Are you an interior designer looking to incorporate green products into your design schemes? Do you have a client who’s interested in urban green decor? Verde Lifestyles is your one-stop shop for sustainable products and green interior design. Our new Design Partners Program offers a unique opportunity for interior design firms and individuals who want to go green and save some money. All of our interior design partners receive a 10% + discount with a purchase of $1000 or more. Additional discounts and free shipping are available, depending on the volume and frequency of your orders.

Keep an eye out for these green trends in interior design:

-Eco-friendly paint. Not only is this great for the environment as a whole, it’s great for those who live in your home environment: toxins in many paints can cause a variety of health concerns, including asthma, headaches, breathing problems, and even cancer.

-Sustainable wood furniture. According to Natural Home Magazine: “Seeking comfort, people will move away from dark, cold woods and stone in favor of warmer colors such as honey and caramel.”

Image from re-nest.com

-Natural light. Big in 2009, people still love the fact that skylights and windows help reduce electricity usage by flooding the home with gentle, calming sunlight.

-Flat, minimal rugs. Also from Natural Home: “Messy, shaggy rugs that trap and hold dirt and dust mites are out. Flat, woven rugs are in.” Bamboo rugs, anyone?

-Patterned and brightly colored fabrics. Stock up on colorful, sustainable accents like organic cotton pillows to add some liveliness to your spaces.

-Unique textures. Add some intrigue to your home with pieces that present interesting textures and shapes or are made from unusual or unexpected materials. Check out artwork and accents made from recycled materials (like recycled steel).

Feeling inspired to become a Verde Lifestyles design partner? Please contact Danielle (danielle@verdelifestyles.com) or Ryan (ryan@verdelifestyles.com).

For most of us, we start and end our day in the bathroom.  So why not have it be as relaxing and sustainable as possible?  You can either make simple changes to your bathroom or go all out and remodel, but I’ll focus on simple changes today.  There are a handful of items in the bathroom that could be changed to create a healthier home. Here’s a start, but feel free to add your own in the comments!

Creating an Eco-Friendly Bathroom:

-Switch to non-toxic cleaning supplies. Can easily be found online or in local stores.  I’ve been using Green Works and 7th Generation lately, but the are numerous brands.

-Use organic cotton towels. Organic products are made without harmful chemicals, keeping your home free of toxins.

-Use an organic cotton or hemp shower curtain.  Or use a shower curtain that will last for years to come. The important part is keeping products out of landfills, so look for products are are recyclable or natural.

-Use natural body products.  This is especially important since the products we use on our skin have more of a direct impact on our health.  There are a ton of different body products available, just look for products with few ingredients that you recognize.  Products with long names you can’t pronounce are normally chemical based.

-If updating cabinets or shelving, use sustainable wood products or bamboo.

-Use a low-flow shower head to conserve water.

This is just a list to get you started, so feel free to go above and beyond!  If your looking for more information or ideas, check out Verde’s eco-friendly bath products.