I spend plenty of time thinking about home and making a home. Since clean air and easy breathing seem to be high on my list for providing comfort I think it is one of those hidden things that makes anyplace feel more like home. Growing up in Oklahoma you’d think that would mean I’d love thick air heavy with humidity, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. I love the crisp air of the mountains. Fall is my favorite season here and one of the times of year when you can most often take in a breath of light, cool air. I love it.
Top Three Design Moves For Clean Air:
(you’ll agree that these mostly lend to my perception of clean, fresh air)
- Space: Here I refer to a little blank space. In bookshelves, empty counterspace and furniture tops, and free wall area. Not only to I believe this gives you a little breathing room, but I think extra space in your home allows for personal growth and new adventures to come.
- Plants: Keeping my house plants full and healthy is important and can often provide that missing element when accessorizing a design. Plus I like having incentive to keep an eye out for sculptural and fun planters.
- Wood Floors: For me I especially like my wood floors, but any smooth surface will do for this application. I know exactly when I need to have a quick sweep or vacuum to catch the stray pet hair. I never worry about dust building up unseen in my floor coverings. (Unless it’s been awhile since I’ve thoroughly cleaned my area rugs!)
Top 3 Home Maintenance or Lifestyle Moves for Clean Air:
- Open The Windows: There’s no better way for me to clean out the house than to open the windows and let all the air exchange with new. Filling the house with fresh air in almost like a new start, a new day or season.
- Monthly Air Filter Changes: We do not ofter use our heat and air system throughout the year (see above), but when we do, I am sure to change the return air filter at least every 3-4 weeks. Sometimes more often than that, especially if we have a long dry, dusty spell.
- Weekly Dusting: Never mind that I don’t want to breathe the dust in, but I certainly do not want to see it when the sun shines in the windows. So I take a quick swipe on my surfaces and furniture with my microfiber cloths usually once a week. Depending on the weather and season, sometimes this is twice a week and sometimes just twice a month.
What’s one of the more important things that makes your house feel like home? Keep any special scented candles around, have a favorite reading spot or just a comfortable place where your worries fall away?
All images (SOOC) mine from a Durango trip in July 2010. A favorite place on Earth.
Roxanne D
A self-employed home renovator and interior designer, Roxanne is living in her third 1920s-era home in one of Tulsa’s oldest neighborhoods. A small-town Oklahoma girl at heart, she has also lived in Australia, which helped inspire her love of design. Roxanne loves sewing, knitting, crocheting, repurposing furniture and salvaging architectural pieces. She loves to tackle a do-it-yourself project, no matter how small or large. As our very own “granola girl”, Roxanne dreams about designing everything from dresses to gardens to her day, whatever comes across her path.
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