Curtains

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The world of eco-friendly window treatments is still fairly small. A handful of larger retailers — most notably West Elm — have gotten into the market with some stylish, affordable options. But for the most part, unless you’re willing to shell out $75-150 per curtain panel, your best bet is still to make them yourself from sustainable fabrics like hemp, organic cotton or even plain old linen.

When researching home textiles, I tend to stick to sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, linen and the like. But as most of you know, there are many shades of green, and many characteristics that can make a product eco-friendly.

When I first learned about Eclipse Curtains, my first question was what they are made of. Much to my dismay, I learned that they weren’t made of a sustainable fabric, but polyester. I was tempted to walk away right then and there, but another quality of these window treatments made me take a second look — they are blackout curtains, meant to block light, reduce noise and, lo and behold, help reduce your energy costs.

In recent days, I’ve become much more aware of the fact that turning bamboo fibers into fabric is a process that is far from environmentally friendly. While I still believe bamboo as material in its original state is more eco-friendly than traditional woods and fibers, I’ll try to stay away from the fabrics unless there is clear evidence that the production was done in a better way.

I’m generally not a huge fan of big box stores or chains. They aren’t known for being very environmentally friendly, and their profit-first mentality often leaves green shoppers with no product options, and many of their products are produced overseas with no regard to Fair Trade. There’s one store that consistently adds products that make me think twice about my position: West Elm.

Today’s Room: A minimal, soothing green bedroom that’s affordable even for those on a budget.

1. Dew Pillow by Inhabit  |  $60  |  Made of recycled polyester and handprinted and handmade in the U.S. with environmentally-friendly inks with no chemical waste or disposal generated. Also, all paper waste from manufacturing is repurposed as shredded packing material, and the pillow is recyclable at the end of its life-cycle (aff)
2. Mythic Interior Flat Latex Paint |  $46.99/gallon, $93.98 for 2  |  COLOR: Twilight Twinkle 031-2  |  Zero VOCs, zero carcinogens, and low odor

I like to think of the windows in my home as a gateway out into the world — a way for me to see what’s going on before I step outside. That said, I spend a lot of time looking at them. Through them, really, but I look at them often, too.  Like everything else in my home, I want them to look good, particularly since I’m so fond of gazing at the front yard and the little bird who likes to sit in the tree straight ahead.

I have said time and time again that eco-friendly window treatments aren’t easy to come by (unless you want bamboo shades or blinds, which are becoming more common). But if you want Earth-friendly curtains, you’ve really got to search. I have to thank Aaron Dalton at 1GreenProduct.com for this find. Drape Style has made your search for green window treatments just a little bit easier.

Your windows will love getting dressed up in these! Is your room missing that special “something” to complete your look? Toss a couple of these on your windows, then sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful handiwork. The PB Solutions “Eco Sausalito” Window Collection from Macy’s is available in 4 designer colors, including celadon, shown above. Better still, the curtains are completely chemical-free, so there will be none of that toxic offgassing so many products give off these days.

Why It’s Green:

• - Completely chemical free.
• - Colored with dyes hand-extracted from plants, flowers, barks, seeds and vegetables.

Oftentimes, curtains that are made from readily renewable resources suffer from the same problem: they are boring, dull and just plain blah. Boy, am I happy to find these gorgeous bamboo grommet top panels from J.C. Penney’s Simply Green collection! The weaving of the bamboo (shown in the detail image above) gives the illusion of flowing, sheer panels, but still offer privacy because of their color. Actually, they are available in 2 colors: honey and walnut brown, shown above, as well as 2 sizes. And because they are made of 100% bamboo, they are the epitome of eco-friendly style.

These stylish, insulated, grommet top curtains are an affordable way to keep your utility bill in check. Heavy-duty suede-like liner repels cold and heat and reduces light by 50%. Made from a machine-washable blend of 55% polyester, 45% cotton; 100% acrylic backing. Available in Linen, Sienna, Natural and Sage. New style features bronze grommets. Set of 2 panels. Made in Canada with fabric made in USA.
Price: $99.00 - $120.00