Welcome to this month’s installment of Dear Urbaneer, where I take on real estate questions from my inquisitive readers. This month I assist a reader who is ready to embrace the energy of spring, including opening the windows, but wants to keep the vibe fresh and lively.
Dear Urbaneer,
Now that spring is finally in full swing, I’m eager to open my windows and throw up the blinds, to let the natural light beam in and feel a fresh-air breeze after being closed in all winter. But in years past, as much as I relish opening those windows, I always notice everything else that comes with it, too, like street noise, dust, pollen, and even how much light (and artificial light at night) is coming into my space.
How can I make the most of opening my windows this season, while still keeping my home feeling calm, clean, and comfortable?
Signed,
Seeking the Soft Spring Breeze
Here’s my reply:
Dear Spring Breeze –
You’re right that one of the hallmarks of Spring is the joy of opening up the windows (finally!) after a long, harsh Canadian winter. While the fresh breeze and streaming sunlight are welcome, opening up our homes also means renewed concerns around air quality, noise, views, and sources of light.
With windows sealed all winter, letting fresh air in is invigorating, but the air that you are inviting into your home isn’t always fresh – even if it feels that way! Here are some tips for enjoying the air, sights, and sounds of Spring while minimizing any negative side effects.
Creating Cleaner Air When Windows Open Up
Spring ushers in the buds, blooms, and flowers, which, although lovely to look at, and a beautiful rite of passage for spring, introduce pollen and particulates in the air, not great for those who suffer from allergies, especially if they waft into your home.
Beyond the blooms, spring in the city can be kind of dirty at first. Dirt, debris, and trash can often be found on sidewalks and streets when the snow melts. As the days go by, streets are typically swept and trash tidied, but in the meantime, there is more debris on the ground and in the air.
And during street and sidewalk cleaning and sweeping, this dirt and dust will be kicked up and displaced, and can easily float in through your open windows.
Fret not. A little planning ahead can help you make the fresh air flowing through the window fresher as it circulates through your home.
- First, choose your window opening times carefully, especially if you are in an urban corridor. Go for early morning or late evening, when vehicular and foot traffic is less, so less dirt and debris will be kicked up and float in your windows.
- Fresh air wafting in your windows in the spring feels clean, but it’s not necessarily pure. Replace your HVAC filters to trap particles, and use portable air filters to clean the air as it circulates.
- Decorate with plants- nature’s air filter. Plants beautify your home, support trending biophilic design, and, bonus- naturally clean the air. Win, win, win.
- Choose your textiles mindfully. Some textiles (especially window treatments) hold on to dust and debris more readily. Heavy drapery, such as brocade, velvet, or thick polyester, can easily trap pollutants.
It’s not to say you can’t have these and still have clean air, but be aware that you should clean them regularly. Meanwhile, things like heavily upholstered furniture, upholstered headboards in bedrooms, and deep carpeting will all trap pollutants, so be sure to have these cleaned regularly.
If you are looking to do an air-quality-focused refresh (and spring is the perfect time for this!), consider swapping out heavier textiles for lighter, tighter-weave options, like linen or cotton, which repel particles more naturally.
It can also be helpful to promote cross-ventilation for maximum airflow, so if your home’s design permits, open windows on opposite sides.
Designing For A Quieter Open-Window Season
Living in the centre of it all has myriad benefits, but there is no question that noise is a presence. Over the winter with closed windows, some of that noise is insulated out, but taking steps to proactively manage noise can help diminish the disruption.
Noise pollution is a real thing, and I expanded on the health and wellness implications in this post from my Healthy Home series ‘Dear Urbaneer: Can I Combat Noise Pollution Through Design?’ Noise can come from many sources, both from without (noisy neighbours sharing walls, loud traffic, etc.) and from within (appliances, music, gaming, etc.)
However, the noise introduced when opening the windows is entirely external and greatly amplified.
As I outlined in the noise pollution blog, do a noise audit. With the windows open, pause and consider what noise is there? Is it a constant hum/din, or are there loud blasts? Are the noises present throughout the day and night, or are there times that they are more noticeable?
The idea is not to remove the noise altogether (which might require closing the windows – not ideal!), but to mitigate its disruption.
- Open windows during the quieter hours in your neighbourhood, identified during your noise audit. Also, determine which windows face “quieter” directions, and focus on opening those.
- Incorporate white noise inside your home to counter any noise outside in a non-disruptive way. Think fans, white noise machines, or rainfall/ocean sounds through a smart speaker and app.
- Use textiles and decor to muffle sounds, including rugs, wall treatments, draperies, and plush seating.
Bringing Light In Beautifully
One of the best parts of spring is the reintroduction of light into the home after the long, dark winter. In addition to opening the windows, you’ll likely be whipping open (or up) the window treatments to let the light stream in.
While you may feel like more light is better (and this is mostly true), the reality is a little more nuanced.
Controlling lighting conditions not only enhances how your home looks and functions, but also contributes to your health and wellness, as I wrote about in this post, ‘Dear Urbaneer: What Is Wellness Lighting Design, And Can It Really Improve Health At Home?’
Another reality of living with a big lights, big city vibe, is the presence of light, which I wrote about in this post ‘Dear Urbaneer: What Should I Know About Light Pollution?’, also from my Healthy Home series. Light pollution may be more noticeable with open windows and fewer window treatments, as is often the case in the spring.
- Swap heavy winter treatments for sheer ones that filter light delicately.
- Leverage mirrors or other reflective surfaces to direct the light in the right way through your home.
- Think about your lighting choices inside and opt for warmer-temperature bulbs rather than blue-tinged light. Warmer light mixes more organically with natural light at this time of year, and makes the transitions throughout the day more fluid.
Making The Most of the View
Opening the windows isn’t just about fresh air; it’s an opportunity to reconnect with what’s beyond your walls, which means framing the view nicely.
Establishing an indoor/outdoor connection is a key part of biophilic design, which goes a long way to enhancing health and wellbeing at home, which I write about here Dear Urbaneer: What Is Biophilia And How Can I Use It In Home Design?,
Whether you have a city skyline, tree canopies, or other homes beyond your windows, it’s worthwhile to maximize the view. Even a modest view can have an impactful effect when integrated into design.
- Treat the window frame as a picture frame. What do you see, and how can you enhance it? Clear visual clutter around the window itself. Keep sills simple, pull back heavy drapery, and arrange furniture to face or frame the outlook rather than turn away from it.
- Choose materials and colours for interior decor that mimic what you see outside, to blur the indoor/outdoor boundaries.
Thank you for your unique and thoughtful question!
At Urbaneer, we are not only interested in helping you find your perfect home, but we also love to advise you on how to live your best life at home, embracing all the seasons for health and happiness. With decades of experience and a true passion for all things house and home, I’m here to help!
If you enjoyed this, here are some additional posts you may find interesting and helpful:
Dear Urbaneer: What Is Neuroinclusive Design And How Will It Improve Our Living Environments?
Dear Urbaneer: What Is Biophilia And How Can I Use It In Home Design?
About Universal Design: Applications For Aging In Place & Toronto Real Estate
Dear Urbaneer: How Do We Establish Our Interior Design Style?
Design Innovations For A More Affordable Canadian Housing Future
Dear Urbaneer: How Do I Best Equip And Furnish My Home? (+ Design Tips!)
The Benefits Of Living Near Water
Post-Pandemic Housing Trends To Watch For
Since 1989, I’ve steered my career through a real estate market crash and burn; survived a slow painful cross-country recession; completed an M.E.S. graduate degree from York University called ‘Planning Housing Environments’; executed the concept, sales & marketing of multiple new condo and vintage loft conversions; and guided hundreds of clients through the purchase and sale of hundreds of freehold and condominium dwellings across the original City of Toronto. From a gritty port industrial city into a glittering post-industrial global centre, I’ve navigated the ebbs and flows of a property market as a consistent Top Producer. And I remain as passionate about it today as when I started.
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