Relax in Green Comfort with Eco-friendly Furniture
Outfitting a home with just the right mix of style and comfort is no easy task, so when you pile the imperative to "go green" on top, it can seem like a daunting challenge. A few guidelines will help you get a grip on what to look for, and our list of DC-area furniture-shopping options will have you hitting the eco-friendly pavement in no time.
According to Planet Green, environmentally sensitive furniture shoppers should seek out certified sustainable or reclaimed wood, low-impact materials like bamboo and furnishings that have low chemical toxicity, such as those certified by Greenguard.
Used, vintage and recycled furniture is also high on the green scale, since no production is necessary. And high-quality, crafted pieces, even when not marketed specifically as "green," can be better for the planet than flimsy eco-furniture that must be replaced every few years.
Where to get such things in the DC area? Try these spots.
Off the shelf
• Vastu, 1829 14th Street NW: This neat shop provides sleek and eco-friendly offerings.
• Take Home a Park, 7059 Blair Road, NW: Green outdoor furniture for the green spaces of your life.
• Target, 3100 14th Street NW: Believe it or not, this mega-retailer carries some eco-friendly furniture, according to Apartment Therapy.
• Ikea, 10100 Baltimore Ave, College Park, MD: This ubiquitous furniture offers a lot of eco-friendly products, if you can figure out which they are, says EcoSalon.
High-quality, long-lasting
• Thos. Moser, 3300 M Street NW: This extremely expensive but very high-quality furniture is guaranteed for the lifetime of the original owner.
• Authentically Amish, 4609 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA: This furniture is the lovely stuff we expect from Amish craftsmen. It'll last a long time and support the sustainable lifestyles of its makers.
• A. Drauglis, Woodworker and Furnituremaker, 2507 Queens Chapel Rd NE: This consummate craftsman can make his custom pieces as green as you'd like them.
Used and antique
• Goodwood 1428 U Street NW: Not your father's antique store. This place is gorgeous, featuring hip, vintage merchandise.
• Kensington Antique Row, E. Howard Ave, Kensington MD: This cluster of antique shops will get you outfitted with old stuff in no time.
• Miss Pixies Furnishings and Whatnot, 1626 14th St NW: This fun shop offers whimsical, vintage furnishings and decorations.
Whether you're furnishing a house or sprucing up your studio apartment, you're sure to find something good and green in one of these furniture-hunter's treasure troves.
