apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Do you wake up with a stuffy nose? Think about it: We spend way more time in our bedroom than we do in any other room of our home -- so, naturally, the bedroom can significantly affect our health. Here are 5 ways we're keeping our bedroom healthy.

Also: Do you believe in a green water bottle? Do you wash your organic produce? Do you worry that recycling isn't worth it? And, do you have a lot of stray buttons (we've got projects for you...)? We're looking at all these questions after the jump.

While the economy takes a gigantic nosedive, a lot of us are tightening our belts. What does that mean for organics? Are you still buying organic produce, even as you try to live a bit more frugally? Readers weigh in.

Also: good questions about low-VOC paint, ideas for how to use old windchimes and chandeliers in the garden, and a few thoughts about the dining room table. All links after the jump.

Gas prices and environmental concerns have made working from home an increasingly attractive option for a lot of would-be commuters. But is it always green? We consider the question from a few different angles.

We also take a look at some super colorful, inspiring container houses, a quick green reupholstery fix, and the best ways to ditch your phone book. All the links are after the jump.

This home, inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, is big on custom and low on waste. It took 2 years to build -- and it was worth the wait. Check it out.

Also, we're looking at furniture sculpted from bike parts, a Cuisinart countertop water filtration system, how to make dish scrubbies from old T-shirts, and 6 green furniture strategies from our House Tours. Get all the links after the jump.

Escapes Month is long over, but that doesn't mean we can't start planning for next year. Rachel just spent a weekend in this beautiful vacation home in Wisconsin and came home with a green tour to share. Get all the details here.

Elsewhere: the flavor vs. flow debate rages, we're still collecting readers' creative reuse ideas (and we still have T-shirts to give away), and we just found some really cheap bamboo placemats. Check it out.

The highlight of this year's West Coast Green had to be the Harbinger Showhouse -- a shipping container home, assembled on the tradeshow floor in the San Jose Convention Center in under 5 hours. Here's the tour!
Elsewhere: We're looking for your creative reuse ideas (and the first 15 we post will get a free AT T-shirt)! Also, we're discussing how green those reusable totes really are and if you're using yours enough. And we're using egg cartons all over the house. Get all the links after the jump.

Even though that old bottle of Drain-o is calling to you -- resist. With a little baking soda, white vinegar, and boiling water you should be able to fix a slow draining sink without any chemicals. Readers are also weighing in with their own drain-cleaning formulas ... Add yours.

We're also searching for the eco-friendliest diaper, looking at the 9 steps to planting a tree, and considering the Prepara Power Plant. All links after the jump.

We're interested in greening as much of what we do in our home as possible. It was only a matter of time before the discussion turned to makeup. Here's the question: Have you switched to natural/organic makeup even though it sometimes costs twice as much as the alternative?

We're also discussing living with allergies and pets, how to choose the right green product, and antibacterial hand soap -- pros vs. cons. All the links after the jump.

Last week we took a tour through Lynne Siodmak's historic restoration in Ventura, Ca. The house was almost literally falling down when she bought it; now, the Craftsman is a healthy, beautiful green home.

Elsewhere: We look at how ketchup can clean silver, and -- because it's Pet Month -- the best cat toys that cost nothing and stylish green gear for your dog at home.

Do you, like us, have trouble seeing the surface of your coffee table through the thick layer of scattered magazines? Instead of tossing them in the trash recycling bin, why not turn them into something useful? Follow Jen's step-by-step instructions and you'll end up with an eye-catching table.

Also, look at one reader's green Brooklyn deck, solar systems through Sam's Club, and how to green your habits by switching your toothpaste. All links after the jump ...

We're usually pretty up to date on this sort of thing; however, yesterday was the first we'd heard of the proposed California Bag Tax. Do you think paying 25 cents per plastic bag will encourage more people to carry their own reusables? Or is it just an unfair money-making scheme?

Elsewhere: San Francisco thinks about riffling through its residents' trash and fining negligent recyclers, we look at compostable plastic cups, and we ask the question -- when does freecycling become littering?

Cleaning cast iron can be difficult, especially if you burn something so badly it becomes one with the pan. The Kitchn offers a super effective approach that involves removing all the seasoning -- however, Jonathan's found that a little kosher salt can go a long way.

Elsewhere: Is recycled cardboard a good green alternative to taxidermy? What is your dream green investment? And can you tell the difference between a pumpkin blossom and a squash blossom?

When something relatively inexpensive -- like an old laser printer -- breaks down, it's often easy to toss it. But, with a little know-how and the right resources, it's a pretty easy fix. Take a look ...

Elsewhere: Jonathan takes us behind the scenes at Yolo Colorhouse in Portland, readers weigh in with their own green LCD cleaning solutions, and the Greywater Guerrillas kill the plumbing in the East Bay.

A no-dig garden is a super easy way to A) get an organic vegetable garden up and running in no-time, and B) get rid of an unnecessary patch of lawn. Our friend Hulda takes us through the process, step by step. All you'll need is some alfalfa, straw, and a few other ingredients.

Also Wal-Mart takes another green step by phasing out illegal wood, we get some answers to a question about rain barrel alternatives, and we take a look at Al Gore's lofty environmental goals.