You will not perform well and won’t stay healthy without an adequate amount of daylight. We feel better when provided with natural light for work and play. We cannot change the orientation of our house to provide it with the most beneficial sun exposure, but we can take some measures to control the amount of light we’re getting while inside, without risking UV damage to our home’s interior.

Tasks for improving natural light conditions:

• for particularly dark rooms, use light-colored or shiny interior surfaces (walls, ceilings, flooring, furniture) to reflect daylight, making these rooms brighter (you can use mirrors, too)
• choose the right window treatments for each window in your home
  you should have an option of opening the window treatment completely in order to let more light inside during gloomy days, and to close it to provide protection from the bright afternoon sun or while sleeping
• automated light filtering roller shades  are a great choice for easy UV protection
• safeguard your valuable interior furnishings and floor/wall surfaces by installing low-E windows
• shield silk draperies from the harms of the sun – always have them lined with UV-resistant fabric or choose a synthetic fabric that won’t deteriorate too quickly in the sun.

Every space should have a proper lighting scheme for all the functions it fulfills. Think of what are the tasks you perform in each room, and provide proper light levels for each of these activities.

Tasks for improving interior lighting:

• walk from room to room, writing down all tasks performed in that space by each family member – use a separate sheet of paper for every room
• assign an existing light source for each task (e.g. chandelier over the dining table for having a meal, floor lamp by the sofa for entertaining, lamp on the office desk for reading)
• make certain that you have adequate amount of light for each and every function performed; if not, bring in more, or figure out a way of using one light source for multiple tasks
• provide a general illumination for every room (usually any type of ceiling-mount or recessed light) so you’ll be able for example to  find something tiny that you just dropped on the floor
• to reach a certain mood for the room with one push of a button (so-called room lighting scheme), seek the help of professional lighting designer or licensed electrician.

The text above is a chapter from “10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home” special report by Bozena Studio. You can download it by clicking on the link below:
10 Steps to a Healthier, Happier Home. How to Find a Perfect Balance of Comfort, Luxury and Wellness for the Space You Live In.

What a foolish question! Of course my house is healthy. My family lives in it, we are all in perfect health, so my home must be healthy. Or is it?
How do we know for sure that the place we spend our time in, we sleep in, have fun in, is completely safe for our health, physical as well as psychological? Can you be sure that the puzzling allergies and illnesses, which our family members and friends are getting, are not caused by something they have been exposed at their safe haven, home?

As an interior designer, I have been trained to design breathtaking and comfortable spaces to work and live in. But the experience gained during the many years of practicing interior design thought me about the importance of the health aspect of our surroundings. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, our rooms must be safe to spend the time in. And safety means not only non-slippery floors and rounded corners. Safety is also indoor air free of toxins and allergens. It is a promise that after spending a night in our bedroom we will wake up rested and refreshed. It is a guarantee of a wonderful time at our house with family and friends today and even more promising tomorrow.

There are many sciences dealing with the aspect of safeguarding of the health and well-being of the occupants of any created space. All of them are very important to the health of our interiors, and a good architect or interior designer should consult them and incorporate in their projects.We as consumers need to require the use of sustainable materials to minimize the harmful impact made on the Earth. This by itself will not only improve the healthy aspect of the products that surround us, but also give us a peace of mind.