Is your home a place of solace, or a place of stress? A healthy, happy home is one that we look forward to coming back to each day. It’s a place of joyful memories and a place where you can feel relaxed and at ease after a long day.
If you feel like your home could use a little sprucing up, here are five ways to make your home a happier, healthier place.
1. Brighten Things Up
A bright, cheerful space will help you feel at ease and relaxed when you’re in your home. Paint your home with soft colors, like neutrals, pastels and whites.
Pastels can really brighten up a room in unexpected ways. Whites are a classic, go-to option, especially when paired with a neutral or earthy accent color.
White colors can make a room look more spacious and is often associated with positive meanings, such as freshness, cleanliness and simplicity.
2. Let the Light In
The lighting in your home can have a major impact on how the space feels. The right lighting can make your home feel warm and bright. Improper lighting can make the space feel dreary and drab.
Dimmers are great for setting a mood. Table lamps add warmth to the space, while task lights can reduce eye strain when reading or working.
In addition to artificial light, allowing more natural light into the home can make the space feel warm and inviting. Views of nature can also help you relax.
Cleaning your windows and pushing aside those thick drapes can really make your home a happier, more positive place.
3. Take Care of Important Repairs
It’s hard to relax and feel at ease in your home when you know that things need to be repaired. And in some cases, failure to take care of certain repairs can make your home unhealthy to live in.
Plumbing, sewer and roof issues can contribute to mold growth, contributing to an unhealthy indoor environment. According to Full Bore Inc., some of the most common signs of water line issues include:
- Poor water pressure
- Damp or weak ground along the path of the water line
- Water damage on the inside of your home
- Stuttering water faucet
- Noisy pipes when the water is in use
If one of your home’s major systems is in need of repair, make sure that you take care of these as soon as possible. Not only will your home be cleaner and healthier, but you’ll also enjoy peace of mind in knowing that everything is working properly.
4. Bring Nature Indoors
Adding plants to your interior space can create a feeling of harmony and relaxation. Plants also increase oxygen levels in the home, remove toxins from the air and increase indoor humidity levels.
Plants promote overall well-being. One study from Kansas State University found that adding houseplants to patients’ rooms in a hospital improved recovery rates.
Along with plants, you may also want to add something organic to every room in your home to connect to the outdoors. It can be a nature-inspired craft or something from outdoors, such as branches or leaves.
5. Improve the Indoor Air Quality
Plants can go a long way in improving the quality of the air in your home, but you can take additional steps to make your home’s air healthier.
EPA studies have found that pollutant levels can be five times higher indoors than outdoors. This is partly because of the chemicals used in synthetic home furniture.
You can improve your home’s indoor air quality by simply choosing natural fabrics and fibers. When replacing floor coverings and furnishings, consider items made from renewable, natural material, such as cotton, hemp, wool, jute, sisal and sea grass.
You can also improve your home’s air quality by making sure that you change your HVAC filter regularly and choose a vacuum with a HEPA filter. If you have pets, vacuuming regularly can help keep the air clean. If necessary, you can also use an air purifier to remove allergens that may irritate asthma and other respiratory issues.
A home should be a place where you feel happy and at ease. Make an effort to nurture these feelings by creating an environment you want to be in. Use these five tips to transform your home into a place that supports your well-being rather than harming it.
