We’ve learned a lot over the past few years of what it means to truly have a clean home. Our minds jump to the perfectly organized and tidy spaces with all the baskets, labels, and bins. However, we are really talking about the overall health of your living environment. From materials, furnishings, layout, and more, we are here to share our latest findings in home health.
Call The Experts
First and foremost, we have learned to outsource air quality and electrical work to teams who specialize in these fields. We’ve found it best to involve them in the beginning stages of building, so they can integrate their recommendations during the home building process. Trust us, this will save you money on the back end. One of our go-to resources in Houston, the Wynne Walker Group, addresses essential wellness environments. This includes air, water, light, sound, electricity, and thermal comfort. They make it their mission to protect building materials and promote a healthy, conditioned indoor environment. We’ve also worked with Positive Energy, who will evaluate your home and design an electrical and airflow plan that will keep things running efficiently and safely, as well as help with appliance and automation systems that will keep you breathing easy.
Go Natural
Our first piece of advice we always give clients is to go natural for a clean home. Whether it’s fabric on your furniture, or hard finishes in your home, typically choosing natural, authentic materials means less chemicals. For soft goods, I encourage my clean-conscious clients to use linen, cotton, or wool and love using brands like Coyuchi and Cozy Earth for bedding.
Materials like unlacquered brass and bronze have antimicrobial properties that kill most germs, keeping those door handles and faucets clean. While these materials do patina and age, we think they add a beautiful texture, and are better for you! So it’s a win-win. Consider floors, counters, and walls that have zero VOCs and off-gassing. The best way to accomplish this is by selecting real natural materials like wood, stone, plaster, and concrete. For your wood floors, you’ll want to use a nail down method or non-toxic glue, and work with a company that uses natural oils to achieve the desired color. Plaster is a great wall finish option, because it’s comprised of lime or cement, and companies like Romabio offer non-toxic interior paints.
Plan It Out
When we think of a healthy home, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of a good layout and flow. Carving out a space for a mudroom and sink by the entry serves as the perfect place to kick off your shoes and wash-up.
A Bright, Clean Home
You’ll also want to consider which rooms get the most sunlight during the day and adjust window placement and treatments accordingly. Getting natural light in the morning is a great way to get energized and sync up your circadian rhythm.
