thermal mass ensure your bedroom is not too cold in winter or too hot in summer. If you live in an area with cold winter nights, use heavy bedroom curtains to keep in the heat – and don’t forget old favourites such as hot-water bottles, pyjamas and a nice thick blanket or doona to keep yourself warm. Install ceiling fans to create a breeze in summer to keep your bedroom cool. A wind-powered whirlybird extractor in the ceiling will help draw heat out of the room. And, as in all rooms, fit energy-saving lightbulbs.