Healthy Home: Wellbeing Tips for Your Living Space

Our homes are our sanctuaries, but are they as healthy as they could be? We often focus on diet and exercise for wellbeing, but the very structure we live in—the air we breathe, the light we’re exposed to, and the temperature we maintain—plays a massive role in our physical and mental health. This guide goes beyond what’s on your plate to explore ten practical ways to transform your living space into a true haven of health.

1. Prioritise Proper Ventilation: Let Your Home Breathe

Just like us, our homes need to breathe. Stagnant air can trap pollutants, moisture, and allergens, leading to a host of respiratory issues and even mold growth.

• Open Windows Regularly: Even in colder months, opening windows for just 10-15 minutes a day can significantly improve indoor air quality by flushing out stale air and bringing in fresh oxygen.
• Use Extractor Fans: Make sure to run extractor fans in the kitchen and bathroom during and after cooking or showering. This helps to vent moisture and pollutants directly outside.
• Consider an Air Exchanger: For a more comprehensive solution, an air-to-air heat exchanger (also known as a heat recovery ventilator or HRV) can be a game-changer. These systems continuously bring in fresh outdoor air while exhausting stale indoor air, all while transferring heat to minimise energy loss.

2. Master Moisture Control to Prevent Mold

Excess moisture is the enemy of a healthy home. It creates the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, which are potent allergens and can cause serious health problems.

• Fix Leaks Promptly: Don’t ignore that dripping tap or a small water stain on the ceiling. Address leaks in pipes, roofs, or windows immediately.
• Monitor Humidity Levels: Aim to keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50%. You can use a simple hygrometer to track this.
• Use Dehumidifiers: If you live in a humid climate or have a damp basement, a dehumidifier is an essential tool.
• Ensure Proper Drainage: Make sure your home’s gutters and down-pipes are clear and direct water away from the foundation.

3. Optimise Your Thermal Comfort: Banishing the Cold

Living in a cold home isn’t just uncomfortable; it stresses the cardiovascular system and weakens our immunity. Keeping your home consistently warm—but not overheated—is key.

• Insulate, Insulate, Insulate: The most effective way to keep warmth in is to stop it escaping. Ensure your loft insulation is up to standard (270mm is the current recommendation). Cavity wall insulation can also make a massive difference.
• Draught-Proofing: It’s one of the cheapest and most effective fixes. Use draught excluders (snakes) for doors, apply adhesive foam strips to window frames, and don’t forget the letterbox.
• Upgrade Glazing: If full double (or triple) glazing isn’t in the budget, thermal curtains or secondary glazing film can provide a surprisingly effective barrier against the chill.

4. Rethink Your Heating: Efficient and Clean

How you heat your home impacts the air quality inside it. Old gas fires or open log burners can release particulate matter into your living space.

• Service Your Boiler: An annual service ensures your boiler runs efficiently and, crucially, isn’t leaking carbon monoxide.
• Smart Thermostats: Installing a smart thermostat allows you to control the heating more precisely, ensuring rooms aren’t overheated when empty, which saves energy and keeps the temperature consistent.
• Consider Underfloor Heating: It reduces the circulation of dust compared to radiators (which rely on convection currents) and keeps the heat where you need it most—near your feet!

5. Harness the Power of Light: Syncing Your Circadian Rhythm

Light dictates our sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm). A dark home during the day can leave you feeling lethargic, while harsh lighting at night can disrupt sleep.

• Maximise Natural Light: Keep windows clear of heavy clutter. Place mirrors opposite windows to bounce natural light deeper into the room.
• Layer Your Lighting: Don’t rely on a single ‘big light’ in the centre of the ceiling. Use floor lamps and table lamps to create pools of warm light for relaxing in the evening.
• Colour Temperature Matters: Use cool white (bluish) bulbs in kitchens or workspaces to boost alertness, and warm white (yellowish) bulbs in bedrooms and living rooms to promote relaxation.

6. Detox Your Cleaning Cupboard: Reducing Chemical Loads

It is ironic that the products we use to clean our homes often introduce the most pollution. Many standard sprays and bleaches release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that can irritate airways and cause headaches.

• Switch to Eco-Friendly Options: Look for plant-based, non-toxic cleaning products. They are widely available and just as effective.
• DIY Solutions: Simple ingredients like white vinegar, bicarbonate of soda, and lemon juice can tackle most household cleaning tasks without the harsh chemicals.
• Scent Naturally: Avoid synthetic air fresheners. Instead, use essential oil diffusers or simmer a pot of spices on the stove to scent your home safely.

7. Choose Materials Mindfully: The Fabric of Your Home

The materials you bring into your home off-gas chemicals over time. Making conscious choices about decor can significantly lower your home’s toxic load.

• Low-VOC Paints: When redecorating, always opt for paints labelled ‘Low VOC’ or ‘Zero VOC’.
• Natural Textiles: Choose wool, cotton, linen, or jute for rugs, curtains, and upholstery. These breathable materials do not harbour static or release microplastics like synthetic fabrics.
• Solid Wood over MDF: Where possible, choose solid wood furniture. Cheap chipboard or MDF is often held together with formaldehyde-based glues that can off-gas for years.

8. Biophilic Design: Bringing the Outdoors In

‘Biophilia’ is our innate tendency to seek connections with nature. Incorporating natural elements into your home has been proven to lower stress and improve cognitive function.

• Houseplants: They look beautiful and some, like Snake Plants or Peace Lilies, help filter indoor air.
• Natural Textures: Incorporate stone, wood, and water elements into your design to create a calming, grounding atmosphere.
• Views of Nature: If you have a garden view, frame it! Don’t block it with heavy blinds. If you are in a city, even artwork depicting nature can have a positive psychological effect.

9. Acoustic Comfort: Silence is Golden

Noise pollution is a significant stressor that often goes unnoticed. A healthy home should be a quiet refuge from the bustling world outside.

• Soft Furnishings: Hard surfaces bounce sound around. Add rugs, curtains, and cushions to absorb sound and reduce echo.
• Double Glazing: Aside from heat retention, good windows are your primary defence against traffic noise.
• White Noise: If external noise is unavoidable, using a white noise machine or a water feature can mask disturbing sounds and help you relax.

10. Smart Cooling: Preparing for Summer Heat

As UK summers get hotter, keeping your home cool without relying on energy-hungry air conditioning is becoming a health priority, especially for sleep quality.

• Passive Ventilation: Open windows on opposite sides of the house to create a cross-breeze. Open the loft hatch to let rising hot air escape.
• Thermal Blinds: Keep curtains and blinds closed during the hottest part of the day to block solar gain.
• Ceiling Fans: These are far more energy-efficient than air con units and provide a gentle, consistent breeze that aids the body’s natural cooling process.

Conclusion: Small Changes, Big Impact

Creating a healthy home isn’t about achieving a sterile environment or spending a fortune on the latest gadgets. It is about understanding how our living space interacts with our biology. By improving ventilation, managing moisture, regulating temperature, and reducing toxins, you create a foundation for better health.

Start with one or two of these changes this weekend. Your body—and your mind—will thank you for it.