The Eco-Friendly Nursery

Decor

Look for low- or no-VOC paint. "Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in paint produce fumes that have been linked to respiratory illnesses," says Dr. Greene. We used Benjamin Moore's low-VOC Aura paint in stem green, which costs $62 per gallon. Bonus: Aura doesn't require a primer (if your walls are in good shape) and covers in just one coat.
 
Cut back on carpeting. Since carpet fibers trap in allergens, hardwood flooring or area rugs are a greener option. We used Spiral Out rugs by FLOR, which are made of 80 percent post-consumer material ($39 for four tiles, flor.com).

Avoid traditional wallpaper. Most contain polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which releases toxic chemicals during the manufacturing process. If you opt for vinyl, try to use it sparingly, like we did with these reusable tree stickers by WallCandy Arts ("Season," $54; giggle.com)

To save money, you can also make your own wall art. We found 100 percent organic cotton fabric from Mod Green Pod and used it to create the wall hanging. ("Bloom," $80 per yard; modgreenpod.com). The company also sells vinyl-free wallpaper that uses only water- based ink ($110 for five yards).