10 Ways Your Home Could Be Hurting Your Health
Make your home safer with our easy solves.
Design: ACM Design
Home is your sanctuary—your place to unwind and enjoy family life. However, your house could be secretly sabotaging your health. From bad feng shui to kitchens that make you fat, quickly fix these issues to embrace a happier, healthier home.
1. Your Bathroom is a Mouldy Mess
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This one is a two-fold nightmare—not only is mould oh-so-bad for your health, but poor ventilation can turn your bathroom oasis into a swamp, making it a headache to keep clean. If your towels are constantly damp, or you see specks of mould and mildew growing in your shower, the problem may be your bathroom's exhaust fan. Consider upgrading to a newer, more powerful fan, or invest in a dehumidifier to solve your wet washroom woes.
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2. Your Bedroom is Ruining Your Sleep
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Sunlight means vitamin D, and vitamin D does a body good, right? Well, not when it comes to sleep. To get your best beauty rest, experts recommend dozing in complete darkness, as it encourages longer, sounder sleep. Whether you prefer blinds or black-out curtains (or both!), minimizing outside light will help you get those Zzzzs.
Tip! The glow emanating from your electronic gadgets can also affect your sleep cycles. Try this nightstand hack to keep gadgetry close at hand, but still tucked out of sight.
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3. Your Kitchen is Sabotaging Your Diet
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If you've already broken your New Year's resolution to eat healthier, your home could be the culprit! Set yourself up for success and curb impulse eating by prepping healthy food options ahead of time. Place healthy picks front and centre in your cupboards and fridge. If you must keep the junk food, hide it away so it's more difficult to reach. Out of sight, out of mind!
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4. Chipped Plates are Wrecking Your Feng Shui
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This is a judgment-free zone, but chipped plates and mugs have got to go. The same goes for those socks you've been meaning to mend, and that picture frame you're going to glue back together "when you get a chance." Broken items are bad feng shui—and a constant reminder of your never-ending to-do list. Free yourself from the junk and say hello to peace of mind.
Tip! Got kids or clumsy house guests? Try melamine plates for a stronger, equally chic alternative to delicate china.
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5. Your Clutter is Taking Over
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A home is made up of your most favourite memories, mementoes, and possessions, but there's a fine line between collecting and cluttering. While there's no need to throw out your favourite tchotchkes, placing some in storage clears your visual—and mental—space. Rotate out your favourite items and be pleasantly surprised when they take centre stage again.
Tip! Got the organizing bug? Check out how to slim down your entire house with KonMari.
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6. Your Overhead Lighting is Giving You Frown Lines
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Overhead lighting is the bane of many a designer and homeowner because of the unflattering shadows it casts. Studies, too, have proven that eye strain occurs when there is only one source of light in a darkened room. Use multiple lighting sources—table lamps, desk lamps, floor lamps, and candles—to portray your home in the best possible light.
Tip! Become a home lighting expert by reading How to Contour Your Space with Light.
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7. Your Mattress is Ruining Your Back
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The National Sleep Foundation recommends changing your mattress every eight years. As people age, their bodies and preferences may change, so the same mattress that worked previously may not meet your current needs. If you aren't getting the rest you need, don't live with the pain.
Tip! The right bedding can go a long way toward a good night's sleep. Whether you prefer warm flannel or cooling sheets, there are many options to make your sleep more comfortable. Read our Bed Sheet Buying Guide for more tips.
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8. Your Water is Brown
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Okay, so maybe your water isn't brown , but if you aren't drinking your tap water—whether it's got a weird taste, or you don't trust your ancient plumbing—you're doing your body (and your wallet) a disservice. Get your eight glasses a day without filling your recycling bin by investing in a water purifier. Try a faucet attachment or a water pitcher in the fridge for easy accessibility.
Tip! Place a carafe on your bedside table or water bottle in your bag to remind yourself to drink more water.
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9. You Have No Room to Exercise
Not everyone is lucky enough to have room for exercise equipment, let alone a dedicated gym. Regardless of your square footage, a simple room divider instantly creates your own meditation corner or mini-gym. Block your home's bad vibes and embrace your new space with your favourite piece of art or music. The only problem you might have is keeping everyone else out!
Tip! Use a storage ottoman or coffee table to keep gym equipment close at hand without ruining your home's chic look.
Shop Room Dividers »
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10. Your Air Quality is Poor
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Since we can't spend all our time outdoors, it's important to ensure your home's air quality is as healthy as possible. From pet dander and dust to smog and uncirculated air, indoor air pollutants exacerbate respiratory issues and other maladies. Vacuuming regularly and using HEPA air purifiers and salt lamps remove contaminates, so you and your family can breathe easy.
Tip! Look for HEPA-certified (high-efficiency particulate arresting) air purifiers. These efficient machines are required to filter out 99.7 percent of miniscule air pollutants.
