The home is our sanctuary. It’s where we should thrive. Therefore, when it comes to renovating our living space, we should look at it from the perspective of how to promote physical and mental wellness. But we need to explore the key renovations that can contribute to this. Here are a number of components to bear in mind.
The Indoor Air Quality
The air we breathe indoors can have an impact on our health. We should start our health-focused renovations by prioritizing the quality of our air. We should look at HVAC systems and see if they need cleaning, but we should also look at the air filters. Changing our air filters is a simple but effective way to ensure that clean air is circulating around the house, and by upgrading to air filter pad holding frames to provide better support for those air filters, we can enhance the filtration efficiency of our air filters.
Clean air filters are going to contribute to respiratory health and we’ll reduce the risk of allergies and respiratory issues for the family. There’s a lot of airborne allergens, and therefore, making these upgrades in the home means that we can breathe easy. It’s also worth incorporating some breathing techniques. It’s such a little thing, but how we breathe is critical, and there’s a lot to be said for breathing through the nose. So many of us are mouth breathers, and if we can make the change to breathing through our nose as soon as possible, this can, in fact, reduce a lot of allergens and has been shown to reduce symptoms of breathing conditions like asthma.
Upgrade to Non-Toxic Building Materials
Traditional materials can release what is known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and this can have an impact on the quality of the air. There are a number of adverse health effects arising from breathing in VOCs and can aggravate the airways.
Choosing low-VOC or VOC-free alternatives can minimize our exposure to those harmful substances. For example, instead of having carpets in the property, upgrading the flooring to polished concrete flooring can guarantee very minimal VOCs because of how the materials are processed. Non-toxic materials will contribute to a safer and healthier living space, which is especially important for families and children who have a lot of sensitivities.
Maximize Natural Lighting
One of the best ways to improve your overall sense of wellness is by getting as much natural light into the home as possible. When renovating, consider upgrading to larger windows, or if this is not possible, using light-colored curtains that will brighten the living space and can have an impact on your circadian rhythms. We have to remember there are a few things we can do to benefit our sense of wellness, and ensuring regular circadian rhythms is one of them.
We should expose ourselves to at least 5 to 10 minutes of natural light first thing in the morning, as per the science/wellness guru Andrew Huberman recommends. Such a little thing, but we can bring natural light into the home through reflective materials such as mirrors, as well as decorating our home with chrome or copper that can reflect natural light easily. This is especially important during the winter months when there is a higher instance of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). You could also benefit from investing in a SAD light and using this first thing in the morning if you’re not able to get outside or if it’s too cold!
Creating a Bedroom Conducive to Rest
Quality sleep is vital for our overall health. Therefore, transforming a bedroom into a place away from the hustle and bustle of home life and life in general will help you rest and recuperate. It’s not just about going to sleep to get proper rest but about ensuring that we can incorporate comfort. Comfortable mattresses and pillows, as well as calming paint colors, all have those positive impacts on your sense of happiness.
You should also think about reducing those electronic devices in the bedroom because they can disrupt sleep. Something like blackout curtains will also ensure that you have an optimal sleeping environment because if you are exposed to a lot of light from the TV or your phone, this will disrupt the sleep hormone melatonin, and therefore you won’t feel as rested. If you renovate your bedroom to prioritize sleep, it’s not just going to result in far better mental health, but you will also feel better physically because you are more rested.
Revamping the Kitchen for Healthy Eating
It’s been said a million times, but the kitchen is the beating heart of the home. When we renovate, we should focus more on health and positive lifestyle changes. For example, a water filtration system that can take the impurities out of tap water, as well as design a layout that encourages healthy eating habits.
For example, a kitchen island where the family can gather in the morning and have those conversations about the importance of healthy eating can slowly over time encourage children to eat far better foods. It can certainly be an uphill battle, but a well-designed and health-focused kitchen can be a sort of inspiration, not just because of the nutritious meals but over time, we can foster that culture of well-being that is pivotal to all families.
Soundproofing
Noise pollution is one of those things that we should actively address, especially when we’re living in a built-up city area. Renovating your home to incorporate soundproofing measures in the bedroom, such as insulation, acoustic panels, or double-glazed windows, will contribute to reducing stress levels and better mental health.
Where there’s too much noise, it can be an assault on the senses. Therefore, we should think about the importance of quiet, which might be a rare occurrence for you in the modern world!
We can make so many great renovations around the house that are focused on looking good, but we also need to ensure that we feel good too. By carefully considering each aspect of your living space, you will be able to create a home that doesn’t just nurture physical health, but can have an impact on your mental and emotional well-being.
