Fall is upon us, which means the holidays will soon be here, but don’t worry – we have seven beautiful and eco-friendly home decor pieces that are perfect for warming up your home and welcoming guests just in time for the festivities.

Combine getting your home in tip-top shape with the impending holidays, and you’ve got the recipe for a panic attack. Sometimes, getting your hands on good looking eco-friendly home decor can be hard to do, especially when all your time is being spent breathing heavily into a paper bag. (Just sayin’.)

Luckily, though, I’ve gone ahead and rounded up seven gorgeous pieces that just about anyone would want to have in their home. Take a peek at my choices, and either snag one for yourself, pick one up for a lucky recipient–or glean a little holiday inspiration for the season.

1. Marbled Handwoven Throw

Hello, Gorgeous! I have officially found my new favorite home decor accent. I mean, who doesn’t want a little marble in every room of the house, right? And the best part about this all-cotton throw, aside from the awesome marbled look, is that it’s artisan made and handwoven. Toss this over your favorite chair, and use it to stay toasty on cool fall evenings.

2. Reclaimed Cookbook Holder

Perfect for the chef of the house, and especially for those easily distracted, burn-the-Tofurky kinda cooks, this beautiful stand with warm, reclaimed wood and steel accents is perfect for nailing all of your holiday recipes. The best part, aside from its sustainability and good looks, is that it doesn’t matter if you prefer old fashioned paper, or a tech-based recipe reader, the stand can easily accommodate either.

3. Geometric Eco-Cotton Rug

Treat your guests and yourself with a soft new rug underfoot. Not only is this modern geometric carpet beautiful, but it’s also ethically made by employees who are of legal working age and treated well. This particular rug is from the eco-cotton collection, which uses clean donated textiles to spin new yarn, so you can give thanks for innovative techniques this season, as well.

4. Teak Salt and Pepper Set

We believe good things come in small packages, just like this salt and pepper serving set. A great little story to share around the dinner table is that each one of these is crafted from excess materials from the logging industry, so no new trees are cut down for its making. Recommended for artisanal finishing salts and freshly ground pepper, it’s sure to be a hit.

5. Mid Century Tallboy

This vintage tallboy is the perfect accent piece for an entry way, dining space, or living room. Fall decor would look fabulous against its high gloss black finish, and the clean lines work well in a variety of settings. Whether eclectic, modern, vintage, or transitional, a piece like this will really add a lot of style and warmth to any room.

6. Natural Fuzzy Ikat Pillow

Next time you’re indulging in your hot cocoa and sappy holiday movie ritual, make sure you have this extra fuzzy Ikat pillow to cry into snuggle up with. Made from natural and sustainable materials, the unique design and conscientious craftsmanship is perfect for the boho-chic decor lover in us all. Trust me, your cat, Mr. Fluffy Pants, will thank you for it.

7. Organic Eclectic Leopard Chair

Be still, my heart! This leopard chair is on the tippy top of my wish list, but if you’re lucky enough to splurge now, then I’d definitely recommend working this into your living room, like now. With organic cotton, natural linen, recycled filling, and certified wood materials, this plush chair is sustainable and stylish. I can totally imagine this chair and that vintage tallboy being BFFs in some special person’s living room.

Don’t hate me ‘cause you want them all! But do relish in their gorgeousness and let the furnishings serve as inspiration for the holiday season. Not only can eco-friendly home decor be warm and inviting, it also proves that being stylish is better for the environment. And, even if your budget doesn’t have the room for new pieces right now, I can definitely see the DIY potential in a lot of these.

Share your favorite pieces AND your favorite holiday memories with us on the EcoSalon Facebook page!

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Image of Cozy Living Room via Shutterstock

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It’s been called the “pollen vortex.” Tree pollen counts have been exasperated as a result of this winter’s polar vortex. That means an amped up spring cleaning session is in order. 

Heightened pollen counts mean an uncomfortable allergy season. If you suffer from allergies, spring cleaning is a must. Healthy space designer Robin Wilson of Robin Wilson Home, also an ambassador to The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, has tips for taking spring cleaning to the next level.

1. Replace your shower curtain.

According to Robin Wilson, you should replace your vinyl shower curtain with a nylon curtain. Not only do vinyl curtains off gas BPA, an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen, they also collect mold, which is a main cause of allergies. Additionally, use non-toxic cleaners like vinegar and water because bleach and ammonia can cause asthma.

2. Make sure your pillows are clean.

Wash your pillow case once a week and your pillow protector once a month. Replace your pillows every three years.

3. Use non-VOC paints.

You can hardly tell the difference when it’s on the wall, and non-VOC paints are also pretty easy to find. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, which can cause allergies as well as other short and long term health problems. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.

4. Replace wall-to-wall carpeting. 

Although this may seem like an investment, installing hardwood floors isn’t as expensive as you might think. This is especially true if you do it yourself. You can install hardwood bamboo floors, a sustainable material, for as little as $3 per foot. Carpeting gathers dust and causes allergies. Hardwoods are a much better choice but they still need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Each spring, remove all furniture and mop or steam clean the floor.

5. Eliminate dirt and mold.

Check for mold in dishwashers, under the fridge in the water pan, and throughout the bathroom.

6. Wash toys.

This is true of kid’s toys and pet toys. Wash and freeze the toys to get rid of dust mites. You never know what can gather on your child’s favorite teddy bear.

7. Consider slipcovers.

Slipcovers have gotten a bad wrap, but they’ve come a long way. Slipcovers can also be washed regularly, unlike upholstered furniture. While you’re at it, limit the use of drapes, better known as “dust catchers..

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Image: Ann Gordon

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In the words of legendary interior designer and tastemaker Dorothy Draper, “The Drab Age is over. Color is coming into its own again…”  We couldn’t agree more. And, evidently, neither could Pantone–the global authority on color. 2014’s Color of the Year is a punchy purple, dubbed “Radiant Orchid”, which is said to “emanate great joy, love and health.” Yes, please!

It’s a little purple and a little fuchsia, with a dash of pink–it’s the perfect pop of color to liven up our beloved dark neutrals: black, charcoal, navy and chocolate brown. It plays well with other trendy colors, like chartreuse, turquoise, coral and indigo, and gives a jolt to whites, linens and creams. So, move over red! 2014 is the year for Radiant Orchid to reign supreme!

Purple Reign! 8 Ways to Rock 2014’s Color of The Year

1) Frame facelift: We all have a million picture frames lying around (or you can pick up some orphans from Goodwill)–why not give them a new life? This is a simple, inexpensive (and dare we say, fun!) way to brighten any room of your home. We recommend using an environmentally sound no-VOC paint, like Petal .04 or Petal .07 from YOLO Colorhouse.

2) Invest in a design classic: The “Savoy” vase by Finnish designer Alvar Aalto, was designed in 1936 and is an icon of modern design. It’s safe to say it will never go out of style. Iitala is now offering this handmade glass beauty in a dark lilac–isn’t she lovely?

3) Magic carpet: Who doesn’t love the feel of a cozy rug underfoot? This is another simple way to get some color in your life: in the entryway, powder room, dining area or living room. This durable handwoven number is built to last and has the added bonus of a fashion-forward chevron.

4) Shop for a cause:  This woven jute grass and raffia tray is a perfect cross of function and fashion, and you’ll feel good about bringing it home, too. Made in Rwanda by Indego Africa, a non-profit organization made up of women-owned businesses and artist co-ops, this particular design was made exclusively for the incomparable Jonathan Adler.

 5) Enter the Earth: Agate home wares, primarily bookends and coasters, are popping up in interior design magazines left and right. We love this incredible pair of pink agate bookends–so majestic! The combination of polished and raw surfaces make for a wonderful textural juxtaposition.

6) Just your type: We’ve all grown so accustomed to the soft tapping of our laptop keyboards that we forget how utterly romantic the timbre of  a typewriter can be. That clipped, determined staccato is the outward song of thoughts and dreams hitting paper. This vintage 1979 Olivetti Lettera 12 will not only look incredible on your writing desk, but is practically guaranteed to help you write the next great American novel. (Or, at the very least, an anonymous note to your obnoxiously loud next door neighbor.)

7) Bright at your fingertips: Not ready to paint your entire house purple? Why not start by dipping your toes in? Eco-friendly cosmetic company Zoya, has devoted an entire page (42 polishes!) of their website to Radiant Orchid-esque shades. All of their polishes are toxin-free and all-natural, but never skimp on color or staying power.

8) Be literal: Buy an orchid, already! These gorgeous flowering plants require indirect sunlight and only light watering (read: they are hard to kill). Your care and patience with these lovelies is rewarded with blooms that last a month or more!

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Photo credits: (top to bottom) The Tao of Dana,  My Sugar Blossom, Iitala, One Kings Lane, Jonathan Adler, Lawson Fenning, etsy seller ElGranero,Zoya, Bliss at Home, Elle Decor

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