Creating a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Bedroom
Are you hoping to make the place where you sleep a little more green? Creating an environmentally conscious bedroom in your sustainable home is more simple than you think! Here, in your bedroom, is where you spend at least the recommended amount of hours you should be sleeping, right? Why not implement some green bedroom design, incorporate recycled bedroom furnishings, and add a splash of upcycled bedroom decor? Your sustainable, natural, and eco-friendly bedroom space is just a few simple swaps away!
jump to:
Walls & Floors for Green Bedroom Design
Declutter and Minimize Your Healthy Bedroom
Eco-Friendly and Ethical Bedroom Furniture and Lighting
Reducing Energy Use in Your Sustainable Bedroom
Earth-Friendly Curtains, Rugs, & Blankets
More Ideas for an Environmentally-Conscious Bedroom
KEy Takeaways
- Unless you’re beginning from scratch, start with small, attainable swaps for a more sustainable bedroom.
- Avoid harmful ingredients and chemicals when purchasing new items for your eco-bedroom.
- Decluttering and choosing a minimalist design will improve mood and focus in your sleep space.
- Opting for natural and organic fibers and materials will result in a more healthy bedroom.
- Plants in your green bedroom can drastically improve air quality and help you get a good night’s sleep!
- Reducing energy consumption can help you create a more sustainable and eco-friendly bedroom.
Walls and Floors for a healthy bedroom
If you’re starting from scratch or with an empty room, your low-impact bedroom renovation may start with paint and flooring. Both will play into an eco-friendly bedroom design.
Non-Toxic Bedroom Paint
Most paints contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds), which are known to pose a risk to human health, including benzene and xylene. VOCs can also create toxic mixtures that are harmful to the environment when combined with compounds like methane and carbon dioxide. Choosing a zero-VOC paint for your eco bedroom to protect the environment and yourself is a no-brainer.
Ecos Paint
Ecos Paint is non-toxic, zero-VOC, and water-based. Ingredient lists are available for every product for maximum transparency. One gallon covers up to 560 square feet – 1.5 times more than the average conventional product.
According to Mental Health America, green evokes feelings of balance, serenity, and joy, so when asking if green is good for a bedroom, the answer is a resounding yes!
let’s explore the bedroom floor
Making sustainable flooring choices for your makeover is an excellent eco-friendly bedroom idea. First, keep in mind that if you like what you have and it’s in good shape, the most sustainable option is to keep it. If you’re set on replacing it, avoid carpet as it’s usually made from synthetic fibers and provides a fantastic home to allergens like dust mites.
Better options for more sustainable flooring are FSC-certified bamboo or cork. Not only are they anti-microbial, but they’re more cushioning on the feet than traditional hardwoods like oak. Neither bamboo nor cork typically requires the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers to grow, and cork is naturally fire-resistant. Both are terrific eco-bedroom solutions as they are also 100% biodegradable and compostable.
DeClutter for a sustainable bedroom
Not starting from bare bones? Before you can begin to green your sleep space, you’ll want to think about decluttering, organizing, and minimizing as your first goal. A minimalist bedroom design free of clutter fosters peace, calm, and tranquility – all senses you probably crave here in your bedroom. A messy, disorganized, and jam-packed space can increase the cortisol levels in our bodies, leading to stress.
When deciding what to keep, ask the question famed by The Minimalists -“does this add value to my life?” Make sure that you investigate all the Rs of sustainability to help you choose what to do with the items you don’t want and implement zero-waste bedroom practices.
environmentally friendly bedroom furniture & lighting
sustainable bedroom furniture
The next step is choosing some eco-friendly furniture. As someone who peacefully up-cycled and refinished most of the furniture in my shabby-chic two-bedroom eco house, this is my favourite part! If you can find something you love as-is second-hand, this makes for the most sustainable home furniture. If you want to give it a more personal touch to fit your style, try out your sandpapering or sewing skills to refinish or recover it. There are so many places to find used goods nowadays – Facebook marketplace, auctions, and charity shops abound.
Itching for something brand new to match your taste that will last a lifetime? Partake in some ethical furniture shopping and hunt down some organic bedroom furniture! Materials to avoid are anything not natural, like plastics or composites that may contain chemical adhesives. Besides, solid wooden furniture is far more durable and long-lasting. Black cherry, beech, maple, ash, and cedar are all strong, dense, and more sustainable choices than mahogany, rosewood, or ebony. If you want to go full minimalist, find a metal rod to hang your clothing and call it a day!
Urban Natural
Urban Natural is an ethical furniture shop that creates heirloom-quality furniture built to last. A member of the sustainable furnishings council, all of their Workshop Partners must meet at least three of five values: Ethically Sourced, Handcrafted, Made with Organic Materials, Made Sustainably, and Made in the USA. You can shop by material, type of wood, or ethos on their website for eco-friendly bedroom sets or eco-conscious bedroom storage solutions.
Ambient Lighting for your sustainable bedroom
What goes well with green furniture? Energy-efficient bedroom lighting! Next time the lights go out, make the switch from incandescent bulbs to LED lights. They last much longer and use far less energy, reducing the carbon footprint of your eco-friendly bedroom. Look for Energy Star-certified bulbs, that meet the energy-saving standards of the EPA. Remember to let the beautiful sunshine in to save energy on lighting during the day!
Gantri
In search of some fresh wall sconces, floor, or table lamps to lighten up your space? Look no further than Gantri, who makes incredibly unique lighting using their namesake plant polymers derived from non-GMO sugarcane. This innovative material is free from phthalates and BPA and 100% biodegradable.
Bedding for an eco bedroom
Eco-friendly mattress options
Since we spend approximately one-third of our day in bed, investing in a comfortable and sustainable mattress is a good idea for an eco-bedroom. Look for organic wool, GOTS-certified organic cotton, GOTS-certified latex foam, bamboo, hemp, or food-grade polyethylene. On top of being planet-friendly, sustainable mattresses also have health benefits. They are chemical-free, naturally flame retardant, more breathable, and can help regulate body temperature. Just like any other living organism, humans need to maintain homeostasis, or thermal equilibrium, and a breathable mattress can help us do this during our nocturnal cycle.
Sheets & Giggles
Why not check out the Natural Eucalyptus Mattress from Sheets & Giggles? All of their wood comes from controlled sources and meet SC®, SFI®, or PEFC™ standards. Like bamboo, eucalyptus naturally repels insects, so it does not require any chemical insecticides or pesticides. Since all of their bedding is plant-based, it is 100% biodegradable.
Sustainable bedding options
Much like your mattress, you’ll want to seek out organic and natural materials for your eco-friendly bedding. The following brands and products make excellent choices when it comes to the invitingly cozy and toxic-free bed you deserve!
Leaf Score Essentials
This Essential Organic Mattress Protector from Leaf Score Essentials is GOTS and Fair Trade certified. It is lightweight, waterproof, machine washable, and breathable.
Eva
Hemp is becoming more well-known for its sustainability, and for good reason! These Hemp Linen Sheets from Eva come in five different colours and feel soft and luxurious. Pretend you’re in a five-star hotel every night!
Use the button to receive your code for $50 off now!
sleep & Beyond
This hypoallergenic, chemical-free Organic Wool Comforter from Sleep & Beyond will keep you warm in winter and cool in summer. Keep it simple and white as-is, or throw your organic cotton duvet cover over it for protection or to match your color palette!
Parallel
The Parallel Pillow is made with an ultra-soft TENCEL™ Lyocell fiber shell and is available in high and low profiles to suit every kind of sleeper. Ditch the feathers with their Blutech Fusion Fill, made from recycled plastic bottles -perfect for those leading a vegan lifestyle. The best part? for each one sold, one pillow is donated to a person in need!
Takasa
Takasa is a Canadian, BC Benefit company that creates cozy, sustainable bedding essentials from GOTS and Fair Trade certified organic cotton. They plant a tree in British Columbia for every order and are committed to measuring their environmental impacts. Their packaging materials are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials, with either FSC or SFI certification. Bonus – they offer free shipping to Canada and the U.S.!
Insulation and Energy Use in your sustainable bedroom
We’ve already discussed the energy-efficient bedroom lighting in your sustainable bedroom, but there are other ways to reduce your energy consumption, too! The old trick of unplugging anything that is not in use stands true and now applies to devices as well.
Adjusting your thermostat even by a few degrees can save a lot of energy over time. Your body temperature decreases near bedtime; the sleep hormone melatonin is then released, making you ready for your eco-friendly bed. To get a good night’s sleep, you need to maintain this lower body temperature, so adjust your thermostat to the recommended 60-65 degrees Fahrenheit (15-18 Celsius.) Not only will this help you sleep more soundly, it will reduce your carbon footprint, too!
If you live in colder climates, like I did in Winnipeg, Canada, you may be heating your entire home at night when the only space it’s needed is the bedroom. In this case, consider turning your thermostat down (a smart thermostat can do this for you!) and investing in a space heater for your eco-bedroom. Choose a thermostatically controlled heater, because they avoid the energy waste of overheating a room. This article can help you choose the most energy-efficient heater that suits your eco-friendly bedroom.
best blinds for energy efficiency
Another eco-friendly bedroom idea is choosing energy-saving blinds that can help with loss of heat by providing comfort, regulating temperatures, and lowering energy bills. According to the folks at energy.gov, tightly installed cellular shades can reduce heat loss through windows by 40% or more and can reduce unwanted solar heat by up to 60%. This makes them the best blinds for energy efficiency on the market today.
Additionally, to prevent unnecessary heat from being lost from your green bedroom through windows and doors, check for and seal any cracks that you find. If your windows are single-pane or in need of replacing, and the budget allows, have new ones installed that are double-glazed for better insulation throughout your home.
eco-friendly Fabrics: Blankets, Curtains & Rugs
If you’ve opted for carpet-free flooring, you might need a rug or two to cozy up your space. I may sound like a broken record here, but I want to encourage considering second hand for this item again. Besides the savings to your wallet (eco-friendly rugs can be costly), you’ll be playing a small part in saving some of the five billion pounds of discarded carpet that ends up in landfills every year in the U.S. Because most carpets are made from plastics sourced from the petrochemical industry, they can take centuries to breakdown. If new is necessary, look for ones made from recycled materials and natural fibers like hemp, organic cotton, wool, or bamboo silk.
The same goes for curtains. For aesthetic reasons or to block more light, you may choose to install some curtains over your energy-saving blinds. If checking your local second-hand shop or marketplace doesn’t work, opt for new ones made with the materials listed above. Check out the company’s production policy, too, before purchasing to ensure their products are ethically made.
Do you like to cozy up in bed or your reading chair with a good book in your green bedroom? Then, a sustainable blanket is a must! Natural and organic materials are best here, too. Here’s one we recommend:
Parachute
OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 and GOTS certified, Parachute’s Organic Two-Tone Rib Knit Throw is made in Turkey. Reversible, soft, light, and stretchy, it is machine washable and feels like a dream.
Sustainable bedroom decor
One of the careers I considered as a child was interior design, so choosing eco-friendly and ethical bedroom decor is the most fun part! Once again, second-hand used goods make the easiest green and sustainable home decor, and if you like an eclectic style like I do, thrift stores are your diamond mine.
Another option for cheap green home decor is upcycled pieces. Whether you create them yourself or buy from a local artisan, eco-conscious bedroom decor made from upcycled materials or items is unique and eco-friendly. I made a lot of upcycled creations, including home decor, when I had a home! You can check them out for some inspiration on my Facebook page called “From Junk to Jules” here.
Using plants as renewable bedroom decor
Not only are plants beautiful, but they can improve the oxygen and air quality in your bedroom. Poor air quality can affect sleep and concentration and aggravate respiratory issues or allergies. Here are some of the best indoor plants for air quality to add to your environmentally-friendly bedroom:
- Bird Nest Fern – not only is this gorgeous plant low-maintenance, but it is also known for its air-filtering properties. It can help clear the air in your eco bedroom of harmful toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. The same can be said for the thick waxy leaves of the plant Hoya Pubicalyx.
- Aloe Vera – I’ve never met someone who was unsuccessful at growing this incredibly beneficial plant! There’s a reason aloe gel is such a common ingredient in most skincare – use some of your plant’s gel to treat cuts, scrapes, and sunburns.
- Snake Plant – low maintenance and air-filtering, this beautiful plant is also known to be mood-boosting!
- Dracaena Fragrans – also known as Corn Plant, can absorb harmful lead particles, reduce allergic respiratory problems, and increase concentration levels! To be avoided if you have pets as the leaves can be toxic to cats and dogs.
- Spider Plant – a fantastic option for beginners or those without a green thumb and pet-safe.
more Ideas for a natural bedroom
If you’re fond of fragrance, avoid releasing chemicals and irritants into the air and use natural aroma compounds in your bedroom instead. According to Made Safe “air fresheners are a source of indoor air pollution and can emit or cause the formation of numerous substances associated with negative health effects, including formaldehyde, benzene, phthalates, toluene and other VOCs.” Use pure essential oils instead – peppermint, lavender, and citrus are good choices. Just remember to follow instructions about dilution, ventilation, and length of time usage carefully.
Check out this essential oil diffuser from Parachute, available in Eucalyptus or White Stone.
Another way to avoid toxins in the bedroom is by opting for natural and chemical-free detergents and cleaners. It doesn’t really make sense to clean your eco-friendly and healthy bedroom or wash your organic bedding with toxin-laden products, does it?
Etee
Why not give this Probiotic All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate from Etee a try? It’s made in Canada, free from harsh chemicals, and comes in plastic-free pods that can be composted at home!
Use code SUCCESSFULLYSUSTAINABLE for 10% off!
And last but certainly not least, now that you’ve adorned your space with a plethora of natural bedroom materials, let’s make sure you have nightwear to match! What a shame it would be if you went to sleep between your organic sheets in a pair of polyester pajamas!
Content Beauty
We love the simplicity of the Natural Skin Juliana Robe from Content Beauty, made with 100% organic cotton. It ships directly to your door in plastic-free, eco-friendly packaging and labeling. Start your bedtime routine by slipping into something more…sustainable.
Use code SUSTAINABLEJULIE for 10% off!
Final thoughts about an eco-bedroom
Whether you’re starting from scratch in a new home, or just looking to make some small swaps for a more sustainable bedroom, keep three things in mind: minimalism, natural and organic materials, and ethically-made products. The space in which you rest and relax should be peaceful, calm, healthy, and make you feel like a conscious consumer!
All products recommended to you on Successfully Sustainable are independently researched in depth. To avoid waste and lead a minimal lifestyle, we test products only when required. This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about this here.
