Things on Your Coffee Table That Express Who You Are

Who are you? You are what you eat. No, actually, clothes make the man. No, a man is judged by the company he keeps. If there weren't enough ways to read a personality, we're adding another one to the mix – you are what you display on your coffee table. Like it or not, everything you own, everything in your home, says a little bit about who you are.

Coffee tables are no longer just resting places for cups in transit or purses unclenched. They are a little display, a tag almost, that tells visitors about your interests, (or lack of them) your attitudes, and your general disposition.

For instance, a coffee table covered with fashion magazines and tabloids says that you probably aren't interested in the recent elections and that you've once had a crush on Brad Pitt but now prefer Johnny Depp. It also says that you're reasonably concerned about your appearance and that you make an attempt to look nice, as opposed to wearing the same pair of jeans for fifteen years until they either fall apart or don't fit anymore, even if you suck your stomach in and try not to breathe too much.

On the other hand, a coffee table with a book of black and white photography by Ansel Adams says that you have taste, are cultured enough to know who Ansel Adams is, says that you would rather watch Hitchcock's ‘Vertigo’ than 'Scream 12', and that you would like to be taken seriously during discussions about art being just for art's sake.

If your coffee table is covered with an assortment of candles, this can say a few things, depending. If the candles have been lit and used, you have hippie leanings. If the candles have never been lit, but just look really nice in their crystal stand, then you have preppie leanings. If the candles are burned down to the base and there is wax all over your table, and a layer of dust over the wax, then you've probably smoked marijuana at some point in your life, and are content to just let things be. Or you're a slob.

Other things that I've seen adorning coffee table range from china bowls to ash trays (which can again say a lot about you depending on how empty or full they are) to table lamps to jigsaw puzzles to newspapers, to telephones. I've seen a table with a stack of books about wine pairing at a chef's house and playboy magazines at a lawyer’s house (go figure.) I've seen surprising things like pin cushions and cutlery stands in the less organized homes, and even more surprising things like automobile magazines in my grandmother's home. In any case, when I visit a home, I delve into the accumulation of stereotypes in my head and pull one out based on what I see on your coffee table. It's time to put away those lace doilies and bring out the collector's edition scrabble board.

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Furniture to Green Your Home Décor

Going green is one of the most important tendencies right now and it has manifested itself everywhere. No wonder, going green is not only good for your health, it’s good for your conscience as well. What could be better than living well while also making sure you are playing your part in the preservation of the planet? Indeed, the green way of life has also translated into furniture, and here are the best ways to green your home décor.

Buying eco-friendly furniture means more than just buying something that looks natural or light-colored or resembles the look associated with eco-friendly furniture. It means always being aware that actions have consequences and that whatever we consume might not be replaceable tomorrow. As such, getting furniture made out of highly renewable materials, like bamboo, gets you one step closer to a green living.

Go vintage. It’s a trend, of course, and all the celebrities are sporting vintage clothes and furniture, but the green benefit behind this habit is uncountable. Yes, vintage furniture was probably not made with green methods, but it already exists, so by buying vintage furniture, you ensure that no extra resources are used. You can be trendy, stylish and green all in one blow.

Buy locally-made furniture. Most cities have furniture craftsmen working and selling their products even though they often get overlooked in the rush to get something flashier or trendier. The advantage with locally made furniture is that you very often have the chance to better control and customize the furniture you buy, which can lead to interesting and unique variations from what everyone else is sporting. Aside from that, transport would be minimized, which would mean less pollution and fuel consumption, not to mention less of an expense for you.

Buy furniture from places that promote green living and healthy harvesting of the base materials. Companies with a concern for the environment should be supported and promoted, and you can do your part by purchasing products that have been crafted with eco principles at heart. There are a myriad of retailers that carry only environmentally friendly furniture, such as platform beds, dining tables, and coffee tables made from sustainably harvested wood. There are also plenty of other green-only retailers that carry other home furnishings such as rugs and light fixtures like the floor lamp and chandelier that are made from recycled and recyclable materials.

Buy furniture that is built to last. One of the main things that oppose the idea of green living is consumerism. The tendency to replace everything regardless of whether or not it needs replacing, only because a newer model has come out is eating up the planet’s resources at an alarming rate. As such, if you buy something that is durable and that won’t need replacing for a great many years and keep it, you are doing your part in the preservation of natural resources.

Buying eco-friendly furniture is not difficult, you just need to keep your eyes open and think about the big picture.