Cleanse and Create: Interior Design Strategies for Improved Air Quality
As sustainable practices become increasingly important to help protect the environment and human health, everyone — no matter their industry — must do their part to contribute. As an interior designer, there are several ways you can integrate more eco-friendly design practices into your spaces, especially if you’re concerned about the degrading quality of air around the globe.
Photo by Leah Kelley
Interior Design Can Impact Indoor Air Quality
As our society thrives on having structures to live, work, and play in, our buildings can have a significant impact on the environment. Thus, many researchers are specifically trying to find ways to create greener buildings with materials that produce fewer pollutants.
Some scientists are working on exteriors and finding ways to reduce outdoor pollutants, but there are also efforts to reduce indoor pollutants as well. Indoor air quality (IAQ) can be just as harmful, especially for those who live and work in these spaces.
For example, Spain-based company, Graphenstone, has released a series of air-purifying paints that absorb carbon in the air as they cure. There is also a company in Italy called Caos Creativo that designs eco-friendly wallpaper that removes several airborne pollutants. EcoLogicStudio in London develops bio installations that utilize living organisms to improve IAQ.
These are just a couple of the many examples of research-backed design efforts that are shedding light on how much indoor spaces are impacted by design, and how more eco-friendly solutions can make a huge difference. As a designer, you can pull inspiration from companies like the ones mentioned above to start creating your own spaces that promote a healthy indoor environment.
Let’s Talk About VOCs
The first thing to consider when designing a space is VOCs — volatile organic compounds. VOCs are everywhere but they are especially problematic indoors as many interior products are off-gas VOCs, such as paints, furnishings, flooring, adhesives, and more. When you are designing a new space, pay attention to what products have VOCs and how they are off-gassing.
Materials Matter
As a designer, you are likely already aware of how important a role materials play in creating the look that you want. But materials don’t just matter for their aesthetic appeal, but also for how they contribute to the health of the space. If the materials you are choosing aren’t sustainable and come with too many toxins and pollutants, then it doesn’t matter how good they look.
So before you start ticking things off your shopping list, choose greener materials that can improve indoor air quality, not make it worse. Look for products that have earned HPDs (Health Product Declaration) and that have little to no VOCs. BACKDROP Paint, Re-Rug by Nani Marquina, and PURLINE flooring by Matter Surfaces, for example, are all products designed for better IAQ.
There are also websites designed to help people search for eco-friendly materials and products, like the mindful MATERIALS portal.
Bring Nature Indoors
Biophilic design is another great way to boost the health of interior spaces. The word “biophilic” comes from a Greek word that means a love for life or the living world. Thus, biophilic design was born from the concept of reconnecting humans with the natural world to promote greater well-being.
The key concept of this design method is bringing the outdoor natural world inside. This can be done by incorporating more natural elements into the design aesthetic, using more products that are made of natural materials, and, of course, by bringing in lots of plants.
For example, wood and stone materials are popular in biophilic design, as are elements that bring in more natural light, like larger windows and skylights. Bringing in plenty of plants is also important to give spaces a natural feel while also helping to improve oxygen and clean the air. Ficus, Mums, English ivy, and Peace lily, are all some great plants that are known to help improve indoor air.
Be Mindful of Allergens
Allergens can also play a part when you are designing interiors. Whether your clients have specified allergies or not, creating a space that is more allergy-friendly can help improve IAQ and overall comfort.
If you are designing a bedroom, for example, look for mattresses and bedding that are allergen-proof. You can also opt for blinds over curtains as allergens can easily accumulate in fabric.
Choosing hard flooring over carpeting can also help, as well as using rugs that are more low profile and less likely to absorb a ton of dust and dirt. Spaces that are more minimalist and have less clutter are also easier to keep clean and will be less likely to accumulate allergens like pet dander, mold, dirt, and dust mites.
Consider Smart Air Systems
If you are helping design a space that is undergoing a more significant renovation, you can suggest the installation of a greener HVAC system with an air purifier. This decision is ultimately up to the client, of course, but you can advocate for them and help them understand how using air purifiers can help them create a healthier, more comfortable space.
You can also suggest using portable air purifiers as opposed to installing an entirely new HVAC system. There are plenty of great air purifiers on the market today that you can find and incorporate into the design of your spaces.
Some of the best air purifiers don’t just clean the air of pollutants like VOCs and allergens, but they can also control humidity levels. While smart air purifiers don’t remove or add humidity, they can send alerts to let homeowners know when their humidity levels are too high or too low, which can help them make adjustments as needed to keep their space comfortable and free of mold.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are designing a home, an office, or a commercial space, there are so many things you can do to improve the health of the interior space and the air quality. You simply have to start by making more conscious decisions about the materials and products you choose to use in your spaces as well as incorporating design elements that help with ventilation and natural light. Prioritizing these things will not only improve the lives of your clients, but it can have a more positive impact on the environment as well.
Author: Miles Oliver
