Create a healthier home for work, rest and play.

1. Create good sleep conditions

A good night’s sleep is one of the most crucial things we can do for our mental and physical health, so take a look at your bedroom and see where you can optimise your sleeping conditions:

• Choose restful colours like a soft green or gentle grey, or go for a dramatic inky blue to create a glamorous yet cosy vibe.
• Control the light to help keep you in tune with circadian rhythms - use dimmable switches to help you wind down slowly, try a sunrise alarm clock to help you wake up naturally on dark winter mornings, and install blackout blinds in summer to help you control the light levels and create a nice dark environment on long summer nights.
• Make your bed inviting - replace pillows if they’re looking flat and tired and choose bed linens that look great but also feel cosy when you get in - there’s always bargains to be had at sale times.
• Get rid of clutter - it’s hard to relax and wind down when you’re distracted by piles of clothes or paperwork.
• Consider a technology curfew - the blue light from smart devices is known to interfere with sleep, not to mention the temptation to keep scrolling into the wee small hours!

2. Maximise natural light

Natural light makes your home look brighter and more spacious, but it can help you feel good too. Natural light helps to boost moods, improve sleep and even increase short-term memory.

Quick ways to boost the light in your home include using lighter furnishings, adding mirrors to bounce light, to transparent curtains or painting walls in simple white paint. 

Need a bigger dose? Consider installing roof windows. Roof windows can allow twice the light than vertical windows because of their positioning and not being impeded by neighbouring buildings or trees. They can help with ventilation and temperature regulation too.

For more ideas, check out our 4 tips to make your home feel brighter and ways to maximise daylight in home design.

3. Bring in fresh air

Good ventilation is key for keeping the air clean inside the home. Opening windows regularly allows air to circulate and improve its quality, letting out any irritating substances, reduce allergens and help to control humidity. Try to open some windows three or four times a day for at least 10 minutes at a time.

Reducing levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can also improve indoor wellbeing. These can be found in household products from cleaners, varnish, paint and glue and can cause issues such as headaches, dry skin and breathing complaints. Look out for natural, low-toxin and solvent-free alternative products.

Further reading: What can I do to improve my home’s indoor air quality?

4. Avoid excess moisture

Damp dwelling, including mould and condensation, is not only unsightly but can cause allergic reactions and eye, nose and throat irritations. Keep a lookout for signs of condensation and mildew in your home and let the damp air out as much as possible. Air the bathroom after taking a shower, open a window while cooking or doing a pile of ironing.

5. Connect to nature with House Plants

Bring the outdoors in! Indoor plants instantly add style and a sense of calm to the home with their lovely green foliage. They’re incredible pollution-busters too, acting as natural air filters. So not only do they look good, they’re good for us too. From a dramatic monstera in the living room, to herbs on the kitchen windowsill, to humidity-loving fern in the bathroom, there’s a plant for every room in the house.

If you don't have a green thumb, try a wallpaper mural to bring a touch of nature to your home. There's some fantastic designs on the market from graphic leaf designs, to treetops to tranquil forest scenes.

Get more ideas for how to bring the outside in with houseplants.