Spring is a perfect time to clean-up and refresh your home’s décor. Whether you’re thinking of giving your entire home a new look, or just a room or two, making your environment less toxic is a key goal.
Owner of Uniquely You Décor, Kaleigh Concannon, reminds us that less toxic doesn’t have to mean more expensive. “Whether you are choosing less toxic décor for health reasons, or to minimize chemicals in your home, it’s easy to make intentional choices to reduce toxicity,” she explains.
“Consider your home’s age and condition,” notes Concannon. “A new home will take some time to “off gas” the chemicals used during construction. If possible, wait a couple of months after completion to move in, allowing contaminants to dissipate before occupancy.” An older home may have hidden water damage and mold that should be addressed. “This is the time to call in an expert who understands how this affects your surroundings.”
To avoid becoming overwhelmed, Concannon suggests starting in the places where you spend the most time. “By focusing on the sofa, general seating in your dwelling, or the mattresses in the bedrooms, you are starting to eradicate toxins that may affect you and your family most.”
Beware of items labeled pet and kid-friendly, and stain resistant. These can be huge red flags as they often contain harmful chemicals to be labeled as such. “It’s really all about marketing,” Concannon says. “There are plenty of non-toxic performance fabrics to choose from.” Darker fabric colors and patterns will show less dirt, and washable covers for chairs and sofas are readily available. Sustainable, non-toxic bedding is a great investment to protect your mattress.
Concannon recommends brands like Avocado and Quince for bedding, linens, and towels. Revival machine washable wool rugs are also non-toxic and budget friendly. She advises avoiding polyurethane and sticking with natural cotton, linen and wool. “Remember, the goal is long-term value over a short-term spend. An investment in the right elements will sustain over a longer period and are better for you from the start.”
Switching from harsh cleaning products to a healthier mixture of vinegar or isopropyl alcohol and water will keep your home spotless with less chemical exposure. Avoiding bleach is another of Concannon’s recommendations. For machine washable items, she suggests adding EC3 to the cycle to neutralize mold spores.
“It can be easy to become inundated with information,” advises Concannon. “You can find a step-by-step pdf on our website entitled, The Healthy Home Starter Kit. This focuses on the five main toxic offenders and solutions for remediating them. The pdf can offer an opportunity to consider your needs and how to get there,” she says.
Uniquely You Décor can assist with a phased process to eliminate chemicals while adding beautiful home design to meet your taste and budget. The first step involves a visit to the website to sign-up for a free, 20-minute phone consultation. From there, the process of evaluating function, style, and health priorities begins. Concannon employs a completely collaborative process that includes mood boards and renderings to ensure clients are 100 percent confident in the goals and outcome.
Concannon is a sought-after speaker at healthcare conferences and design events focusing on the non-toxic home. This year, she will present to the health community at the 2026 CIRSx Conference in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She is also an annual presenter at the Denver-based Toxic by Design event. A schedule of events can be found on her website. Please visit: www.uniquelyyoudecor.com