How did you sleep today?
I myself got woken up at 5:30AM to the Santa Ana winds blowing noisily through the palm trees outside (I really don’t like those winds – there is always a fire scare and people act weirdly, especially on the freeway.) But that’s not how I wake up every morning. Mornings are mine to take in and enjoy. Every morning brings a promise of a great new day. It took me a while to get to that point, and I strongly believe it happened because of the bedroom environment I have created.

Let me take you on a tour through my bedroom, pointing out what I do to wake up rested and happy every morning:

• My bedroom has a rather small footprint, so it provides a cozy, “embracing” feeling to the occupants. I rather dislike huge, palatial-style bedrooms because they make me feel lost and small, and also the drafts from open windows are very annoying.
• My bed is positioned as far away from the entry as possible, with the head of the bed in “protected” position. This way I subconsciously feel safe from anyone entering the room.
• There is a clean and empty space under the bed, so the air (and energy) can flow freely. If you have any clutter stored under your bed, get rid of it – ASAP!
• I prefer to keep bedroom furnishing at a minimum: low bedside cabinets and a wall of clean-lined wardrobes with solid doors (so everything is enclosed) are sufficient.
• I have chosen simple and natural fabric drapery panels and a sun-blocking roman shade (always multi-layered: for privacy and sun-protection, as well as for allowing light into the room during the “waking” hours.)
• Other than my favorite book, bedside lamps and alarm clock, there are not many other accessories in the room. They only gather dust and make the cleaning harder (no matter if it’s you or your housekeeper who does the task.)
• The bedding consists of washable down duvet and pillow inserts, enclosed in protective casings and 100% (organic) cotton or linen covers, and sheets of the same material.
• There is always a reed infuser with natural lavender oil to give the air a relaxing and unobtrusive scent.

As you can see, it does not take much to make a big difference. The easiest way is to remove everything and just bringing in the most essential items, and the most natural and cleanable materials possible. You don’t want to bring any work into your bedroom (computer, PDA, etc are a big no-no). I don’t tolerate having a TV in the bedroom, but if you have to have this distraction in yours, put it far away from your bed to protect yourself from harmful electromagnetic radiation (the same applies to AC-powered alarm clocks, your cell phone and other gadgets.)  When using washable and easily cleanable materials, you make sure that you are not spending the night with  harmful (and often carcinogenic) cleaning substances.

Do not forget about fresh air! There is nothing worse than headache-inducing stale air in the morning and more annoying than the neighbor who runs the air conditioning the whole night long (while it’s  70F outside) and the greatest solution, both environment- and bank-account friendly, would be to simply open the window.

Have a good night’s sleep!

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.