4 Tips for Designing a Non-Toxic Home You'll Love
We are conditioned to associate clean smells with new and fresh. Think about the smell of a new book, a new magazine, a new car, a new rug, or even a new candle. Notice how, over time, that pungent “new and fresh” smell dissipates?
Oftentimes, VOCs are responsible for this, but what are they? Put simply, VOCs are chemicals designed to evaporate into the air at room temperature and can be found in so many everyday products.
These "off-gassing" items typically produce more of an odor indoors than outdoors, and they can pose health risks, especially with prolonged exposure. A clean interior doesn't have to be associated with VOCs.
Let's dive into some ways in which you can keep your home VOC-free…
Tip #1: Choose the Least Harmful Paint & Primer
Paint is one of the most common sources of VOCs in the home, and that includes both wet and dry. VOCs are typically added so that the paint can be spread smoothly over surfaces and to help it dry.
To try to dissipate the chemicals as quickly as possible, adequate ventilation is a must. Opening windows and using fans are a couple of the most commonly used ventilation methods, but what if I told you that not all paint contains VOCs? Behr, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin-Williams Harmony are a few zero-VOC paint options, with many of these lines also offering low-VOC choices too.
The benefits of using these include better air quality during and after painting, reduced fumes, and improved health safety.
Tip #2: Refinish or Reupholster Vintage Furniture
Another great way to reduce VOCs in your home is to go vintage. Older furniture has been given an appropriate amount of time to off-gas, making it much less, if any, of a health hazard.
By choosing to refinish or reupholster, you can opt to use healthy fabrics and products, effectively lowering the VOC contact in your home.
For example, low-VOC and non-toxic fabrics such as natural fibers (linen, hemp, silk, wool, etc.), tencel, and bamboo lyocell are all great options.
A pro tip for sourcing the right healthy fabrics is to stay away from synthetic, stain-resistant, wrinkle-free, and eco-friendly labels that don't show certification, as these are often made from fossil fuels, treated with chemicals, or aren't regulated.
Tip #3: Shop from Reputable Sources
Finding safe furniture and fixtures from reputable sources can seem like a daunting task, but the best way to go about this is to prioritize natural materials such as solid wood, natural textiles, recycled materials, etc. Once you've found pieces that fall under this category, you'll want to eliminate any options that don't show certifications indicating that they are deemed safe by regulation.
“Toxin-free” is another great sign to look for, as this generally means that the item in question won't off-gas into your home.
Tip #4: Improve Air Quality with Thoughtful Design
Keeping a home environmentally healthy, ultimately means strategically finding ways to improve air quality. Designing a room with exceptional airflow is essential for both comfort and health. A few of my top recommendations to do this are to maximize natural ventilation, implement air filtration and purification systems, manage humidity, and be mindful of the various household products that you use.
By following simple steps, such as these, you can drastically eliminate multiple sources of VOCs, ameliorating your airflow in the long run.
While VOC emissions can pollute your air quality by releasing harmful chemicals into your home, it is nearly impossible to avoid them completely. Just remember, the goal is to create a clean interior one healthy choice at a time.
As a seasoned interior designer, I'm an expert at sourcing the healthiest accessories, fabrics, fixtures, furniture, paint, etc., from vendors and/or certified and sustainable retailers. With my Pick My Brain virtual package, I’ll help you tackle your biggest design dilemmas and guide you toward toxin-free choices that suit your style and support your well-being. I’m here and ready to help!
Warmly,
Celeste
