A healthy home is a happy home. So goes the old adage. And there’s truth to it. We spend forty to fifty percent of our lives in our homes–sleeping, cooking, entertaining, viewing Netflix. That’s why the healthiness of a home is crucial to the well-being of its inhabitants. Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture understands the importance of a home’s overall health, and we factor this into the design and materials we incorporate into each custom home.
Despite the advances in our understanding of human health and how various chemicals and materials impact the environment, modern homes often still lack the details necessary to facilitate a healthy lifestyle. We’ve gathered a few simple, healthy living tips to help you maintain a healthier home.
Watch Where You Sit
Cushions, throw pillows, and upholstery collect dust, dander, and skin cell particles over time. Factor these plush items into your cleaning rotation, and replace them when they get too worn.
Reduce Clutter
Unnecessary clutter collects dust, creates stress, and hampers productivity–all negative factors for your health. Donate items you don’t use regularly and clear up space to enjoy the home design you so diligently crafted.
Light…
Light refreshes the body and soothes the soul, especially in the Pacific Northwest where winter brings an increase in seasonal affective disorder. When designing or remodeling a home, make natural light a priority. If you still need more light, add mirrors and bright-colored finishes to your decor to maximize what natural light is available. You’ll find it makes all the difference to healthy living!
…and Airy
When building a healthy home, selecting the perfect HVAC system is important. However, that HVAC system must be regularly maintained to ensure that it provides proper ventilation and keeps the air clean. Consider a quarterly maintenance check-up to ensure you’re breathing the best, most efficient air. Adding houseplants to your interior decor adds vibrant life to your home and further cleanses the air, ensuring that your HVAC circulates the purest air possible.
Clean Cleaners
Nearly 85% of the dirt in your home comes in on your shoes. Place doormats outside entrances and remove your shoes as soon as possible to significantly decrease the amount of dirt you track in. For the dirt and germs that do cross your threshold, opt for nontoxic cleaning agents. More and more nontoxic cleaners are emerging on the market, and choosing them can help reduce indoor air pollution and promote healthy living.
The Gelotte Hommas Drivdahl Architecture team constantly collects information on the healthiest, most effective building materials, and we’d be honored to create a safe, happy, healthy home for you and your loved ones.