Going green at home is now easier than ever with more and more eco orientated stores popping up. Although opinions differ on exactly what the term ‘eco-friendly’ actually means, generally speaking eco-friendly products are those which have been made or can be used with minimal impact on the environment. So, for all green decorators amongst you, here’s a taster of what’s on offer this month from some of the best online eco stores.Biome lifestyle is an online store for ethical home furnishings, providing a green alternative to high street home-ware and gift shops. Every product is chosen for its style, design and overall ethical credentials. Many products are handcrafted, and where possible, are sourced from small and co-operative businesses. Here you’ll see home furnishings and gift ideas with a traceable story, ranging from beautiful organic bed linen to dazzling recycled glass tableware, from unique lighting to fair trade toys and ethical handmade cushions. http://www.biomelifestyle.com/

A selection of the best in sustainable design. Your one-stop shop for gorgeous eco homewares, the best eco friendly paints, special eco products, and lovely green and eco gifts for all occasions.

http://www.ecocentric.co.uk/index.html

Based in the Derbyshire Peak District, Eco Eco makes green living easier by providing sustainable, eco-friendly and non-toxic products. They stock beautiful things for the home and garden alongside organic and ethical clothes for men, women and children.

http://www.eco-eco.co.uk/

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Having until recently been thought of as more of a background, wallpaper, has now established itself at the forefront of interior design and is seen as an effective way of keeping your interior bold, beautiful and inline with the current trends.

This recent popularity, along with people’s general shift toward sustainable living, has seen more and more designers producing eco wallpaper collections. Printed on paper that has either been recycled or sourced from responsibly managed forests, eco wallpapers are dyed using water-based inks that release none of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) so commonly found in conventional wallpapers.

Environmental credentials aside, it’s how these eco papers measure up in the style stakes that will determine their success, and ultimately, shape attitudes towards eco design. And although these have come a long way from what was once commonly considered to consist of ‘various shades of hemp’, on brief investigation I came across attitudes such as ‘decoratively disaterous’, ‘dull’ and even, ‘spinachy’!

So, in a bid to prove it is anything but, (and quite apart from getting carried away looking at nice wallpaper), I’ve compiled a comparative selection, putting some of the best eco wallpapers up against the competition. Hopefully fellow decorites will see that eco wallpapers can certainly hold their own, and making eco friendly choices needn’t necessitate a compromise on style.

**Please note, some are eco and some non eco wallpapers, point being to compare.
Descriptions in brackets aren’t actual design names and are just there for you to identify each design.

Sheet 1.

Top left (green waves) – Paper Flavor, http://www.flavorleague.com/wallpaper/ – Non Eco wallpaper

Top right (silvery gold leaves) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 – Eco wallpaper

Middle left (gold squares) Designers guild, http://www.designersguild.com/ – Non Eco wallpaper

Bottom right (pink flowers) Crinson, http://www.crinson.com/Dominic_Crinson_Tiles/Home.html – Eco wallpaper

Bottom left (pink on grey) Madisonandgrow, http://www.madisonandgrow.com/ – Eco wallpaper

Sheet 2.

Top left (silhouettes) Ferm living, http://www.ferm-living.com/ – Non eco wallpaper

Top right (green leaves) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 – Eco wallpaper

Middle left (50′s) Sanderson, http://www.sanderson-uk.com/ – Non eco wallpaper

Middle right (plants) ECO wallpaper, http://www.eco.se/main.aspx?l=4 –  Eco wallpaper

Bottom left (cars) Studio Ditte, http://www.studioditte.nl/ – Non eco wallpaper

Bottom right (penguins) My Little Eco, www.mylittleeco.co.uk – Eco wallpaper

I was invited to My Deco bloggers meet up last week where the lovely Margarita Lorenzo from Chocolate Creative was showing her beautiful home accessories.  It was a really interesting night; as well as getting the chance to meet some fellow bloggers, My Deco talked to us all about some great tools that will make the whole blogging process much easier.  I will keep you posted about when they become available…

Margarita also took the time to talk to us about her lovely designs and below are a few examples of her work, see her full collection at Chocolate Creative or visit her lovely blog.

I recently came across the work of Polly Hope and wanted to share it with you all as I am a big fan.  Her Eco freindly collection includes interior textiles, cushions, lamp shades, upholstered chairs and illustrations.  I think her choice of colours are spot on.  The style is decorative and feminine but has a very sophisticated feel due to her choice of subtle colours.  Her cushions would make a fantastic focal point on any plain chair, bed or sofa.  I am particularly drawn to the one below, uh oh,  I can feel a purchase coming on…(the only down side to this job is that when you see something you fall in love with you just HAVE to have it!)

Here is what Polly has to say about the collection: “The textiles are special because they are very Eco friendly, all organic cottons, peace silks and linens and the dying and printing is carried out naturally using herbal dyes and designed by me. I spent 4 months in India last year researching the right factory for production, it was important for me to know the people I was working with and make sure the whole production process was sustainable and  the workers were treated fairly.”  Click here to see for of her work and her contact details.  She also publishes a gorgeous blog – good work Polly!

Whilst we are all loving the fashion for clever ‘upcycling’, I thought I would post some great pieces of work by a company called Weckner Design. They are a Glaswegian based furniture company who’s objective is to redesign old, discarded furniture to create unique, sustainable and functional design (up-cycling).

Each retro piece has been lovingly created using a wide variety of materials with a slight Scandinavian feel.  If there is a particular object that you are looking for then just make an enquiry as they also offer a commissioning service.

You have to love the ethos behind up-cycling as in today’s throwaway society it’s great that we can prolong the life of an object rather than it becoming part of a landfill