Green Your Rental -- Eco Furnishings

With home ownership climbing out of reach, going green at home increasingly means finding ways to conserve resources that won't get tenants in hot water with property owners. Want to green your rental? Here's how to get started.

Tip #2: Opt for vintage and second-hand furnishings over big-box buys

You've signed your lease, packed your boxes (recycled, of course), and maybe pulled a muscle or two moving into your new place. Now, Ikea! With so many of your apartment dweller's needs housed under the Scandinavian superstore's roof, it's certainly tempting. But despite Ikea's conservation efforts, thrift shops, Craigslist, estate and garage sales, and the rest of the second-hand furniture world offer far greener options.

By Treehugger's estimate, an average renter spends up to $4,000 on furnishings and other items to make a new pad feel like home. If you plan well ahead of your move, you can minimize the environmental impact of those purchases and have your new digs decked out in unique vintage style in time for the housewarming party. For a list of independent vintage furniture stores in your area, check out jargol.com. To find local sales and the quickest way to hit 'em all, visit Garage Sales, Yard & Estate Sales by Map at gsalr.com.

Share your tips: Have you mastered the art of vintage shopping? Tell us how.