Household Health Tips

A healthy home is a happy home.

While not everyone is cut out to be Martha Stewart, keeping your household healthy and happy does not need to be an extravagant affair. Simple things make a big difference in the place where most people spend up to half their time. With just a few adjustments, your home can become a place to nurture the health and well-being of everyone living in it.

Decorate

Lighting, color and texture all affect the ambiance of a room. home decor image by Leticia Wilson from Fotolia.com

A well-known fact in the interior design industry is that the décor of a space will directly affect its inhabitants psychologically, as Judith Heerwagen discusses in detail in the "Whole Building Design Guide." Any psychologist will tell you that mental health directly affects physical health. For the most immediate and long-term impact on the health of your family, decorate. Choose a color scheme that makes every member of the household comfortable and happy. Add plants and mementos of time spent together to enhance the psychological bond and make the space homey. Doing so will greatly aid everyone's mood and attitude.

Clean Green

Know what is in your household cleaners. cleaning products image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com

The Environmental Protection Agency has deemed many household cleaners and products toxic to humans, animals and the environment at large. Instead, they now recommend using natural cleaners made at home or purchasing their "Design for the Environment" approved products. Using these cleaners in place of toxic conventional cleaners will drastically reduce indoor air pollution, improve water quality and ease breathing for anyone with asthma or allergies.

Fruit Basket

Snack on healthy options. fruit bowl with wine glass image by Stephen Orsillo from Fotolia.com

Place a basket or bowl of fruit and veggies on the table or countertop every day. Any dieter will agree that if a food is consistently visible, people will eat it. In fact, just by making fruits and vegetables available to school-age children regularly, the town of Somerville, Massachusetts, has helped fight childhood obesity in the town, according to goodhousekeeping.com. Besides, what is as tempting as a gleaming bowl of brightly colored fruit ready for the taking when you are hungry? After all, there is no cooking or waiting involved.

References

• EPA: Source Reduction Alternatives Around the Home
• "Whole Building Design Guide"; Psychosocial Value of Space; Judith Heerwagen; May 2008
• Good Housekeeping: One Town Gets Children to Live a Healthy Lifestyle

Resources

• EPA: Design for the Environment
• Achoo the Blog: 12 Most Dangerous Household Chemicals