10-01-09, UpMyStreet ©

Chances are you've considered decorating green, but the thought that it's too expensive or gimmicky stopped you.  But believing these myths can be harmful to your health.

New home smells are actually toxic; mould inside walls can cause migraines and other health issues; and carpet can give off formaldehyde which is known to cause respiratory irritation and even cancer.

Choose to decorate with real sustainability in mind — using less energy, less water and less non-renewable resources while still beautifying your home. Here's why green design is affordable, beautiful and here to stay.

Not all green design is pricey

Consider places like the Salvation Army and charity shops. For a modern take on old accessories, pick up shapely items at these stores and paint them white.

• Choose home decor that's recycled, reused, will last a long time and require very little maintenance
• Urbanites will have more success locating eco-friendly or green stores but there’s a wealth of eco-friendly stores online, such as Tactile Interiors 

You can decorate green and still match your style

No matter your style, there are ways to get greener interiors without turning your home into a forest. If you like shabby chic and you need a new dining room table, don't think that the only choices are going to the store and buying one. Buy a table base kit and visit local wood salvage yards for reclaimed lumber to use as a top.

For any style, create a water wall with colourful jars on a window that gets a lot of sunlight (preferably west-facing). The water absorbs the heat during the day, keeping the house cooler, and releases it at night. Clear glass jars filled with food-colouring dyed water is another way to make the water wall decorative.

You'll know what your home is made of

Nutrition labels let us know exactly what's in our food but wouldn't you like to know exactly what's in the materials we use in our homes? These impact us as much as food does, because we're breathing in whatever these materials are giving off.

For those with wall-to-wall carpeting, if it's wool and you like it, keep it. Otherwise, experts advise it’s best to use modular carpet tiles. Several eco-friendly companies offer stylish carpet squares that use non-toxic dyes and are made from recycled materials.

Carpet squares are a huge eco-improvement, because they're modular - when you're done with it, you can ship it back to the manufacturer to recycle. Plus, these squares involve little labour; they are easy to lay down by yourself and don't need support from toxic padding.