4 easy ways to COVID-proof your home
The COVID-19 pandemic has forever change how we live and work. With no vaccine or cure in sight, we have to adjust to an environment with a highly-contagious disease around.
If you have the budget and are planning to redesign or improve your place of residence, you might want to consider changes that can protect your home and ensure that it is COVID-free.
We had a chance to talk to Katrina Lopez, a UST graduate and a senior interior designer for nine years in Nazareno + Guerrero Design Consultancy Inc., to share her thoughts about some design ideas you could apply in your home under the new normal.
Senior interior designer Katrina Lopez (the one in the right)
Katrina shared to GMANetwork.com that even during the period of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), their team has been brainstorming on several design changes they could do for their upcoming residential and commercial projects.
“Kami sa office namin, nag-discuss na rin kami while on quarantine period pa. Nag-discuss na kami regarding that kung ano 'yung mga kailangan i-add sa mga ginagawa naming projects or kailangan naming i-revise.”
Here are Katrina's recommendations for a safer, cleaner home:
1. Utilizing UV lights
Source: www.genengnews.com
UV lights are an effective tool in killing viruses, even the airborne ones. An article in GMA News Online mentioned a study at Columbia University, wherein ceiling fixtures emitting a safe form of ultraviolet light called far-UVC was found to be very efficient in killing airborne coronaviruses.
Katrina mentioned that they have added using UV lights in their designs and she suggested putting UV lights in areas like the service kitchen.
She explained, “Instead of using ordinary lights, gagamit kami ng mga UV light sa mga areas sa residence na maraming interaction. Kunwari sa service kitchen. Basta more on sa service areas.
“Better kasi to use UV lights, pero siyempre harmful din daw sa tao 'yung UV lights. So siguro ang gagawin namin, doon siya ilalagay sa mga areas na limited lang din 'yung [hours of exposure], para lang ma-disinfect lang 'yung room.”
2. Adding mud rooms
Source: Pinterest
Another additional change you could do in your home if you have the extra budget is building a mud room.
Better Homes and Gardens defines a mud room as "traditionally a home's casual secondary entrance and a dedicated space to remove (muddy) boots, coats, and wet clothing before entering the main house. It's intended to provide storage and ensure the main areas of the home stay clean and tidy."
Katrina explained what areas you could convert into a mud room, especially if you are living in a big house.
“Sina-suggest na namin na may certain area kami kung saan ilalagay mo 'yung shoes mo, so doon lang 'yun, ara at least hindi mo na napapasok 'yung shoes mo na baka may virus sa loob ng bahay.
“Nilalagay 'yun normally sa lower ground floor or basement area. 'Pag sa big houses naman, 'di ba ang service area is nasa baba, pinakamalapit siya sa parking area.
“So once na bumaba 'yung owner, baba siya doon bago aakyat sa living room.”
On the other hand, if your house is a typical bungalow, the mud room can be placed before you enter the main door.
3. Placing air purifiers
Source: Samsung
At the consultancy firm where she works, Katrina and her colleagues also stresses the importance of the proper placement of air purifiers on the design of a house.
Air purifiers filter and remove harmful airborne particles like dust, pollen, and bacteria and then circulate the purified air back into the room.
Investing in a good and efficient air purifier is a must under the new normal, especially with the Department of Health acknowledging that COVID-19 can be airborne in specific settings.
Katrina admitted that pre-COVID, air purifiers were more of a client's personal preference.
She said, “Before COVID, hindi namin kinu-consider 'yung air purifiers. Parang more on personal preference ng client.
“So, hindi na siya part ng job talaga namin, pero kasi kailangan namin siya i-consider [now] kung saan namin dapat ilagay 'yung air purifier.
“So, we decided na mas okay maglagay ng air purifier if possible, on common areas like living room, dining room. Doon ka nagre-receive ng guests mo, e.”
4. installing touch-free soap or sanitizer dispenser
Source: Amazon.com
Another simple design change that Katrina suggested is by installing automatic soap or sanitizer dispenser in the bathroom or powder room.
Our hands can be infected with bacteria or viruses and when we touch something, we could contaminate the surface and unknowingly spread something like COVID-19.
In an article posted at houseofkava.com, doorknobs, desks, keyboards, and computers can become bacteria hotbeds and germs on these surfaces can live up to around 48 hours.
Switching to an automatic dispenser means less contact among family members and visitors, thus minimizing the spreading of anything that can harm us or our family.
There are so many ways we can protect our place of residence from COVID-19. It is better to consult an expert before making any home improvements to make your home extra safe and also keep you within budget.
For more lifestyle content visit GMANetwork.com's Lifestyle page.
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