When it’s time for improving interior design and the comfort of a home, indoor air quality (IAQ) isn’t always among the first things that come to mind. Many homeowners think of energy efficiency, aesthetics, or layout during an interior design project, forgetting that the quality of air they breathe inside their homes is equally crucial. If you spend most of your time at home, like many people do, IAQ can directly affect your health, productivity, and mood.
You can choose to control how your IAQ affects your health and daily activities by intentionally designing your interior for better air quality. Here are a few interior design decisions homeowners make that can significantly affect indoor air quality.
Choosing Between Natural Vs. Synthetic Insulation
When it’s time to insulate your home for an interior upgrade, the type of insulation material you choose can determine how good your overall IAQ becomes. For effective insulation, you’ll have to choose between two main options: natural or synthetic insulation materials.
Natural insulation materials like wool often offer healthier insulation than their synthetic counterparts. They provide excellent thermal performance while naturally regulating humidity, filtering air, and absorbing VOCs and other pollutants. If you’re not able to use wool, expanded cork can equally offer outstanding insulation solutions in your home. When effectively used, cork can help in managing moisture and preventing the growth of mildew and mold.
On the other hand, synthetic materials are made from harmful chemicals that can negatively impact your IAQ. Choosing natural materials over synthetic ones can ensure a healthier home for a long time.
Choosing the Right Air Purification Technologies
Air purification systems offer an immediate solution to the poor air quality you may be experiencing at home for a long time now. Purifiers with HEPA filters are the best for reducing allergens in your home, while those with activated carbon filters are great for handling chemical composition and odor in your space.
Latest air purifiers and air treatment technologies from top, reliable companies are sleekly designed to match modern-day interior design trends. You can always choose the right application for your home that will give you the purest air quality while blending naturally with your interior design. You can install air purifiers in bedrooms and other personal rooms where air quality needs a boost. Shut the doors and windows to achieve optimal purification by preventing pollutants from entering.
Incorporating Right Lighting and Mold Prevention Techniques
Incorporating ample lighting in your interior design projects is helpful for deterring the growth of mold in your rooms. Besides posing health risks to your family members, mold can also negatively impact your home’s interior aesthetics. By deterring mold growth through effective lighting and minimizing moisture buildup, you can effectively boost your home’s IAQ.
Before optimizing your lighting, ensure your walls around windows and wet areas, and the roof are waterproofed. Also, get the best ventilation systems to expel excess humidity in constantly moist areas like the kitchens and bathrooms. You can then maximize natural light penetration by expanding windows and installing skylights to aid in moisture eradication.
Natural light has active antifungal and antibacterial properties that help keep your space dry, while also boosting its aesthetic appeal. Remember to work with a designer to help you incorporate the right lighting solutions that will boost your space.
Deciding on the Best Interior Floors
The right flooring decision will determine how comfortable, safe, and breathable your rooms remain in the short and long term. In the short term, many flooring materials and designs look perfect and comfortable for your space. However, after some time, you may start experiencing floor problems such as degenerating floor materials that may pose injury and respiratory health risks.
The right flooring material should withstand medium to high-level foot traffic and furniture pressure for a long time to avoid degeneration and indoor air pollution. Consider materials like mosaic, terracotta, or locally sourced tiles to achieve the best levels of comfort, longevity, and environmental impact.
Choosing the Right Ventilation Solutions
The right ventilation for your house will help replace stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air, but achieving the right ventilation begins at the interior design stage. You need to decide whether you’re going for natural, mechanical, or hybrid ventilation during your interior design project to optimize air circulation.
Natural ventilation decisions involve making decisions for allowing in maximum natural light and air through windows, doors, and other necessary openings. These decisions are mostly made during the architectural design stages of building a house. If existing natural ventilation options don’t suffice, you can supplement with mechanical options like installing fans and ductwork that align with your interior design for optimal air circulation.
Maintaining a comfortable interior space is always an intricate balance of interconnected decisions. It’s important to understand how an interior design decision would affect your home’s air quality before taking that path. With the above decisions in mind, you can easily avoid common IAQ problems and enjoy a comfortable, appealing interior space.