The healthy bedroom

We spend about a third of our day in bed. To ensure we can relax and find peace there, a non-toxic and low-pollutant environment is critical. With natural materials and a few simple tricks, you can give your bedroom a thorough detox.

Throughout the day, we are exposed to various stressors, environmental toxins, and noise – so at least the bedroom should be a place of peace and regeneration. However, our bodies cannot relax when indoor pollutants hang like clouds over the bed, leaving their mark on our systems. Whether it's plasticizers in the flooring, formaldehyde in the wardrobe drawer, or pesticides in the bedding, the pollutants released by furniture, building materials, and textiles over the years are absorbed through the skin and respiratory system and can weaken the body. The consequences range from skin irritations and allergies to headaches and nausea to reduced fertility and even cancer.

To keep pollutant levels in the bedroom as low as possible, it's essential to know their sources and replace them with lower-emission alternatives. We'll reveal what these are below.

Solid wood furniture

Whether it's a bed, a wardrobe, or a nightstand, furniture is often responsible for emitting substances harmful to health. Therefore, when buying new bedroom furniture, your nose is a good indicator. No piece of furniture that is in proximity to the body for several hours every day should emit a pungent odor. A chemical smell indicates the off-gassing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It's wise to look for quality seals when buying furniture – after all, many indoor pollutants are odorless. These seals reliably identify furniture with low levels of pollutants and emissions.

High-quality furniture and its individual components are of paramount importance in the bedroom. As the most natural and robust material, solid wood provides a solid and healthy foundation for bed frames, slatted bases, and wardrobes. This natural, breathable material requires no solvents in its raw state and releases virtually no harmful emissions into the air. Furthermore, wood creates a pleasant indoor climate and promotes restful sleep.

However, the back panels and drawer inserts of solid-wood cabinets are often not made of solid wood but of lighter engineered wood products. Caution is advised here, as particleboard contains high levels of formaldehyde in its adhesive. Plywood is a better option. Furthermore, varnish should be avoided entirely as a surface treatment. Natural stains, oils, and waxes are the healthier alternative. 

Mattress made of natural fibers.

Anyone who wants to stretch out on their mattress and snuggle into their duvet with a clear conscience should scrutinize the products before buying. This is because harmful substances in the home, such as formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, flame retardants, and mothproofing agents, can affect indoor air quality, cause skin irritation, and disrupt sleep.

Mattresses are particularly prone to containing harmful substances. Foam mattresses, for example, are popular – and made from synthetic foams that pose health risks. Petroleum-based latex mattresses should also be viewed critically. Cold foam mattresses made from open-cell, breathable cold foam or innerspring mattresses ensure good ventilation, are ecologically sound, and contain fewer pollutants. However, for health reasons, natural materials are preferable when choosing a mattress. A distinction is made between natural fiber mattresses and natural latex mattresses. Natural fibers used can include coconut fibers, horsehair, peat, seagrass, or hemp. A combination of different layers provides varying degrees of firmness and a comfortable sleeping environment. Natural latex mattresses are made from natural rubber, which is extracted from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. This material is free of synthetic additives, has antibacterial properties, and is also suitable for people with pet allergies.

Since mattress covers often contain chemicals to protect against dirt or moisture, only mattress covers made of natural materials should be used as a minimum standard. Breathable, washable, or self-cleaning covers made of organic cotton, wool, linen, and lyocell are beneficial for health and Wellbeing. Various labels indicate quality and low levels of harmful substances. 

Organic cotton bed linen

Plasticizers, insecticides, flame retardants, synthetic dyes – many textiles contain a whole cocktail of harmful substances that unknowingly end up in the user's bed. After cotton lost its good image due to genetically modified seeds, chemical pesticides, and high water consumption during cultivation, organic cotton is now the fabric of dreams for many health-conscious people. Because "organic cotton" is suitable for people and the environment, ​​this applies not only to clothing but especially to bed linen.

Why? We place nothing closer to our skin than our duvet, sheets, and pillowcases. Many certified manufacturers, therefore, ensure that only organic pesticides, natural fertilizers, and non-GMO seeds are used in the cultivation of cotton plants. If the finished product is also unbleached and virtually free of harmful and allergenic substances, that's already a significant improvement. Consumers can rely on eco-labels like the GOTS mark, which rigorously tests for pollutants to ensure emission-free products, maintains a skin-friendly pH value, and sets minimum social standards.

Incidentally, other home textiles, such as bedspreads, rugs, or curtains, should also be inspected and certified before use in the bedroom. They may have lost their natural purity during manufacturing due to mothproofing agents or impregnation, even if they were initially made of linen, virgin wool, or jute. For all washable textiles, one or two washes with a gentle detergent are recommended before first use. All other fabrics should be given ample time to air out.

Low-emission wall paint

Anyone who has ever painted with standard emulsion paint will remember the smell that lingered in the room for days afterward. This is because, as the paint dries, harmful ingredients such as preservatives and solvents are released into the air as VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This is not only problematic for allergy sufferers, people sensitive to chemicals, or children – sleeping in such a polluted atmosphere is simply impossible.

In rooms where we spend a lot of time, emission-free and natural wall paints are the best choice. This naturally includes the bedroom, where we spend about a third of our day. Healthy alternatives to conventional emulsion paint include mineral paints, such as clay, lime, and silicate. They contain no preservatives, solvents, or plasticizers and also have the advantage of not clogging the substrate, allowing the wall to breathe. This ensures a healthy indoor climate and reduces the risk of mold growth. Mixed products like silicate emulsion paint, which contains a small percentage of organic ingredients, can be purchased as pre-tinted paints at home improvement stores – meaning there are virtually no limits to your design options.

Other sources of pollutants

Two serious adversaries also threaten a healthy bedroom: mold growth and electromagnetic radiation. While the former is a demonstrable danger that can cause respiratory illnesses, mucous membrane irritation, and allergies, the latter is still difficult to prove scientifically due to a lack of long-term studies. Preventive measures are effective for both.

Mold

Mold thrives where humidity is high. This can be caused by structural issues or simply by neglecting daily routines, such as improper ventilation or heating. During sleep, the body sweats heavily, especially in the summer months when humidity naturally increases. Too many plants in the bedroom can also promote mold growth, even though, when used sparingly, they act as natural air purifiers, filtering pollutants and making sleep easier, particularly for allergy sufferers.

A straightforward and effective way to prevent mold in the bedroom is to air the room regularly: this promotes air exchange, allowing excess moisture to escape. Just five to ten minutes is sufficient, ideally once before going to bed and once after getting up.

Tip: If you use a controlled ventilation system, you don't need to worry about sufficient air exchange in the room. Ventilation systems with sensors for carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), for example, automatically adjust air exchange rates based on the number of people in the room and pollutant levels.

Electrosmog

Electrosmog, or exposure to artificial electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields indoors, is invisible, odorless, and tasteless, yet there is evidence of its existence. Electrical devices generate low-frequency electric and magnetic fields and can affect the body. Wireless applications like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth add further high-frequency radiation. This can lead to metabolic problems or sleep disturbances, especially in the bedroom.

Preventive measures to protect oneself from radiation exposure follow two simple principles: keep your distance and reduce the duration of exposure. Specifically, this means: install the Wi-Fi router as far away from the bedroom as possible or unplug the Wi-Fi completely at night; don't keep your mobile phone near the bed or put it in airplane mode; avoid using smart speakers and virtual assistants in the bedroom, and don't place any other electrical devices at head height.

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