Three ways to make your home healthier and more inviting

atHome Colorado Features

Interior design is often judged by looks alone, but two experts with FP Innovations say homes can also support better health and mental well-being when they include elements inspired by the outdoors.

Even if you do not live close to beautiful natural scenery, there are still easy ways to bring a touch of nature inside.

Use natural light to your advantage

Thick drapes can help a house stay warmer in cold weather and cooler in hot weather, but opening them up and letting sunlight in may offer health benefits as well. Research has connected natural light exposure with a better mood, weight loss and other positive outcomes.

Add plants and other natural touches

Indoor air can be more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. Common household sources include carbon monoxide, along with formaldehyde and benzene released by carpet and furniture. Pesticides, cleaning products and other items can also contribute toxins to the air.

One way to help reduce those hazards is through phytoremediation, the use of plants to filter the air. NASA has studied indoor air in space stations and identified plants that can remove different toxins.

For example, flowering plants can help remove benzene, so gerbera daisies and chrysanthemums are worth considering. To address formaldehyde, golden pothos, philodendron and spider plants may be useful additions throughout the home. NASA recommends 15 to 18 plants in 6- to 8-inch containers for every 1,800 square feet of living space.

Include the sound of water

The sound of water can calm and relax people. One Psychology Today writer noted that being in a coastal or marine environment can raise happiness scores compared with urban settings.

If you do not live near water, you can still bring some of that effect indoors by adding water features to your home décor.

Nature has long been known to help people heal, unwind and recover. What is increasingly recognized is that many of those same benefits can be brought inside by using natural elements in the home.

Rob Proctor is the broker/owner of At Home Real Estate Company in Loveland. He lives in Northern Colorado with his wife and three daughters. To contact Rob, call 970.481.2133, [email protected] or visit athomerealestateco.com.

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This article is provided by atHome Colorado, a weekly resource for real estate, design and community trends published by the advertising and marketing department of the Boulder Daily Camera, Loveland Reporter-Herald, Greeley Tribune and Longmont Times-Call.