by Lisa Adams
When designing your own closet or working with a closet designer, make sure your closet upholds to certain GREEN standards.
If using melamine, there are many sources for ones with low to no VOC.
If using real wood or veneers, confirm that the wood comes from sustainable forests or recycled materials. Also, make sure the finishes emit low to no VOC.
Use flooring manufactured from materials like bamboo and cork, free of formaldehyde and other toxic fume emission.
Some eco-friendly countertop options include lava stone and basalt stone.
Use ABC rather than PCB plastics, eliminating dangerous flurocarbons and out gasses.
Use low to no VOC paint on wall, ceiling and shelving surfaces.
Incorporate natural lighting whenever possible (placing shelving near windows, for example).
Where natural light is unavailable, use low-wattage fixtures placed for maximum efficiency and aesthetic balance.
If installing a charging station or coffee maker in your closet, use energy efficient appliances that reduce excessive electricity consumption.
GREEN CLOSET ACCESSORIES
Bamboo is a wonderful replacement plant for trees with its short growth cycle and high carbon dioxide exchange rate – it is a grass and grows very quickly. Where oak takes 120 years to grow to maturity, bamboo can be harvested in three. It is recognized as a green material under LEED. Translate this material into your closet.
FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified cedar balls give off the clean, fresh scent offensive to moths and other harmful insects. Plus, cedar is all-natural and has none of the harmful side effects of chemical poison alternatives.
Made with eco-friendly linen, this drawer liner contains dried lavender. The scent is not only relaxing, soothing and uplifting; lavender is also a natural bug repellent – perfect for your sweaters and unmentionables. Available at www.laclosetdesign.com
Lisa Adams is the owner of LA Closet Design and an interior designer who brings a fashionable aesthetic to all her projects.

















