If you are afraid of color, look away now. The Batik Accent Pillows by Tribal Fiber can be described as nothing less than attention-getters. Add one or two of these to your bed or sofa to make the whole piece come alive. The pillows are approximately 12″ square, so they are perfect for use as unique, funky accent pieces. Several styles and colors are available, all in lively prints. One side of the pillows is one of various batik print, 2 of which are shown above, and the other side is natural oatmeal color of hemp, which is used for the pillow cover. Hemp is a durable, as well as fire and mold resistant, and the fabric will soften with use.

Why It’s Green:

• - Pillow cover made from 100% Batik Hemp
• - Stuffed with all natural Kapok filling. Kapok is a natural, silky fiber obtained from the fruit of the silk-cotton tree and is used for insulation and as padding in pillows, mattresses, and life preservers.
• - Sustainably produced by a village co-op in Northern Thailand
• - Naturally dyed using flowers, leaves, seeds, bark and earth to create a vibrant range of colors.

Price: $16.25/ea.

I mentioned a few days ago that I would begin offering more environmentally friendly products to help you get organized and, by extension, preserve the beautiful decor and atmosphere you have worked so hard to create in your home. This product will help you organize a part of your kitchen that many of us see fall into clutter: your flatware and kitchen utensil drawers. The Bamboo Expandable Flatware Organizer by Lipper is a great way to get all your spoons and forks in a row. You can expand it to a perfect fit in drawers up to 23″ wide. And because it is made of beautiful, versatile bamboo, all you have to do to maintain it is occasionally rub it with mineral oil to help it maintain its appearance. The expandable organizer has 7 sections: 5 are sized for eating utensils and small kitchen knicknacks like napkin rings, measuring spoons, etc. The final 2 sections are big enough to house spatulas, cooking utensils and knives. Happy organizing!

Why It’s Green:

• -Made of ecologically responsible bamboo

Price: $27.99

It’s always great to give kids a quiet place to sit and play, or color, or just spend a little time alone. This Project Table and set of Stools by ecotots in Leaf Green will let them do it in style. Take a stand for the environment (or in this case a seat). And here’s the best part: For those of you who hate furniture you have to assemble yourself (I am raising my own hand to that one), you’ll be happy to know that these require only a simple, no-tools assembly process, so you won’t have to pull out your hair while you put it together. The stools nest under the Project Table when they are not in use, so you get to teach the kids how to put things away when they are finished with them. The set is also available in other colors, so don’t feel the need to paint your walls lime green :o)

Why It’s Green:

• - Constructed of 100% formaldehyde-free birch plywood SmartWood
• - Eco-friendly, non-toxic, water-based stains
• - UV-cured finishes minimize greenhouse gases
• - Designed and manufactured in USA
• - ecotots is a member of the Sustainable Furniture Council

Price: $300

Don’t let the name fool you — there’s nothing dirty about these candles. In fact, they are cleaner than most. Dirt Candles are made from 100% natural soy wax. And there’s sure to be at least one that will suit your discerning sense of smell since they are offered in 20 unique aromas in one 10oz boxed size. There are no fillers or dilution oils, which means that the product is pure, clean soy. And because Dirt is dedicated to using organic ingredients and environmentally sound business practices whenever possible, you can rest assured that you are patronizing a company that is doing all it can to protect our planet. They also donate a portion of the proceeds from each candle to charity.

Why It’s Green:

• - Candles made from 100% natural soy wax.
• - Soy candles burn clean, and jars can be reused as drinking glasses or as decorative items.
• - Manufacturer is dedicated to environmentally friendly practices
• - Portion of proceeds from every candle donated to charity

Price: $24

I am officially on the hunt for eco-friendly fabrics that won’t break the bank. These are on the pricey side, but more affordable than others I have seen. These hemp and hemp blend prints from the GreenSage store are 4 oz. weights, which is suitable for lighter uses such as window or pillow coverings, tabletop and bedding. You wouldn’t necessarily want to use these for upholstery.

This tip comes directly from the seller: Please be sure to purchase as much fabric as you will need all at one time. Dyes and bolts can vary. We can not guarantee a fabric will be an exact match if ordered at two separate times.
If you would prefer solid colors, GreenSage also offers a variety of other fabrics in solids and patterns, with prices ranging from about $25-75/yard. You also can order samples of any of their fabrics for $1 apiece.

Why It’s Green:

• - Made of hemp and hemp blends

Price: $50/yard

The options continue to grow in stylish, graphic organic bedding. You don’t have to settle for a plain, blah bedroom in beige and white to go green. This graphic, eye-catching Weston bedding collection from The Company Store is proof of that. In funky shades of blue, brown, green and red, it can instantly liven up your space. And you can sleep easy on these soft organic sheets knowing that they aren’t doing any unnecessary damage to the Earth. An unlike many organic bedding collections, they are also available in twin sizes, so your kids can sleep in style too. And if you’d like to make them a bit more personal, add your monogram.

Why It’s Green:

• -Made of 100% certified organic cotton

Price: $24-139

One of the most important aspects of home decor, in my opinion, is organization. We all live active lives, so realistically, our homes won’t always look like a photo in a home decor magazine. Kids make messes and leave them there, we put keys and other items on table and countertops and we just, well…live. However, good organization can help minimize the clutter, and I will focus more in the coming weeks on storage and organizational items.

These recycled storage boxes are the first installment. They come in a set of 3 boxes of varying sizes so they will nest inside each other when not in use. In natural tones of brown and green, the boxes are made from recycled plastic bottles. And to maximize it’s organizational and storage abilities, each box has a lid (to keep out dust and stop you from dropping random items in it), and a cotton handle for easy access and retrieval. They are You can also add your monogram for an extra personal touch.

Why It’s Green:

• - Made of recycled plastic bottles

Price: $69

I am all for versatility, and I love multipurpose products. These hanging fabric panels from Inhabit are great. They would be a gorgeous addition to any room, but what’s really great is that you can either place them on the wall as a huge wall art installation, or you can hang them from the ceiling to act as a room divider. Set off a sitting area in your living room, hang them at the foot of your bed to create privacy, or even use them as a headboard. The sky is literally the limit. The panels allow natural light to shine through during the day, but in the dwindling light of the evening, they are opaque to give a feeling of intimacy.

Why It’s Green:

• - Made from 100% sustainable recycled polyester.
• - Handprinted and handmade in the USA with environmentally-friendly inks with no chemical waste or disposal generated.
• -All paper waste from this process is repurposed as shredded packing material.
• - Product is recyclable at the end of its life-cycle.

Price: $348

Eco-friendly products are slowly creeping into the kitchen beyond Energy-Star appliances and cabinet and countertop materials. Bialetti offers the Green Planet cookware line, which is produced using recycled aluminum. For the saute pans shown above, available in 2 sizes, 50% recycled aluminum is used, and the handle is made of bamboo, one of my favorite renewable resources. The interior features Teflon® non-stick coatings, so it will perform as well as your favorite cookware.

Price: $19.99-24.99

When considering how enhance the look of your kitchen, every little bit counts. Use these organic kitchen accessories by OK to add a splash of color that won’t make the environment cringe. And if your decor won’t accommodate red, not to fret: They are also available in Bark (brown) and Leaf (green).

Why It’s Green:

• - Organic cotton and dyes are grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. The Organic cotton is grown without the use of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility and build a biologically diverse agriculture. (But you knew most of that already :o)

Price: $3.99-12.99