We want our homes to be as healthy as possible for ourselves and for our family and guests. At the end of the day, this is a space where you should feel comfortable and safe – and it shouldn’t be detrimental to your health or wellbeing. Now, there are countless steps that you can take to make your home the best environment possible for everyone spending time in it. But here are just a few different areas you might want to focus on to start out!
Maximising Natural Light
Natural light has become an indicator of good interior design over recent years. It looks better. It makes rooms bright and breezy. It makes spaces look bigger. But did you know that having plenty of natural light can be good for your health and wellbeing too? Believe it or not, natural light (or lack of it) can have a profound effect on our bodies and the way that they function. Natural light regulates your body’s circadian rhythms, which in turn regulate your sleep-wake cycle. When you are exposed to light, you will find that you wake up, perk up and become more alert and productive. This is because your body recognises that it is daytime. When natural light is blocked out, our bodies will assume that it’s the evening or night and begin to wind down. This means that the more natural light your home has, the better your sleep should be and the better your days should be. If your home lacks light, consider contacting Mr. Rogers Windows to see what can be done. Sometimes bigger windows, skylights or french doors can help.
Clean Regularly
Every home should have a cleaning schedule. Sure, we have chores that involve making sure that everything is in its place. But when it comes down to it, it’s the cleaning tasks that keep your home hygienic and healthy. Make sure to avoid putting off tasks like the washing up, wiping down worksurfaces, dusting and vacuuming. Remember occasional deep cleaning tasks too, such as cleaning the carpets with a carpet cleaning machine, or cleaning the back of the toilet. Sure, this isn’t fun, but it will help to maintain a healthy environment in your living space.
Purifying the Air
Few of us pay all too much attention to air quality. But the quality of the air we breathe in can make all the difference to our overall health and wellbeing. Sure, we might try to avoid pollutants by avoiding busy cities, busy streets and areas with lots of cars. But when was the last time you considered the air quality in your own home? There is actually a lot you can do to improve air quality, so here are a few suggestions that are surprisingly simple to implement!
- Invest in houseplants – houseplants are present in many of our homes now. They look great and some people have made them into somewhat of an aesthetic. But the more houseplants you have in your home, the better the air quality is likely to be. Often, people will call houseplants as “nature’s life support system” – and for good reason. When you have a houseplant, it will naturally draw in and purify the surrounding air. Browse different houseplants and choose those that, not only do you like the look of, but that you can definitely look after too. Some species are easier to care for than others, some are more demanding. Also check toxicity if you have children or pets.
- Buy a salt lamp – salt lamps have become increasingly popular in interior design too. Not only do they look great, but they serve the function of drawing in bacteria from the air. Also commonly referred to as “Himalayan Salt Lamps”, these are lamps crafted from salt. When the bulb is turned on inside them, it generates heat, which encourages the salt to draw bacteria-containing water in from the surrounding atmosphere.
- Look into air purifiers – the clue is in the name with this one. Air purifiers purify the air. There are a number of different options on the market when it comes to quality air purifying systems, so it’s definitely worth shopping around to see what your budget can afford. Read reviews to see what others think of the system before purchasing it yourself.
These suggestions are all relatively simple to implement, so why not give a few a go. They can make all the difference and improve your home on many levels. Give those that are suited to you a try and experience the benefits before you know it!