Designing a Home That Boosts Your Health & Well-Being

 

Creating a healthy home environment is about more than just cleaning or decluttering. It's about fostering a space that nurtures every aspect of your well-being. Health isn't just the physical.  It's encompassing of your emotional, mental, and even your spiritual Health!

Today, I'll walk you through some key ways to transform your home into a sanctuary that promotes health on all levels. From using natural elements to making sustainable choices, I'll show you how to build a home that supports a healthier more balanced lifestyle.

Hi! My name is Shelly and I am the Director of Armada Design Center Bellevue. I am so excited to talk to you today about healthy homes and trends to make that happen. Some design tips and material choices for a healthy home to remember is it's not just about aesthetics.  It's about creating an environment that supports your physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, and environmental well-being.  That's a lot! 

Let's break down how to make your home a sanctuary with a focus on sustainable materials and design tips that will benefit both you and the planet. Creating a functional and safe environment is critical.  Your physical health is determined by how well your body functions. A healthy home helps to improve this by providing a clean, safe, and supportive space.  Materials that you should consider are eco-friendly flooring options like LVP, which stands for luxury vinyl plank.  It’s not only good for the environment, it’s fantastic underfoot as it’s softer than standard hardwood floors, and easier on your joints.  

Porcelain tile and recycled glasses are durable and they're easy to maintain. They're made from sustainable resources.  Very big today is the use of non-toxic paints with low VOC’s. That stands for volatile organic compounds.  These chemicals wreak havoc on your health and can cause all types of ailments starting from allergies, all the way up to cancer, liver and kidney failure, and developmental issues in children.

Natural stone is highly durable and requires minimal processing to make it both a practical option, and a sustainable one.  Green Cabinetry made from FSC certified wood, which stands for the Forestry Stewardship Council, ensures that your cabinetry is not only healthy for you but it's also responsibly sourced.  FSC certification ensures that where the materials are sourced from are economically, socially, and environmentally safe.  

Here's some design tips to maximize natural light.  Natural lighting has a positive effect on your health by boosting mood and your vitamin D production.  Enhance natural light wherever you can with sheer window coverings, if privacy is needed, to allow light to still cast in. Keep the coverings on your windows light in tone and color to allow the sun to penetrate.  You can also purchase light bulbs that mimic natural light in spaces where natural light is not an option.  

Let’s talk about air quality.  The use of materials that do not emit harmful chemicals like low VOC’s are natural flooring options like cork and bamboo.  Wall cladding with a natural wood finish ensures the air in your home is clean.

If you're ready to make your home healthier and more sustainable, start by incorporating these design tips and eco-friendly materials into your next project.  Reach out today to learn more about creating a healthy home that truly supports your health and overall well-being.

Your emotional health is so critical.  Creating a relaxing stress-free space is vital to ensuring emotional health.  Managing your stress, feeling balanced, and maintaining a positive relationship with your family and friends increases emotional stability.

Some materials to consider to support this are natural elements such as real plants, real wood, and organic textures which help reduce stress and keep you centered.  When adding decor, use natural fibers like cotton, rattan, and wool for throw pillows, blankets, and rugs.  

Sintered stone for your countertops or walls is another healthy choice. It's nonporous, bacterial resistant, and many options are low VOC.  These surfaces are a breeze to clean and maintain, which contributes to a cleaner and healthier space.  

Here's some more design tips.  Wellness spaces, wow!  Everybody would love to have a wellness space, and more importantly, you should!  This can even be achieved in a small space.  To create a wellness space, find a dedicated area in your home for a meditation or yoga space that helps you unwind.  Incorporate calming colors like all hues of blue, soft yellows, and greens.  Add natural textures to foster relaxation. Make sure there are no TV’s or electronics in this space.  Make it cozy and a place where you can escape and read a good book, or just simply get lost in your thoughts.  

In multi-functional spaces make sure you avoid clutter by integrating furniture that serves multi-purposes like storage benches or foldable desks.  This reduces visual stress and increases the overall sense of calm.

Clear your mind in a well-designed home that helps you cope with stress.  Staying mentally clear and feeling good about your life is so important.  What are some materials that you can consider to achieve this?  Smart home technology is a great example.  Incorporate smart lighting, automated temperature controls, security systems and devices to create comfortable and stress-free environments.  Smart furniture has come such a long way! Now you can have a coffee table that doubles as a mini-fridge with your favorite beverages stocked in it.  Couches with massage, heat, charging devices, integrated lighting, and built in sound systems are a game changer!  The key is to simplify what you currently do every day.  Find solutions that make your busy life easier.  

Let's talk about your spiritual health.  This is your higher connection to peace and purpose and to the natural world around us.  Materials to consider to promote your spiritual health are all things of the earth!  Natural wood and stone materials are fantastic.  Natural wood flooring and sintered stone are perfect for creating a grounding and peaceful space.  Recycled material items like reclaimed wood furniture, natural grasscloth wallpaper, and eco-friendly fabrics contribute to a sense of sustainability and connection to the earth.  Incorporate symbols of nature, and fresh plants to help purify the air.  Bringing the outdoors inside is proven to foster a sense of peace and serenity.  

Let’s talk about your financial health.  Don't we all want to achieve financial health! Sustainable choices not only save you money, but they are great for the environment.  Financial health is about managing your finances wisely ensuring long-term financial stability and making purchases that support both your home and to the planet.  Materials to consider for this are smart appliances, energy efficient systems for lighting and heating which can significantly lower your energy costs.  Sustainable building materials such as reclaimed wood, bamboo, and eco-friendly flooring options like LVP and concrete tile are durable materials that save you money over time by reducing the need to replace them, while allowing for low maintenance that can be required with other surfaces. 

Your environmental health is a home that protects the planet.  This looks at how the physical environment around us affects our well-being  including the air, water, and the materials we use.  Some things to consider are water filtration systems, eco-friendly materials like recycled glass, FSC certified woods, and sintered stone help reduce your home's environmental footprint.  Again, LVP flooring is also an excellent eco-friendly option due to its long lifespan and its durability.  Many options today are also low VOC and it has minimal environmental impact during production. 

Tiny homes are all the rage!  Smaller homes or compact spaces by reducing your environmental impact.  Small spaces often require fewer resources and less energy to maintain which makes them a very sustainable choice.  If you haven’t looked into container homes and bardos, now is the time!  You can create a beautiful and healthy space and significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

 

To sum it up, by focusing on materials and spaces that are healthy for you and the environment, you are increasing your overall health.  Remember that natural and sustainable materials bring longevity and create harmony in any home.  Increase your sense of  well-being on every single level whether it's through natural elements, sustainable materials, or smart design.  Making mindful choices in your home will help create a sanctuary that nurtures your physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health.    Use these tips to create a space where a healthy home creates a healthy YOU!