Home Staging Blog

For any of you who have been reading my blog for any length of time, you know I have a slightly different philosophy on home staging than most.  I believe staging goes way beyond getting homes sold fast and expands into how people live in their homes day to day.  Creating positive, nurturing environments that reflect lifestyles that support those that live, or who want to live in the home, is what staging is all about for me.

So it just comes natural that improving the materials and the environment within the home would be part of successfully staging your home for life.

Step one in creating a healthier home is an easy one.  Change your air filters regularly.  Use at least a MERV11 rated air filter.  Why? 

Your homes are your refuge.  They are where you come home to at the end of your days to relax and rejuvenate.  When you sleep, your bodies are at rest and repairing themselves.  Your minds are regenerating and preparing for the brand new day ahead of you.

The air inside your homes is full of dust, which is a combination of all sorts of elements, including bits of soil, pollens, mold spores, dust mites, animal dander, skin cells, particles from the fabrics in your homes, even heavy metals from car exhaust.  Without the use of an adequate air filter, these elements just keep getting recycled throughout your home and through your body.

Modern homes are made to be air tight.  They are designed to be energy efficient.  This prevents adequate ventilation unless you take the time to open your windows and give yourself some daily fresh air.  Be sure to open more than one window if possible so that the fresh air can circulate.  Even in hot or cold weather, give yourself at least 20 minutes of fresh air, your body and home will thank you.

For those of you here in Southern California where we are affected by the smoke from these fires, be aware that for the next two weeks we have been advised to keep our windows closed and to limit our outdoor exposure.  It is more important now than ever to change your air filters.  The fires have burned not only the forests but many homes, releasing all sorts of pollutants into the air including asbestos, chlorine and many other toxins that are dangerous for your health.  Protect your family and yourself by limiting your exposure. 

Take a little extra time this weekend while cleaning up around home and use a dampened cloth to do your dusting and clean all of the surfaces in your home to remove the ashes that are settling.  You don’t want to stir these up and have them floating around your home if you can avoid it.  And when the dust has settled outside, hose things off a bit before you start sweeping so the ashes don’t come up in your face.  Creating a healthier home starts with the air you breathe.