This is what I do to keep my clients' homes chemical-free

Let's talk about something I never compromise on, and that's using natural products and natural paints in every space I design. It's not a trend for me, it's just how I've always worked, and once I explain the science behind it, you'll probably start looking at your own home differently.

The thing we don't talk about

We spend so much energy thinking about what we eat (organic, non processed), how we exercise and how well we sleep. But almost nobody thinks about what they're breathing in every single day, especially at home, where most of us spend the majority of our lives. That air isn't neutral. It's carrying whatever your furniture, paint and rugs are slowly releasing out of it  and most of that's invisible.

What's actually in a "high performance" sofa

A lot of upholstered furniture marketed as stain resistant or high performance is treated with PFAS, a class of synthetic chemicals also used in nonstick cookware, that repel liquid by coating the fabric fibers. The problem is these chemicals don't stay put, they off-gas slowly into your home over years and they've been linked in research to hormone disruption and other long term health concerns. On top of that, most synthetic upholstery fabrics like polyester are petroleum based, meaning the fabric itself is essentially a form of plastic sitting in your living room, releasing microscopic particles as it wears.

What's actually in most paint

Conventional paint contains VOCs, volatile organic compounds, solvents that evaporate into the air as the paint dries and continue off-gassing at lower levels for months afterward. This is why a freshly painted room has that distinct chemical smell, and why some people get headaches or feel foggy in a newly painted space. VOCs have been linked to respiratory irritation and, with long term exposure, more serious health concerns.

This is why I specify natural, low or zero VOC paint brands instead, ones like Farrow & Ball's eco-friendly formulations, ECOS Paints, BioShield, Graphenstone (which uses lime as a base instead of synthetic binders), and Auro, a German brand that uses plant and mineral based ingredients. These paints cost more but they don't carry the same chemical load; and mineral and lime based paints also tend to have a beautiful, soft, breathable finish that flat commercial paint can't replicate.

Why I only use rugs made of wool, silk or cotton 

Most affordable rugs are made from synthetic fibers like nylon, polypropylene or polyester, again, essentially plastic. These synthetic fibers shed microplastics into your home over time, and many are treated with flame retardants or stain guards, another source of chemical off-gassing sitting directly under your feet, in a room where you and your family spend hours barefoot. Wool, silk and cotton are natural fibers that don't carry that same chemical load, they're also naturally more durable and, in wool's case, naturally flame resistant without needing chemical treatment.

Why this actually matters

None of this is about being precious or perfectionist for the sake of it. It's about the fact that your home's air quality is something you're exposed to constantly, quietly, for years, and most people never think to question it the way they'd question their diet or their workout routine. I choose natural materials because a beautiful room should also be a room that's genuinely good for you to spend your life in.