An Organic Night's Sleep

Since you spend about a third of your life in bed, it’s a great place to find ways to incorporate your new green ideals. If you’re not ready to make a large purchase like an organic mattress, start by putting an organic layer between the sheets and the bed.

An organic cotton and wool mattress pads are easy to come by, as are organic cotton or bamboo sheets—which is an important way to avoid sleeping on pesticides and phthalates (a petrochemical residue linked to some forms of cancer) typically found in regular sheets. Wool is naturally fire retardant, and many natural fibers tend to keep bugs at bay. If you can line your headboard with all-natural fabric, that’s even better.

Another way to green your bedroom is to line the drawers of your dresser with recycled paper or organic fabric to cut down on fumes from glues and finishes entering the air every time you open a drawer. And if you like to light candles when you’re hanging in the boudoir, make sure they’re made from soy or beeswax, and that they don’t contain any paraffins that can release toxins into the air. Instead of heavy chemical scents, try spraying some essential oils, like lavender, on your sheets, which will help lull you toward a peaceful slumber. It’s also a good idea to keep space under your bed, which makes it easier clean and helps the air circulate.