Last night, I attended an event about healthy homes and how we can design, build and look after houses in the UK in ways that support our health and wellbeing.
It is a subject that feels particularly personal to me.
Having owned a wellness centre for eight years and now working alongside my husband in our building company, I have seen wellbeing from two very different perspectives. One focused directly on people’s physical and mental health; the other looks at the buildings in which they live, sleep, work and raise their families.
The two are far more connected than we often realise.
However, I also strongly believe that wellness in the home is a privilege.
It is very easy to discuss healthy materials, specialist ventilation systems and beautifully designed spaces without acknowledging that many people are currently worried about keeping the heating on, paying their mortgage or rent, and making ends meet.
A healthy home cannot only be something available to those with a large renovation budget.
So, while there were many interesting subjects discussed at the event, one of the things that stayed with me was how much difference we can make through some very simple changes—particularly when it comes to the air inside our homes.
Why does indoor air quality matter?
We spend a considerable amount of our lives indoors, yet we rarely think about the quality of the air we are breathing.
Inside a home, moisture, cooking fumes, dust, cleaning products, artificial fragrances and pollutants released from some furnishings and materials can all build up. Our own breathing also increases the level of carbon dioxide, particularly in bedrooms, home offices and other rooms occupied for long periods.
Carbon dioxide is often used as an indication of how well a space is ventilated. A high reading does not tell us everything about the quality of the air, and it should not be confused with carbon monoxide, but it can be a useful sign that stale air is not being replaced quickly enough.
Good ventilation brings fresh air into the home and removes stale air, moisture and pollutants. Government guidance also warns that poor ventilation can trap pollutants and moisture, potentially affecting both the people living in a property and the building itself.
This is particularly relevant for anyone working from home. A warm, closed room may feel comfortable, but after several hours it can become stuffy, making it more difficult to feel alert and concentrate. Research into indoor air quality has found links between ventilation, carbon dioxide levels and cognitive performance, although carbon dioxide is also an indicator that other indoor pollutants may be accumulating.
The good news is that improving the air in our homes does not always mean buying an expensive system.
Simple, cost-effective ways to improve the air in your home
Open your windows for a short burst
One of the easiest things you can do is open several windows or doors for around ten minutes and allow fresh air to move through the property.
Opening windows on opposite sides of the home can create cross-ventilation and replace stale air more quickly. This can be particularly helpful:
First thing in the morning
After several people have been in one room
During and after cleaning
Before starting work in a home office
After cooking or showering
Before going to bed or after waking
You do not necessarily need to leave windows wide open all day and lose all the heat you have paid for. A shorter period of more purposeful ventilation can be a practical place to start.
If you live beside a busy road, consider opening windows outside the busiest traffic periods where possible.
Keep trickle vents open
Many modern windows have small trickle vents designed to provide a steady background supply of fresh air.
It can be tempting to close these in winter because of draughts, but permanently closing or covering them may prevent the ventilation strategy in your home from working properly.
Check that vents are:
Open
Clean
Free from dust
Not covered by curtains, blinds or furniture
Likewise, avoid blocking air bricks or other permanent ventilation openings.
Use your extractor fans
Extractor fans are there for a reason, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and pollutants are produced.
Use the kitchen extractor while cooking and leave the bathroom fan running long enough to remove steam after a bath or shower. UKHSA guidance recommends ventilating during cooking and when using fireplaces, as these activities can release pollutants into the home.
If an extractor is unusually noisy, ineffective or does not appear to be working, it may need cleaning, maintaining or replacing.
If you have a whole-house mechanical ventilation system or MVHR, use it as designed and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning vents and changing filters. Do not simply switch it off because it feels unfamiliar or appears to cost money to run.
Remove unnecessary artificial fragrances
A “clean” smell does not necessarily mean clean air.
Plug-in air fresheners, room sprays, fragranced cleaning products, scented candles and wax melts can release volatile organic compounds and other particles into the air. NHS guidance has identified plug-in fragrances, candle burning and emissions from cleaning products as potential indoor air-quality issues.
You do not have to throw everything away overnight, but you could:
Stop using plug-in air fresheners
Choose fragrance-free cleaning and laundry products
Use fewer sprays and aerosols
Avoid using several scented products in the same room
Open a window when cleaning
Remove the source of an unpleasant smell rather than masking it
It is also worth remembering that “natural” fragrance does not automatically mean pollutant-free. Essential oils and naturally scented products can also release compounds into the air, so moderation and ventilation still matter. Research has found that plug-in fragrance diffusers can emit a range of volatile organic compounds indoors.
Ventilate properly when cooking
Cooking can produce moisture, particles and gases, especially when frying or using a gas hob.
Simple measures include:
Turning the extractor on before you start cooking
Using an extractor that vents outdoors where possible
Opening a nearby window
Cooking with lids on pans
Using the back rings of the hob when they sit closer to the extractor
Keeping the extractor and its filters clean
If you use a gas appliance, it should be serviced and maintained appropriately. A carbon monoxide alarm is also essential where required—but remember that carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are different gases and require different types of monitor.
Manage moisture before it becomes mould
Moisture from showering, cooking, drying clothes and even breathing has to go somewhere.
If it cannot escape, it can collect on colder surfaces and contribute to condensation and mould.
Try to:
Use bathroom and kitchen extractors
Open windows after moisture-producing activities
Dry washing outside when possible
Avoid covering radiators with wet clothing
Keep internal doors closed when cooking or showering
Wipe away persistent condensation
Deal with leaks promptly
Leave a small gap between large furniture and cold external walls
Opening windows is helpful, but persistent damp and mould should not simply be treated as a housekeeping problem. It may indicate a leak, inadequate ventilation, cold bridging or another issue with the building that needs investigating.
Reduce dust without filling the air with chemicals
Dust can contain fibres, pollen, skin particles and pollutants brought in from outdoors.
Regular cleaning helps, but you do not need a cupboard full of heavily fragranced products.
Consider:
Damp-dusting surfaces rather than moving dry dust into the air
Vacuuming regularly
Cleaning underneath beds and sofas
Washing bedding frequently
Removing shoes at the door
Using washable entrance mats
Choosing simple, fragrance-free cleaning products
If someone in the household has allergies or asthma, seek advice appropriate to their individual triggers rather than assuming one solution will work for everyone.
Avoid smoking, vaping and unnecessary burning indoors
Tobacco smoke is a major indoor pollutant, but it is not the only form of combustion that affects the air.
Where possible:
Smoke or vape outdoors
Limit the use of candles and incense
Ventilate when using an open fire or wood burner
Make sure chimneys and appliances are maintained
Never use outdoor cooking or heating equipment inside the home
A burning candle may feel calming, but it is still adding particles and combustion products to the room.
Ventilate after decorating or bringing in new furniture
Paints, adhesives, flooring, furniture and other new products can release chemicals into the air for a period after installation.
When decorating or completing building work:
Choose lower-emission products where practical
Follow the manufacturer’s safety guidance
Keep windows open while products are being used
Continue ventilating afterwards
Keep children and vulnerable people away from strong fumes
Allow new furniture and soft furnishings to air before using the room heavily
Product choice matters, but even a lower-emission product still needs to be used correctly.
Do not rely on houseplants to ventilate a room
Plants can make a room feel calmer and more connected to nature, and I will always appreciate the wellbeing value of that.
However, a few houseplants are not a substitute for proper ventilation. They will not remove the moisture, carbon dioxide and everyday pollutants produced in an occupied home at the rate needed.
Keep the plants—but open the windows too.
Small changes still matter
There are sophisticated ways to create healthier homes, particularly when wellbeing is considered from the beginning of a design or renovation. Material choices, moisture management, daylight, acoustics, heating and properly designed ventilation can all form part of the conversation.
As builders, we also have a responsibility to think beyond how a home looks when the work is finished. We should consider how that home will feel to live in and how it will support the people inside it.
But healthy homes should not begin and end with expensive technology.
Sometimes it starts with something as simple as opening two windows, switching on the extractor fan and removing an unnecessary artificial fragrance.
These actions will not solve every building or health problem, but they are affordable, achievable steps that many of us can take today.
And when so much of wellness can feel costly or inaccessible, I think that is an important place to begin.
This article provides general information rather than medical or property-specific advice. Persistent mould, damp, unusual smells, combustion concerns or health symptoms should be investigated by an appropriately qualified professional.
If you are planning an upcoming build and you don’t want to compromise on your health and wellbeing its a good time to get together pre construction to look at material choices, light and circulation. email Hannah@ireson-bailey.co.uk