5 Ways to Create a Healthier Home
I will start off by saying, it’s not easy! There’s a few give and takes when it comes to creating a healthy home. Healthy to me, means I have tried to avoid toxic chemicals, finishes that are harmful for my family and materials that are more natural. A dear friend reminded me that healthy doesn’t always go hand in hand with sustainable or eco-friendly. She’s right! A secondhand couch for example is more sustainable and better for the planet than a new one but I may never know if there was fire retardants sprayed on it.
This blog focuses on creating a healthy home and tips I have found that have helped me. I have gone down many rabbit holes and we all try our best! I have spent hours researching companies and looking into materials and I wanted to share my 5 biggest tips when creating a healthier and less toxic home.
1. Wood Furniture: Choosing wood furniture like oak that is not treated with harmful chemicals. There are some wood products that are sprayed with a finish that is not healthy. I know my baby may chew on a leg of a bench or the crib. Knowing the finish is important when purchasing wood products for the home. We have invested in some beautiful pieces from Ethnicraft from a family operated company Light House Co. One of our favourite wooden pieces in our home is our Baja White Oak Wood Nightstands from Crate & Barrel!
2. Choosing the Right Materials: Especially ones that have no fire retardants! I focus on OEKO-TEX certified, green guard certifications and FSC certified. Choosing as many natural materials as possible is key. I will always look into the maker of the product and see if they have a sustainable and ethical approach to their process. If sustainability and health is important to them, they will broadcast it on their website! When it comes to rugs, especially in our kids’ bedrooms, we’re huge fans of Rugs by Roo!
3. Bedroom Talk: Did you know we sleep 1/3 of our lives? Having a healthy bedding for the whole family that is free of chemicals and plastic free (love the wood buttons on our comforter) was a priority for me. It happened over time as they are costly items! Over the past 4 years we have slowly invested in bedding to ensure a healthy sleep for the whole family with Obasan and Coyuchi.
4. Real Plants instead of fake plants: I know fake plants are beautiful and easy but I'm sorry to say, the microplastics and toxins that come off them are really bad for our health. If you find you kill household plants (I am not a green thumb when it comes to inside plants) try these: cactus, ZZ plant or snake plants!
5. Non-Toxic Candles: Making this switch was a game changer. No head aches or chemicals in the air. The purest burn can be beeswax candles. I also look for cruelty-free, 100% vegan and phthalate & paraben free fragrance and essential oils. The essential oils world can be ugly! A blend of coconut and soy wax is a very clean and popular choice for makers too. We love Ten & Co., Bobes Candle and Salt Shop.
Creating a healthy home is not an overnight process – it takes a lot of time. In fact, I’m on year 5 of trying to create a healthy home for myself and my family. Upgrading furniture is costly, so don’t give up just because you can’t afford to make a massive switch quickly! Start in the most affordable places first, like swapping candles, bringing plants into your space and upgrading your bedding to natural materials, and then go from there!
What is your favourite way to upgrade your home to be a bit more healthy? Let me know in the comments below!
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