You spend most of your time at home, and the environment there can significantly affect your well-being and overall health. You want your pad to be a welcoming oasis amid a chaotic world.
How do you get there? The right upgrades can transform your home into a modern, accessible place. Here are nine essential features to incorporate in your home for your well-being.
1. Touchless Appliances
Have you ever noticed that once one person in the family gets sick, everyone else soon follows? Part of the reason is that germs can linger on certain surfaces for a week or longer, awaiting the right opportunity to infect someone new. You probably don’t put on surgical gloves every time you leave your bed, and doing so would create far too much single-use plastic waste, anyway. What to do?
Touchless appliances are the answer. For instance, handwashing helps stop germ spread but can leave bacteria and viruses on faucets. Furthermore, it’s much easier to rinse raw egg off your hand when you don’t have to turn a handle to produce water or soap.
What other types of touchless appliances can you invest in besides faucets? Consider these options:
- Light switches: You’ll also go more eco-friendly by reducing wipes and aerosol use.
- Cabinet doors: Goodbye, smudges.
- Soap dispensers: It takes more than water to wash your hands.
- Trash cans: Those lids can get icky.
- Touchless smart locks: Why fumble with keys?
- Toilets: Because you know that handle sees a lot of germs.
2. Smart Home Systems
Did you remember to turn off the oven? You could rush home in a panic, risking a speeding ticket — or you could simply check your phone with the right smart home system.
Smart home systems can automate many features. For example, programmable thermostats have long helped people save money on energy — today, they can adjust the temperature from anywhere in the world via smartphone.
Are you going out of town? Increase security by making it appear someone is home by turning off your lights and television at random intervals. Are you sure you checked the locks on every door? The right system can alert you to anything open and even lock it from a distance.
3. Accessibility Features
Six in 10 Americans will live with chronic disease at some point, and up to one in four have a disability. Accessibility features aren’t only for those aging in place — they help folks of all ages improve their mobility and safety.
Some accessibility features you might consider adding include:
- Installing handrails and grab bars in areas of high fall risk, like the bathroom.
- Exchanging twist doorknobs for levers.
- Lowering clothes rods in closets.
- Removing bathing barriers — for example, replacing existing tubs with walk-in models or step-in showers.
4. Indoor Air Quality
COVID-19 drove home the value of clean indoor air. When was the last time you swapped your filters? According to the Department of Energy, you should do so every month or two during periods of high system use, such as the summer cooling or winter heating season.
When it comes to maintaining clean indoor air quality, don’t overlook the role of your kitchen’s range hood. Range hoods are not just a kitchen design element; they play a crucial role in removing smoke, odors, and airborne particles generated during cooking. By investing in a high-quality range hood and ensuring its proper maintenance, you can effectively enhance the air quality in your kitchen.
Furthermore, look for gray streaks around your registers. If you see any, you have dirty ducts that require cleaning.
5. Supportive Cushioning
A saggy couch can leave your back in misery. Do you work from home? There’s no need to destroy your spine now that HR isn’t in charge of your chair.
Online shopping can save cash, but new furniture is something you should try on in person. Look for versions that offer adequate lumbar support, especially if you experience pain from degenerated discs.
6. Adjustable Lighting
Overhead fluorescents contain invisible pulsing that can trigger migraines in some. Conversely, LED bulbs come in fun colors, including soft tones that tread softly on your eyeballs and fun shades like green and blue for your kids’ room.
Furthermore, take advantage of natural lighting whenever possible. Sunlight can ease depression symptoms and prevent fatigue from straining in low light. While skylights may require professional installation, solar tubes are less expensive alternatives that don’t have as many problems with condensation and are manageable for amateur DIYers.
7. Natural Features
Along with natural light, bringing the outdoors in can transform your mental health. Copious research shows the curative properties of nature. One recent meta-analysis of over 200 such studies indicates 227 unique pathways through which the natural world can influence your well-being.
Houseplants help clear the air and beautify your space. Large, open windows let you take advantage of passive solar and offer an unfettered view of the outdoors.
8. Security
You should feel safe at home, and a security system can help you sleep soundly.
Some security options don’t require a monthly subscription fee, such as motion-detector lights and cameras that link to your cellphone or computer. Additionally, some systems instantly notify the police or fire department if they detect a potential break-in or smoke, even in your absence.
9. Serenity
Your mental and physical health intertwine. Incorporating the right serenity features into your home may improve your well-being, so consider the following:
- Water features: Fountains, aquariums and ponds soothe the soul.
- Aromatherapy: Scents like lavender and chamomile relax you.
- Music: Surround sound systems fill your entire abode with healing tones.
- Relaxation and spiritual renewal: A small yoga space or meditation garden can bring inner peace.
Essential Home Features for Your Well-Being
You spend the most time at home, so it makes sense that the environment there affects how you feel. Incorporating the above essential features into your home can greatly enhance your well-being. Upgrade your older property or make thoughtful choices when buying new to improve your overall health whenever you go home.
