Green, not the color but the statement, is becoming more and more important and has a huge effect on our environment. It can also predict color and design, from recycled to natural materials. More attention is being paid to energy efficiency both in the cold and warm climates. With our soaring electric and gas prices energy efficient appliances, windows, furnaces, automobiles, r-values etc. have become household necessities. But there is also a marked change in decorating emphasis. Aluminum blinds are constructed with 95 percent recycled materials and many or the wooden blinds come from resources like reeds, bamboo and grasses. Acrylics previously reserved for indoor/outdoor use as well as commercial fabrics are finding their way into our households, from draperies, upholstery and other soft furnishings because of their sustainability. As the cost of heating and cooling your home goes up, a great way to save energy as well as your hard earned money is to use interlining in your window treatments to help insulate your windows from the heat and the cold.
Being green can mean more than just recycling; it’s being creative and thinking of new ways to use leftovers. I’m talking re-purposing, getting those gently used fabrics, vintage drapes, reclaimed bedding to make our environment a better place for the future generations. Search out the unexpected to find sustainable or green found objects and materials to design your custom window treatments. Scour the estate sales, garage sales, flea markets and resale shops. Shop online at sites such as Craigslist where you can find just about anything. Using vintage draperies and trims means that you will have a one of a kind creation and possibly be the envy of your friends and neighbors.
Local fabric stores and fabric workrooms will often sell their discontinued or excess fabrics at a discount and you can find some beautiful fabrics and trims at great prices. Discontinued fabric sample books can also be found, often for free, and can be used for any number of projects and crafts for your home. Don’t discount using the draperies and bedding in your own home and re-purposing them into new styles. Turn those drapery panels into swags, that gathered valance into a new cornice, that duvet cover into an upholstered headboard. The possibilities are endless and only limited by your imagination.
Reuse and recycle are much on the minds of many homeowners these days. Making the effort to be green takes a little creative thought but don’t think of it as a chore, think of it as a money saving adventure that happens to help our environment in the process.
by Susan Dorbeck