Decorating with allergies in mind
As a professional interior designer I believe your home should be your sanctuary. Not just the place you relax, but also a place that supports your health and wellbeing. If you suffer from allergies or intolerances your living space can have a huge impact on your health.
Both Sarah and I have first-hand experience of this. Hayfever season is almost upon me and Sarah has a long history of eczema and asthma stretching back to childhood, so we’ve both taken steps to make our own homes as allergy-friendly as possible.
Here’s how we can create a home that helps you breathe easy and live comfortably, without reducing it to a white box:
Natural materials
Opting for natural materials like organic cotton, linen and wool reduces the likelihood of dust, mould and chemicals getting trapped in the fibres compared to synthetic fabrics. Cotton, hemp and wool are all highly breathable fabrics meaning air can easily circulate, avoiding creating a breeding ground for allergens.
Air quality matters
Ensuring your home’s air quality is good is key if you have allergies. We can advise on the best ventilation if you are undergoing a whole house renovation – it will help remove air dander, pollen and fibres. For redesigns, we can ensure good airflow through mindful layouts.
There are so many HEPA air purifiers available on the market now, and many of them are portable so they can be used where they are most needed in the home at any time. Using natural air purifiers like peace lilies and snake plants as part of the design scheme can also help. Stay away from ferns and ivy as houseplants.
Furniture choices
We can advise on upholstery options that are hypoallergenic. Opting for leather or tightly woven fibres for your chairs will avoid allergenic particles being trapped and causing you issues.
We’re currently working on a bedroom design for a young boy who suffers with a dust mite allergy, and instead of an upholstered bedroom chair we are looking at Lloyd Loom, as it can be easily hoovered clean but still brings texture and comfort to the scheme. Any scatter cushion or throw we include will be low pile and machine washable.
Floor coverings
Sadly, carpets are an absolute haven for dust mites, so it's better to use tiles, linoleum or hardwood. Wood floors are hugely fashionable at the moment and the range of colours, patterns and detail is huge.
We can advise on easy-to-clean surfaces and rugs that look the part but can be easily washed. Some of our favourite machine washable rug choices for allergy sufferers (and just generally practical choices for family homes!) come from Ruggable and Weaver Green. Weaver Green’s rugs are made from recycled plastic bottles, but you would never guess from the texture - it is an utterly convincing wool substitute! These innovative products mean there is no need to forego colour, pattern and texture in an allergy-friendly space.
Window treatments
Keeping fabric to a minimum will be key, so we’d advise against heavily pleated pooled curtains! Roller and Roman blinds are easy to hoover, and for those with severe allergies wood blinds or shutters are great options, as they are safe and easy to clean with a damp cloth.
Storage
Toy baskets give a lovely, relaxed look, but they can be rather effective dust-collectors. Consider either washable toy bags, or closed storage for toys and books. Stackable storage boxes with lids will also help keep rooms looking tidy. There are so many options now, with great colours and designs that can fit right into a fun bedroom or playroom scheme.
Accessories
Avoid unnecessary textile decorations such as heavy curtains, cosy blankets and decorative cushions, which can attract dust and mites. Instead, look for lightweight throws and accessories which are machine washable. If an item is dry-clean only it is likely to be cleaned far less often.
A leather pouffe would be a great alternative to an upholstered footstool for example, and opting for wipeable lampshades over pleated fabric ones will reduce hiding places for spores and dust mites. Accessories that can be easily cleaned such as ceramic, wood, plastic, metal and glass will be better than fabric and feather.
Allergies have been a hot topic in the media over recent years, so if it is something you are living with there are many helpful articles available for further reading. Kirstie Allsopp recently spoke about the German art of lüften – airing houses to get rid of black mould.
Every detail can count when you’re choosing interior options to support your health. We’re here to help make your life easier by narrowing the options and expertly advising on materials, finishes, air flow and curation that will support your body and mind without compromising on style.
If you're looking to create an allergy-friendly home that still feels beautifully designed, get in touch – we'd love to help.