Home Is Where the Heart Is: A Happier and Healthier Home

Home is where the heart is…that is never more apparent than now.  Stay-At-Home orders have kept many of us sequestered in place for weeks and weeks. Our home has become the office, gym, school, hair salon, and favorite new restaurant.  It is good to relax and relish in what brought you to your current home.  You may have re-discovered why you love your home so much.  Conversely, although you still love your home, you may have confirmed that there are needed improvements.  

Now that Stay-At-Home orders are relaxing, it just may be a good time to tackle a renovation project.   The good news is that you can incorporate ways to make your home healthier and yes, even happier.  

First, it is important to align your vision with your budget.  If you have not renovated in a while or are tackling a renovation project for the first time, know that to do the project correctly, it may cost more than you think.  Check out our Remodeling Your Home: Setting Expectations Blog, for a clearer picture of the remodeling process from start to finish.

In the meantime, consider these healthy options for your home remodel.

Do Not Touch!

The Kitchen and Bath industry continues to amaze us with high-tech touchless plumbing fixtures.  Faucets that are voice-controlled give us hands free flexibility and more importantly, keeps the germs at bay.  For example, Brizo’s VoiceIQ Technology allows you to turn your faucet on or off, dispense an exact amount of water or use the handwashing mode to ensure you are following CDC handwashing guidelines. All you have to say is, “Tell Brizo to wash hands.” The water will turn on for a five-second pre-rinse, then off for a 20-second interval to lather your hands with soap and on again for another 10-second rinse. 

How about a toilet that can be flushed with a wave of a hand?  Or one that self-cleans? Toilets with these features and more continue to make an impact when it comes to avoiding germs. Plus, an added feature, is that they look good, too.  In addition, bidet use in the U.S. is increasing.  From warm seats to warm air to dry, no touch and no toilet paper needed has today’s new toilets and bidets gaining popularity.

Paint Germ Killer

Sherwin-Williams’ Paint Shield is the first EPA-registered microbicidal paint that kills greater than 99.9 percent of Staph, MRSA, E. coli, VRE and Enterobacter aerogenes within two hours of exposure on painted surfaces. It continues to kill 90 percent of these bacteria even after   repeated contamination on painted surfaces. The effectiveness lasts for up to four years if the integrity of the surface is maintained.  Paint Shield can be applied on interior hard, non-porous ceilings, walls, doors, and trim. Paint Shield is also GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions into indoor air during product usage.

Quartz Countertops

If keeping germs at bay is on top of your list for say, a kitchen or bath remodel, choosing quartz for your countertop is a must.  Quartz is one of the hardest non-precious materials on earth, therefore countertops made from quartz – a mixture of ground quartz combined and a small amount of resin – are hard, etch resistant, stain resistant, scratch resistant and antimicrobial. Quartz is completely non-porous, so sealing and resealing is not necessary.

Green Thumb

We all know that fresh food is the best food.  Now you can grow your own herbs and micro greens and guarantee that they are fresh and organic. One product, the Viking Professional Micro Green and Herb-growing cabinet, a 24” under counter unit allows you to grow herbs and micro greens 365 days a year.  Use something like this or start your own garden and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Grime Be Gone

As you think about your remodel, it is prudent to include a space for offloading the dirt and grime collected on clothes, shoes, and equipment.  This space should include a hard, cleanable surface and ample counter space to deposit grocery bags, clothing or any outside material that enters the home. This space is also the drop zone for items that need cleaning prior to being stored in the house. This could include a laundry sink and possibly integrate a nearby powder room or 3/4 bath with a small shower. Think of the room as the first line of defense against harmful germs entering your home.  It’s a comfortable spot for the kids to undress from a day at the beach or unload sports gear and backpacks.  This room can also be the laundry room if space allows. Each family member should have their own place to sit, store their outer wear and/or sports equipment. Do not forget your pet(s)…they may need a storage spot as well.

The Home Office

Many of us forced to work at home are using a dining table, kitchen counter, bed, or whatever we can to function.  However, doing this long term does not support workplace necessities like proper task lighting, having enough electrical outlets, a charging station, or even a proper desk chair.  Plus, with so much teleconferencing, a nice and neutral background that is not distracting but offers an attractive surrounding and creates a professional atmosphere is a must.  Designating a space that offers these amenities may seem daunting, especially if you do not have an extra room in your home.  Be creative and think out of the box.  For example, take the bi-fold doors off a closet, remove the clothes rack, and put in a small desk and chair.  Or, fit a corner desk in an unused corner of the house.  Think untraditional and you will find the perfect space. 

Hydrotect™ by Crossville Imagine a tile that can defend its environment against contaminants, practically clean itself, and purify the atmosphere like a living, growing plant. This is Hydrotect™ by Crossville, a revolutionary, invisible coating that harnesses the power of light, water, and oxygen to create the best defense against dirt and pollution. Whether indoors or out, floors and walls stay cleaner, providing a superior experience in any space. 

These are but a few of the options available to you to help make your home happier, healthier and to give you a reminder that Home is indeed where the Heart is…. 

Comments 16

  1. I learned a lot when reading this post, Donna. Thank you! I had no idea about that new Sherwin Williams paint nor about Crossville’s offering. It is so great that these companies are responding to market demand for products that are healthier and that help us live cleaner.

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      Leslie, I’m so glad that we were able to provide valuable information here. These are two of our preferred partners and we’re happy to share the great work that they’re doing.

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      Rebecca, thank you for following along! … We love the paint product and we’re happy to share it with our readers.

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      Lisa, I’m so grateful that we were able to share some knowledge and insights with so many. Thank you for following along!

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      Janet, thank you for taking the time to follow along. I’m so glad that we were able to provide some valuable information for you.

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      Thank you for the positive words, Sheri! … Brizo is always a quality and style-driven product and we love to specify those pieces in our projects. I’m glad that we were able to share some new information on the paint!

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