Reduce, Re-use, Shop at Beyondblue!

There is a lot of lingo thrown around these days about furniture being eco-friendly, but I think it is important to understand exactly what these terms mean and how they relate to the furniture you bring into your home. I am not an expert on this, but from my experience in the industry this is what I have learned:


Sustainable: continuing to have minimal long-term effects on the environment


A great example of this is buying items with longevity in mind. Instead of purchasing a sofa that is cheaply made, it is better to buy a piece that has doweled joints and corner blocks to ensure it will be around for a while. A good qaulity piece will last twice as long. Sofas take up a lot of space in landfills and by reducing the number of pieces thrown away, you eliminate a lot of waste. We just got the Norton chairs at the store (sofa pictured left). You would definitely want to hang out to this piece for 10+ years since it is so comfy!




Green: using natural resources that promote healthy living and a healthy environment



This term has probably been the most widely used and understandably so--it is hard to define. In the design world, an example of green furniture would be a bamboo piece with non-toxic stains and glues. Bamboo grows very fast and is easily replinished. By using non-toxic finishes, you are cutting down on hazardous chemicals in your home. These paperstone coasters from Dinah Coops are made from cork, recylced paper and resin. We use them at the store for our parties and love them!






Recycled: re-condition and adapt to a new use or function



This is one of my favorite ways to be environmentally-friendly. Some of the most beautiful and unique pieces I have seen in the design industry have been recycled. We just got a piece in by Shiner Furniture which is made from responsibly-harvested wood (a "green" item) as well as steel which is 85% recycled. This coffee table has to be seen in person...it is so cool.

Now you have a basic understaning of eco-friendly furnishings and accessories so that you can go out shopping informed. This is a topic that is close to our hearts at Beyondblue, so don't hesitate to ask us questions. We would love to help you find pieces that are not only beautiful in your home, but ones that keep the environment looking good, too!