eco friendly bedroom

[Andy Hamilton]

Ok so if you were to deck your bedroom out to be as eco friendly as possible what would it be like?

Floor - hesian flooring
Walls - non toxic paint
Bed - natural materials for a matress and for duvet.
Bookshelf - made from packing creates.
Mobile phone charger - solar powered.

[Shirley]

I think I would pass on the mobile phone charger... the phone stays through the house here....

Reclaimed wooden floorboards for me... or bamboo.

Wooden bed - preferably an old one that has been passed down through the generations but in the absence of that an old wooden one from a junk shop or homemade from reclaimed timber.

Definitely non-toxic paint on the walls and light fittings with low energy lights fitted.

[Andy Hamilton]

There used to be a well known student way of making a bed, which was sticking a matress on palets. You don't seem to see it anymore, not sure if this is because most students are middle class now or the cheapness of ikea or that student houses are now moslty furnished. - can't imagine it is that comfortable though.

I never thought about the floorboards, if you are building it then that is a whole new ball game.

[chadspad]

Im lucky that my house has lots of natural materials already. I have all oak floorboards with huge oak beams across all the ceilings. The walls are made of limestone (inlaid with fossils of ammonites and belemnites much to my hubbys delight) held together with a basic mixture of local earth and something that ends up like a form of cement but when picked all just flakes away - hence, we dont do too much picking!

[Muddypause]

I think the floor would have to be of the easy-sweep kind, since vacuum cleaning can be such a chore. Some nice rugs that can be taken outside and shaken would be good.

The walls - well it depends what they are made of, but definitely not wallpaper. How about some nice earth colours made from minerals taken straight from the ground - rich ochres and tans.

The bed - when I was a toddler I can (just) remember my dad constructing his own bed. After he died I dismantled it and kept the timber (oak), and one day, I am going to use that timber in making my own bed.

Bookshelves - alread made these. Hate to say it, but made from veneered MDF (veneer is real wood). This came about because I was commissioned to convert a room into a 'library', which meant floor to ceiling bookshelving along two long walls. The sawmill mis-cut a couple of sheets, so I had enough left over to make three bookcases for myself. MDF or not, the whole project turned out well, and I'm proud of it.

The mobile phone - nowhere in my room.

[Shirley]

Muddy - I can't wait til you've made your bed Do you have any plans as to when you might do it?? That's such a lovely thing to do.

While we are on the subject of easy sweep floors... I bought a rubber broom on Saturday - they are brilliant and make short work of sweeping the floor without flinging dust and doghairs all over the place... how did I live without one. It is great for the wetrooms too and can even do the windows as it has a wiper blade on it.

[Muddypause]

Muddy - I can't wait til you've made your bed Do you have any plans as to when you might do it??

Well, it's on the back burner at the moment. I've always figured that I'll do it when I'm in my 'final' house, and then I can tailor it to the situation. I've lived in this house for over 20 years now, on the clear understanding that it is only a temporary home. Maybe one day I'll be in a realistic position to 1) build my own house, 2) build my own bed, and finally 3) (believe it or not) make my own bathtub - one that I can actually fit in with comfort.

Of couse at this rate of progress, I shall need a stair lift, a bed that goes up at both ends, and a bath with a door in it - or having I been watching too much daytime TV again?

[Chickpea]

I'm very into textiles, I do patchwork and quilting, knitting, crochet, anything like that. So I'd add bedding - cotton and wool quilts, cotton and wool knitted/crocheted blankets. Ideally from recycled fabrics and yarns. I've also got some ideas about environmentally friendly ways to keep warm in the bedroom!

[Shirley]

LOL Stew... I'm sure you've got a bit of time before that happens... not sure about the parsnip though, reckon that must be on it's last legs by now.

Chickpea... I LOVE patchwork... wearing my favourite patchwork skirt at the moment...

My gran taught me how to crochet - I've got a pattern for a crocheted bag that I really must get round to doing before Christmas time. Just need a size 4 hook... (makes note to stop at the wool shop next time I'm in Alford)

[Wombat]

Well I will finally (like Muddy I suppose) grow and spin enough cotton to weave a pair of queen size sheets

Nev

[Andy Hamilton]

Well I will finally (like Muddy I suppose) grow and spin enough cotton to weave a pair of queen size sheets

Nev

Fantastic Nev, how many plants did you need in the end?

[Shirley]

I don't think he's done them yet Andy....

I must say that I thought it said queen sized shorts

[Wombat]

Sorry guys! May be poorly worded by me. I am only about 20 years away from completing my mission, but it is a running joke where I do my spinning that they expect to see a queen size sheet set at some point. (What size shorts does the queen wear?)

Nev

[Shirley]

LOL no idea what size shorts the queen wears... but I guess that would use considerably less cotton than the sheets

[Wombat]

Well I would HOPE so!

Nev