An eco-friendly bedroom is a sleep environment designed with sustainable materials, reduced energy consumption, and improved air quality to minimize environmental impact.
Creating an eco-friendly bedroom starts with a few simple energy-saving steps, such as improving your insulation, adding a little ventilation, and changing your lightbulbs.
Taking further steps to replace your flooring, paint, furniture, mattress and bedding will help you cut down or even entirely eliminate toxic substances that you would otherwise breathe in while you sleep.
Most bedrooms aren’t eco-friendly because they're energy-inefficient, and are full of synthetic materials and chemical-laden furnishings. Synthetic products contribute to indoor air pollution, aren't biodegradable, are hard to recycle, and have a high carbon footprint.
These 16 eco-friendly bedroom ideas cover insulation, ventilation, sustainable materials, and non-toxic furnishings to help you transform your bedroom into a healthy, green and sustainable sleep paradise you'll love.
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Enhancing insulation (such as by sealing gaps or adding thermal window coverings) makes a bedroom more eco-friendly by reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling. A well-insulated space stays warm in winter and cool in summer, so you save money as well as help the environment.
Check for gaps or cracks around windows and doors, and seal them with caulk or rubber weatherstripping.
Draughts cause heat to escape from your room. Approximately 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows during colder months, according to the US Department of Energy. Draughts contribute to this heat loss, making proper insulation essential.
Filling gaps is an easy task that can be attempted by most DIY-ers, yet it makes a surprising difference to your room temperature and energy sosts.
Replace your existing window coverings with thermal curtains with specialized linings, which are particularly effective at trapping warmth inside the room.
Alternatively, you may prefer cellular or honeycomb blinds, which create insulating air pockets between the window and the interior space and reduce conductive heat transfer.
If you can't afford to change your coverings, hanging a thermal blanket over your window in the winter months is an effective low cost alternative.
This is important because a single pane of glass typically loses nearly ten times as much heat as an equivalent area of insulated wall. Proper window insulation offers big energy savings for a relatively low cost.
Double glazing is another very effective but more expensive option for preventing heat loss. If your home isn't already double glazed and you can't afford to replace all of your windows, focus on the ones in rooms that you use the most.
When you have insulated your room, you'll be able to turn the thermostat down on your central heating by a couple of degrees. This will improve the air quality in your home, and give your whole family a better night's sleep.
In hot weather, it is important to maximize the natural cooling and ventilation in your bedroom, and reduce your reliance on energy-intensive air conditioning.
First, identify and unblock any existing vents or airflow pathways in your room to allow air to circulate efficiently.
Install trickle vents or adjustable window vents to maintain fresh airflow without needing to open your windows fully. Use stack ventilation by keeping higher openings (like transom windows or attic vents) open to allow warm air to rise and escape.
Make sure you position furniture strategically to avoid obstructing airflow (for example, don't block an air vent with a wardrobe or dresser), and consider using light-colored or reflective surfaces to reduce heat absorption.
Upgrading to LED lighting makes a bedroom more eco-friendly by reducing electricity use and cutting down on waste.
Residential LEDs, especially ENERGY STAR-rated products, use at least 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lightbulbs, according to the US Department of Energy.
That means you save money on your electricity bills, and need to replace your bulbs far less frequently.
LED bulbs produce very little heat, and because they don't contain toxic chemicals like mercury, they're better for the environment than conventional light bulbs.
This is an easy and effective change to make. Standard LED bulbs are designed to fit into traditional screw-in or bayonet sockets, so in most cases you won't even need to change your light fittings.
Choosing natural flooring options like bamboo or cork is a more sustainable option than carpet, which is often made from synthetic materials that off-gas harmful chemicals.
Controlled chamber studies reveal that synthetic carpets can emit significant concentrations of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), with maximum concentrations reaching up to 2300 μg/m³, particularly for carpets with synthetic backing ("VOC and carbonyl emissions from carpets: a comparative study using four types of environmental chambers," Katsoyiannis et al 2007).
Sustainable flooring options include bamboo, cork, and reclaimed wood. All three are natural and renewable, and are not chemically treated so they do not off-gas.
Both bamboo and cork also have the benefit of being naturally anti-microbial and resistant to mold and mildew. Best of all, they are gentle on the feet, making them a comfortable choice for the bedroom.
When choosing sustainable flooring, look for certifications such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) for responsibly sourced wood, Cradle to Cradle for eco-friendly material cycles, and GreenGuard for low emissions.
Decorating with low-VOC or VOC-free paint helps make your bedroom more eco-friendly by improving indoor air quality and reducing harmful emissions.
Traditional solvent-based paints contain as much as 400 g/L (53.5 oz/gal) of VOCs including Benzene, Toluene, Xylene, Ethylbenzene and Formaldehyde. VOCs are airborne chemicals that contribute to air pollution and have been linked with health issues such as headaches, dizziness, and respiratory irritation.
I recommend Zero-VOC paint brands such as ECOS Paints and Benjamin Moore, which are water-based and non-toxic, with transparent ingredient lists and a huge choice of colors.
Choose eco-friendly furniture made from sustainable, non-toxic materials to reduce deforestation and limit your exposure to harmful chemicals.
Look for wardrobes, drawers, dressers and nightstands made from solid wood (preferably from FSC approved responsibly managed forests) or reclaimed wood.
This prevents deforestation and avoids the pollutants associated with synthetic materials like MDF or particleboard, which often contains formaldehyde-based adhesives.
Prioritize sustainable bedroom furniture brands that use water-based finishes, natural oils, or beeswax instead of chemical-laden coatings.
If you're serious about reducing waste or don't have the budget to buy new, consider looking for secondhand furniture instead. It's possible to snag some real bargains from thrift stores, charities or online marketplaces.
An eco-friendly bed frame supports a sustainable bedroom by eliminating chemical exposure from synthetic materials.
Choose solid natural wood options, such as FSC-certified or reclaimed timber, to avoid the formaldehyde emissions found in particleboard. If the cost of solid wood is prohibitive, recycled metal frames are cheaper but still non-toxic and durable,
Genuinely eco-friendly bed frames will also have natural finishes such as plant-based oils and water-based varnishes, rather than synthetic glues or dyes.
An organic mattress makes a bedroom more eco-friendly by eliminating synthetic materials and harmful chemicals that contribute to indoor air contamination.
Look for materials like GOTS-certified organic cotton, GOLS-certified organic latex, and organic wool. Avoid synthetic petroleum-based foams and any mattress treated with chemical flame retardants, which release volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Certified organic materials are biodegradable, sustainably sourced, and processed without toxic pesticides or dyes, which means they have a lower environmental impact than synthetic alternatives.
In contrast, synthetic materials such as polyurethane are not biodegradable, require more energy to manufacture, and have higher carbon emissions.
A high-quality organic mattress also lasts longer than cheaper innerspring types, which means less landfill waste and better long term value for money.
If you need to make your mattress more comfortable but don't want to replace it, a natural mattress topper is a cheaper alternative.
Synthetic toppers have the same issues as synthetic mattresses: they are made from petroleum-based materials and sprayed with chemicals. So make sure you choose an eco-friendly topper made from healthy materials like certified organic latex, wool, or cotton.
An eco-friendly mattress protector extends the life of a mattress while reducing exposure to synthetic chemicals.
Conventional protectors often contain plastic-based materials, such as polyurethane or polyester. Plastics like these off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and since they aren't biodegradable, they contribute to microplastic pollution in water systems.
Sustainable natural mattress protectors, made from organic cotton, wool, or bamboo, provide breathable, moisture-resistant protection without synthetic coatings or chemical treatments.
They're a great way to keep your mattress clean and prevent allergens from accumulating. And since you won't need to replace your mattress as often, you'll cut down on waste and save money too.
Using organic bedding and pillows eliminates synthetic materials that contribute to indoor air pollution, resulting in a healthier and more sustainable bedroom.
Organic pillows use natural materials like certified organic cotton, wool, and latex that provide better breathability and moisture control than conventional options.
It's comforting to know that with an organic pillow, there are no chemicals or heat-trapping synthetic components right under your head while you sleep.
Conventional pillows are often made from polyester or memory foam which, even in smaller quantities, release VOCs and have the environmental drawbacks mentioned earlier. I would also avoid conventional non-organic cotton due to its high water usage.
Complete your sleep setup with organic cotton, bamboo, linen, or hemp bedding, all of which offers exceptional breathability and natural temperature regulation without synthetic additives.
Any of these eco-friendly bedding materials create a healthier sleep surface that directly contacts your skin throughout the night. Avoid synthetic bedding because it is made from petroleum-based materials like polyester, which release microplastics during washing, and traps heat and moisture.
If your bedroom gets cold at night, try placing an organic comforter or blanket on top of your sheets. It's a far more sustainable option than just turning up the heating.
Conventional curtains and blinds are another part of the bedroom that is typically made from synthetic fibers, so hanging curtains or blinds made from natural fibers will further reduce your indoor air pollution and environmental impact.
Organic curtains and blinds also incorporate thermal layers (as described in tip 1 above) so you can save energy without needing to resort to nylon or polyester.
Natural rugs are the perfect solution if you decide to follow the tip about laying sustainable flooring, but prefer a little warmth underfoot.
For reasons already explained, you will want to avoid petroleum-based synthetic carpets because yes, you guessed it, they are not biodegradable and are yet another source of household VOCs.
Always look for eco-friendly rugs made from natural wool, jute, or sisal. All these materials are biodegradable and, providing they have not been chemically treated, are free from harmful VOCs.
Adding a few plants makes a bedroom more eco-friendly by naturally purifying the air you breathe in every night.
Not only that, they look and smell beautiful, and help you get a restful sleep.
Species such as spider plants, snake plants, peace lilies, and aloe vera are great options to have by your bedside because they absorb some toxins and increase oxygen levels in your room.
Some studies report that potted plants can remove 10% to 70% of VOCs within 24 hours ("The effectiveness of potted plants in improving indoor air quality: A comparison between chamber and field studies," Tian et al, 2023).
While this research is promising, other studies indicate that long-term impact on VOCs is relatively low, so simply adding plants is not a substitute for the other advice on this list.
Use pure plant-based oils, such as lavender, eucalyptus, or citrus, to create pleasant scents in your bedroom. Add your essential oils to water-based diffusers, to distribute the aroma without heat or chemicals.
Conventional plug-in or spray fresheners are wasteful, since they rely on disposable cartridges or plastic refills.
They're also yet another source of airborne chemicals.
A study of VOC emissions from air fresheners found that all tested products released one or more of 156 different VOCs, including potentially harmful compounds like limonene, acetone, and various aldehydes ("Systematic Review on Respiratory Toxicology Caused by Synthetic Air Fresheners," Balasubramani & Pradeep, 2022).
Beyond air quality, another overlooked factor in creating an eco-friendly sleep space is the fabric you wear to bed.
Choosing pajamas made from natural fabrics supports an eco-friendly bedroom by improving breathability and reducing exposure to synthetic materials.
If you wear pajamas in bed, make sure they're made from natural fabrics, such as organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, or linen.
I particularly recommend bamboo pajamas for their breathability and moisture-wicking properties.
Get rid of synthetic sleepwear, particularly if you sleep hot. Polyester, nylon, or rayon, which are derived from petroleum, trap heat and moisture, making sleep less comfortable.. They also release microplastics during washing, which gets into the water system, harms wildlife and even comes back in your drinking water.
If you followed all 16 of these tips, you'll have the ultimate eco-friendly bedroom. But there is no need to implement everything at once if that isn't practical.
Even taking one or two of these ideas will help improve your health and lower your environmental impact.
