If you think that losing weight and decorating your house are two totally different things, think again. Your house plays a very critical part in keeping you healthy. After all, your home is where you spend most of your time, and more importantly, it is where your children spend their time too. You may think that if your house is clean, it is very healthy. But there is so much more to that story.
As our lives get faster and faster, we need to create a healthy and vibrant home environment to which we can come back after a tiresome day at work. We need a safe, peaceful and energetically balanced space which can act as a protective shield and help us regenerate and heal after daily toils. Here are some ideas that will help create a pleasant, stylish and attractive environment at home:
- Keep it Dust Free: There is nothing more damaging to your health than house dust. House dust even aggravates allergies. The dust contains so many other harmful chemicals such as lead, fire retardants, pesticides, and other chemicals. Make sure you vacuum everyday. Also, place doormats outside and inside your front door and make sure everyone wipes their feet and take off their shoes when they come inside.
- Keep it Chemical Free: There are so many chemicals that we expose ourselves to everyday, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in adhesives, sealants and paints; and pesticides, fungicides etc. Make sure you reduce the use of these chemicals in your house. Use low- or no-VOC paint (paints are the second-largest source of VOC emissions after a new car) instead of oil-based paints to minimize paint fumes. Use natural household cleaners (such as borax, baking soda and distilled white vinegar) instead of commercial cleaners which often contain harsh chemicals.
- Make Space for Exercise: Make sure you figure out a space in your house that you can use to exercise. It should be clear of clutter or large objects. It should have enough space to roll out an exercise mat.
- Get Water Sources Checked: Check your tap water for any impurities. There are kits that you can buy to filter your water or even better get a water purifier. Also, regularly clean overhead tanks to be on the safer side.
- Utilize Sunlight: Studies show that natural light (sunlight) has a calming effect on mood and concentration. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, people who work in daylight are more productive. Make sure there is ample sunlight throughout your different rooms. Use strategically placed mirrors and bright interior finishes (like the yellow color and high-gloss paint) to reflect whatever sunlight you have.
- Paint Your Rooms Appropriately: Color has a powerful effect on your mood, behavior and health. Colors have the ability to soothe and also to stimulate you. Each color represents a certain kind of energy. By vigilantly picking each color, you can paint each room to have a maximum health benefits. While decorating with soothing colors (blue and green) can help lower blood pressure and set the scene for more calm and relaxed mind, decorating with bright colors (yellow) can stimulate your brain making you more alert and decisive.
- Great Ventilation: Fresh air is one important factor for a healthy family. Permit fresh air to circulate throughout the house. Ventilation can reduce heat all throughout the summer and keep you warm in cold winter months.
- Service Your AC Regularly: The inside part of air conditioner can be an optimum condition for different kinds of molds and microbes to breed. Sometimes turning the AC on can disperse these molds and molds spores into the atmosphere. So, get your AC checked and cleaned regularly to maintain the quality of air. Use one which has ionizer to purify and maintain it cool and healthy.
- Plants and Flowers: Potted plants or flowers in a vase instantly add life to your home. Green plants not only bring beautiful natural accents room design, but they also help cleanse air. Some of the indoor plants you can get for your home include money plant, areca palm and snake plant. Money plant (Epipremnum aureum) is one of the best for cleaning air in the bedroom. It not only release oxygen in the air, but it can also filter formaldehyde from the air that is commonly released by adhesives (used with wood furnishings) and cigarette smoke.
- Regular Pest Control: It is very important to get Pest Control done in your house on an annual basis without fail. Also, it makes sense to use herbal pest control instead of chemicals to avoid any future allergies or reactions.
Remember the old saying 'Home is where the heart is'. When the house has a healthy environment, then it is called a healthy home.
