Home ideas to help the environment – and boost your mood

A more relaxing bedroom

Turn your bedroom into a relaxing haven that helps boost your wellbeing, using a combination of smart lighting and complimentary paint colours.

Smart lighting

 “To help with sleep, I always suggest that clients fit colour-changing bulbs to bedside lamps and pendant lights,” says Oliver.

“It can be problematic to look at your phone or watch TV in bed at night because the screen emits blue light, which can suggest to our brain that it’s the middle of the day. That’s why so many of us find it hard to sleep. Adjusting your light bulbs to a warm orange colour at night will remove the blue spectrum of light, which helps to retune our circadian rhythm.”

Our circadian rhythm is our built-in biological clock, explains Oliver. It affects our mood and behaviour, and it triggers chemical reactions in our body, such as the release of melatonin (to help us sleep) and serotonin (to help us feel energised in the morning).

Energy efficient LED smart bulbs can be controlled remotely using a smartphone or tablet app. You can dim the light, change the colour or make the light warmer or cooler via the app, helping you get to sleep at night or wake up in the morning. They can also be set to switch on and off automatically at certain times.

Wall colours

Painting your bedroom is a low-cost way to create a more calming space, suggests Elina. “I’d think carefully about tone, colour and pattern combinations. Similar colours create less movement, less stimulation. It’s calming without necessarily being bland.

“I’d suggest tone-on-tone colour combinations, or colours with less of a contrast - a similar side of the colour wheel rather than the opposite side of the colour wheel.” 

Creating an eco-bathroom

Reducing the amount of water we use helps to limit our impact on the environment, and can also save money. Read our specialists’ suggestions.

Using less water

 “Look for water-efficient taps and showerheads that are on the water technology list or have the EU water label,” says Elina. “There are plenty of manufacturers that produce taps and showerheads with very low flow, dramatically reducing the amount of water you use”.

You may be able to get free or low-price water-saving devices from your water supplier.

Monitor pipes for leaks

The latest smart tech innovations can constantly monitor your boiler and pipes to ensure your water system is running okay, or flag issues as they arise. For example, these devices can provide more detail for an engineer to highlight the most likely issue, and the location of the problem.

Peter says: “Leak sensors connect to your water mains pipe and can monitor any small to large flows of water, so you know if you have a leaking tap in your home. That can help you conserve water and reduce bills, if you have a water meter installed, and can also reduce the risk of water damage.”

Wellness ideas for the living room

From plants that boost the air in your home to a more relaxing room layout, small changes in your living room can make a big difference to your wellbeing, according to our specialists.

Plants that detoxify the air

“Plants can make a big impact to a room with very little cost or complexity,” says Oliver.

 “Human beings naturally find plants and trees calming and relaxing, but some species can also help to dehumidify a room and reduce the toxins in the air,” says Oliver.

He suggests Sansevieria, with varieties sometimes known as Mother-in-law’s Tongue or Snake plant. These plants are particularly good at removing toxins from the air and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen at night. “They are also quite robust and straightforward to care for,” Oliver says.

Syngonium podophyllum, known as the goosefoot plant with mottled and marbled leaves, is also effective at reducing air pollution.

A calming room layout

Not all home improvements need to cost money. Following the principles of environmental psychology, you can breathe new life into a room by simply moving the furniture, suggests Elina. “To create a more relaxing, calming living room, start by reviewing the seating layout along the principles of Refuge-Prospect,” she says.

“We naturally feel more comfortable and able to concentrate on a task when we have our backs covered and we can see what’s going on around us; we have control over what’s going on around us, while satisfying our curiosity too.

“If your sofa or favourite armchair is currently positioned with its back to a door or corridor, move it against a wall or create a low level screen with plants or storage boxes between it and the door,” suggests Elina. “It will help you feel more protected, which will help you relax.”