At WLLW, we approach design with health in mind from the very beginning. Rather than treating wellbeing as an add-on, we focus on thoughtful, foundational choices that support everyday life. This isn’t about perfection. It’s about returning to basics and recognizing that small, considered changes can make a meaningful and lasting difference to how a home feels and functions.
When health is considered from the outset, it becomes part of how a home supports you over time. It shows up in the quality of the air you breathe, the water you use, the materials you touch and the environments you return to. These choices are often invisible, but they shape how a home feels, influencing comfort, energy and ease in subtle but important ways.
The truth is, yes – modern homes do contain materials and products that can affect our health. Synthetic furniture finishes can release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the air and plastics in everyday items can shed microplastics into the dust we breathe. But here’s the other truth – you don’t need to overhaul your entire home or throw everything away to make meaningful changes.
"You don’t need to overhaul your entire home or throw everything away to make meaningful changes."
Every home is different. Every household has its own priorities, budget and realities. The goal isn’t a flawless, toxin-free home – as that doesn’t exist. The goal is a space that supports your health, reduces unnecessary exposures, and feels calm, nurturing and restorative. It all starts here. One small choice, then another, and before long, you’ll have built a home that is as healthy as it is beautiful.
To begin, start small. These items reflect where thoughtful changes can have the greatest day-to-day impact. Here are five of WLLW founder Lisa Sternfeld’s top priorities when it comes to building a healthier home:
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What's in your air? Use air purifiers, especially HEPA or carbon filters in high-use rooms.
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What's in your water? Consider water filters, what you breathe in the shower matters as much as the water you drink.
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What's on your walls? Choose low or no-VOC paints, mineral paint, clay or lime plaster, or untreated materials like cork, hempcrete, or natural wood paneling.
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What's on your floors? Natural fiber rugs and non-toxic rug pads can help improve air quality.
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What are you sleeping in and on? Choose natural or organic bedding, bed linens, toppers and mattresses.
Photography: Nick Rochowski
