How can I better ventilate my home?

IDEAL HOME'S RESIDENT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER CHARLIE LUXTON SHARES HIS DESIGN KNOW-HOW

The average person in the UK spends 92% of their time indoors, the majority of which is spent at home, so understanding and controlling air quality in your home is really important. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and formaldehyde are two of the key offenders in poor air quality. A recently fitted carpet, a redecorated room or new furniture can be high in these chemicals and can result in eye irritation, a runny nose and even asthma-like chest tightness.

A second area that impacts internal air quality, and therefore health, is moisture. We live on a damp island. In addition to the vast quantities of rain we get, showers, cooking and drying clothes all introduce more moisture into our homes, which often results in humidity exceeding recommended levels. If this happens for extended periods, then the chances of mould growing in your home increases massively and certain common moulds are very bad for us.

So far, so depressing… but these problems once understood are fairly easy to improve, principally by ventilating your home properly.