Healthy Home’s Hallmarks


Written by Admin
Saturday, 16 February 2008

Purity

Nothing could be more essential to your health than air you breathe, yet many of the most common household materials emit formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and other hazardous chemicals. To some extent, installing a purifier with a HEPA (high-efficiency particle) air filler or ULPA (ultra-low penetration) air filter may control indoor air pollution. However, the best way to enhance air quality is to minimize the amount of toxins that are brought into the house.

In the healthy home, furnishings and finishes are drawn from nature. Organic cotton and linen are chosen above synthetic fabrics. Pure wood is preferred to furnishings made from pressed-wood products. Brick, stone, and tile are selected over vinyl. Biodegradable water-based paints, varnishes, and stains are used in place of oil-based products. Even the solutions used to clean the home are nontoxic and fume-free.

Conservation

The healthy home is kind to the environment. For the most economical heating and cooling, rooms are arranged to capitalize on nature’s rhythms. Appliances and lighting are selected for their energy efficiency. Plumbing fixtures are equipped with water- saving devices. Storage bins in the kitchen and utility rooms encourage users to recycle bottles, cans, and papers.

In living areas, environmental awareness brings an exhilarating freedom from excess and waste. Flexible floor plans permit rooms to take on multiple uses. Movable screens transform a spacious dining room into a private study. Many of the furnishings and decorative items are reclaimed from flea markets; others are constructed from salvaged timber. Even lampshades and wallpaper may be made from recycled paper. By conserving resources, occupants discover that their home and its contents take on special meaning. Reclaimed furnishing and handcrafted items are valued for their purity, simplicity, and artistry. Objects that were once disposable become treasure and heirlooms.

Simplicity

The healthy home is easy to maintain. White rooms need not be spare, they are free of clutter, heavy fabric, and bulky cushions and curtains. Collections are displayed with restraint. Woolen area rugs and rush mats take the place of wall-to-wall carpeting. Furnishings are often nonupholstered or covered with easy-to-wash cotton or linen slipcovers. The smooth, uncomplicated surfaces in these rooms make them inhospitable to dust, allergens, and microscopic dust mites and their droppings. In addition to preventing physical ailments, the simplicity in design yields deep psychological rewards: Living in clean, uncluttered spaces liberates the mind and lightens the spirit.

Ergonomics

“ Ergonomics “ is a term most often applied to offices, yet the furnishings and arrangements in every room should encourage patterns of picture and movement that promote musculoskeletal health. In the healthy home, kitchens are designed with accessible cabinets and efficient organization of workspaces. Bathrooms feature comfortably sized fixtures and easy-turn faucets. Bedrooms replace traditional pillows with cervical pillows and “bed wedges” to help prevent neck pain. Living areas are furnished with chairs that permit deep relaxation while providing proper support for the spine. Often overlooked details such as lever-handle door latches and touch-pad wall switches facilitate easy, stress-free movement through the house.

Green spaces

Plants are not merely decorative. Growing abundantly throughout the home, they nourish the soul and reaffirm ties with nature. Some scientists believe that common houseplants even help purify the air. While the research is hotly debated, there is some evidence to suggest that certain species may actually absorb formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, and other harmful fumes. In the healthy home, at least two plants are placed per 100 feet of floor space. Rooms with unusually high ceilings receive additional greenery. To prevent mold spores (a common allergen), many of the plants are grown in water instead of soil. Window atriums and skylights contribute to interior green spaces and floor the home with nurturing sunlight.

Healing Light

Bright, full-spectrum light manufactures vitamin D, regulates hormones, boosts the immune system, and wards off depression. The healthy home combines natural light with carefully chosen energy-efficient artificial illumination. To invite sunshine into the home, some windows may be free of curtains and shades. Others may rely on textured glass or bamboo screens to emit light while providing privacy. In some homes, innovative “smart windows” with electrically switchable glazing let homeowners adjust the opacity with a twist of a knob.

For artificial lighting, designers choose full-spectrum incandescent fixtures that imitate the sun’s natural rays. Carefully placed mirrors help maximize the illumination; the subtle effects of color and shadow become a part of the overall design plan.

Color Consciousness

Nothing will affect the atmosphere of a room more than the color of its walls and furnishings. Numerous studies have shown that specific colors will trigger a physiological and emotional response. Blue, for example, tends to lower the blood pressure; red increases the heart rate. Some research suggests that certain colored lights may aid in healing illnesses. However, every color has subtle hues, and responses may be as individual as a fingerprint. Enlightened designers select colors that best suit the purpose of the room and the personalities of its occupants. The flow of colors between rooms and the color properties of artificial lights also come into play.

Refreshing Water

Five thousand years ago, healers used mineral water to treat disease. In the fourth century B.C., the Greek physician Hippocrates prescribed therapeutic baths. The ancient Romans transformed natural hot springs into elaborate bath complexes to restore the body and the spirit. Today, doctors often recommend hydrotherapy to ease the symptoms of arthritis, improve circulation, and relax sore muscles.

Drawing upon this wisdom, the healthy home makes room for luxurious bathing areas with sensual tiled surfaces. Even a modest home may include a chin-deep Japanese soaking tub in a separate area from the toilet and bathing facilities. To assure water purity, a reverse osmosis water filtration system works silently behind the scene. The filter’s carbon block and ultraviolet light remove lead, bacteria, and other harmful substances commonly found in municipal tap water.

Soothing Scents and Sounds

Photographs cannot capture the complete experience of a healthy dwelling. Upon entering these homes, you may be enveloped by sensations that stir a deep sense of serenity. Wind chimes sing at an open window. Indoor fountains, often surrounded by fragrant flowering plants, echo the music of a bubbling brook. Well-planned placement of furnishings and acoustical panels orchestrates the flow of sound through the house. To add to the atmosphere of calm, herbs and natural oils waft subtle aromas selected for their medicinal power.

Sacred spaces

Decorated with love and sensitive to the environment, the healthy home is a temple for body and soul. More and more homeowners, regardless of their faith, are inspired to create private areas for reflection, meditation, and prayer. Highly personal artwork and icons give special meaning to home altars. Bedrooms and bathing areas also become sacred retreats designed for rest, restoration, and intimacy. Throughout the home, treasured collections thoughtfully displayed are both highly decorative and spiritually significant. Painting and sculpture inspired by the traditions of many cultures are powerful reminders that we are all connected.

Healthy Energy

The modern world swirls with hidden forces. Moving at 186,000 miles per second, high energy electromagnetic waves bombard us from computer monitors, portable phones, microwave ovens, and hundred of other gadgets we use everyday. Some scientists suspect that chronic exposure to these electromagnetic frequencies (or EMFs) disrupts the functioning of calcium in the brain. Other researchers say EMFs interfere with the growth and reproduction of cells throughout the body. Regardless of the reasons, EMFs have been linked with health problems ranging from mental confusion to childhood leukemia, brain tumors, and other cancers. Although no research has conclusively proved these risks, enlightened designers are sensitive to ways electromagnetism may affect body and spirit.

Care is taken to place television at least five feet away from seating areas. Sleeping areas are located as far from electronic equipment as feasible. Metal bed frames and innerspring mattresses, which can attract magnetic forces, are avoided. The benefits of technological conveniences are weighed against their possible risks. In some cases, devices such as cell phones or microwave ovens may be removed from the home. In other cases, designers draw upon the wisdom of ancient Eastern philosophies to encourage a healthy flow of energy through the home.

Eastern Ideals

Vastu shastra, feng shui, and other Eastern philosophies are teaching designers how to create space that harmonize with nature and the forces of the universe. Rooted in Hinduism, vastu shastra is the inspiration for the elegant proportion and rhythm of India’s magnificent palaces and temples. The ancient Chinese principles of feng shui draw upon Taoist philosophies to foster a harmonious flow of natural forces. Zen Buddhist philosophies originating in Japan combine with Chinese ideas to create a unique aesthetic based on balance, proportion, harmony and simplicity.

At the foundation of each of these philosophies is the understanding that all things in the universe are profoundly interconnected. A home decorated in accordance with ancient Eastern laws inspires a deep sense of inner peace because each detail is selected with loving concern for the whole.

The Way to Serenity

Within these guidelines, there are many paths to a healthy, harmonious home. For its clean open spaces and flexible floor plan, the Bauhaus penthouse may energize and nurture all who live there. Lovingly decorated with natural fabrics and furnishings, the suburban raised ranch may become a place of safety and restoration. The respectfully restored Queen Anne cottage may also represent enlightened design so long as it expresses loving care for the environment and provides for the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of its inhabitants.

Indeed, your first inkling that a home has been designed according to these ideals will not be its architectural style. Rather, you will know the health of the home by its refreshing beauty and the deep sense of serenity it inspires.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 20 February 2008 )