The past few years have brought around many changes in our lives, especially pertaining to themes of health and wellness. In fact, a recent study found that “62% of Americans believe their health is more important to them than before the pandemic.” There are likely various reasons for this, such as:
- Constant news streams discussing health conditions have led to heightened health anxiety, and a desire to boost our immune systems.
- We’ve begun to place a better focus on both physical and mental health, and well-being activities are the easiest way to pursue this.
- People are excited to get up and move again after being inside for so long.
There are various ways in which wellness has found its new place in our lives. For example, you may be trying out new recipes or home workout routines. However, did you know that your home can also impact your health?
Photo by Outsite Co on Unsplash
With that in mind, here are some simple renovation and maintenance tips you can use to create a healthier home!
Decorate with plants.
There are plenty of creative ideas for home decoration out there, but plants are perhaps the most effective for those looking to create a healthier home. This is because they can improve indoor air quality. Studies also suggest that caring for plants can also be good for your mental health.
Change your air conditioner filter.
Installing an air conditioning unit within your home is another excellent way to improve air quality within your home, especially as they can remove pollutants from the air.
However, you must also ensure that you keep them in good condition if you want to reap the most benefits, meaning you must replace the air conditioner filter often. This also adds to the longevity of your air conditioning unit, meaning you can rely on it for longer.
Replace carpet with wooden flooring.
When trying to create a healthier home, wooden floors are often your best option due to the fact that they do not gather dust or dust mites in the same way that carpets do. While there are techniques out there to clean different flooring materials like carpet, it’s much safer to go with something that’s easier to clean. This is particularly important for those with allergies or respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Stay on top of your cleaning routine.
Keeping your home clean and organized is another useful way to make your home a healthier space. This is due to the simple fact that when surfaces are clean, there’s less space for bacteria and germs to hide. It can also help you get on track of maintenance issues that could affect your family’s health, such as mold and mildew.
Banish clutter.
Not only does clutter make your home look messy and disorganized, it can also impact your mental health. This is because it can heighten feelings of stress and anxiety, no matter how much we try to ignore the clutter around us.
Furthermore, it’s easy for the problem to spiral out of control by telling ourselves we’ll tackle the clutter ‘tomorrow’. As such, you should find as many ways as possible to keep your home clutter-free, especially if your house is on the smaller side.
Deal with any access needs.
A ‘healthy’ home is a home that caters to the needs of those who live there, meaning you may need to make some changes in order to make your home safer and more accessible.
If you are caring for a senior relative, or if a family member has been diagnosed with mobility issues, you may want to look into modifications that you can make throughout your home. For example, this could include installing handrails along your stairs or in the bathroom.
Stop wearing shoes in the house.
Many households already have a no-shoes-indoors policy – and for a good reason. The bottom of your shoes can bring in a lot of dirt, dust, and other types of bacteria into your home, meaning it’s best to leave it at the door and not your living space.
Furthermore, it can undo a lot of the time you spend cleaning if you allow everyone who walks through the door to tread in mud and dirt. This gives you a chance to invest in a nice shoe-rack, or even DIY your own. Be sure to enforce the rule all the time too, even when guests are coming over. Many will understand this rule without question as they’ll likely do it in their own home too.
Turn that empty room into a workout space.
If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room in your home or a garage that is nothing but a glorified storage unit, why not turn it into a workout space or home gym? This is a great way to transition towards a healthier lifestyle, as it’s hard to say you don’t have time to go to the gym when it’s the next door over.
Furthermore, this kind of renovation doesn’t need to be expensive. You could buy workout equipment second-hand or simply use it as a space to follow home workout spaces. You could also use this room to carry out exercises that are good for your mental health, such as mindfulness, mediation, or yoga.
Install water filters.
Installing water filters in your home, particularly in the kitchen, is another great way to make your home a healthier space overall. This is because it ensures that you always have access to clean, delicious water. Filters work by removing contaminants or pollutants that may have found their way into your pipes from the water stream and often last a few years once installed.
As such, they can also be a great way to encourage your family to drink more water. You could take this to the next level by setting each other challenges – who can drink more water in a day?
In short, there are various steps you can take to make your home a healthier space. This, in turn, will make it easier for you to start following a healthy lifestyle.