(NC) Many of us have heard that fresh air is good for us, but what does that mean and why is it important?

Basically, fresh air is when the particles of air around you are regularly replaced; it’s the movement of air. Outside, this happens naturally when air is moved by a breeze. Inside, you need good ventilation to improve air quality, by letting fresh air in and preventing stale air from being trapped inside with you.

Respiratory viruses may be transmitted from person to person through the air by small respiratory particles called aerosols. For example, when someone who has COVID-19 breathes, talks, sings, shouts, sneezes or coughs, they can release respiratory particles with the virus into the air and spread it to others. The smaller and more crowded the room, and the longer that others stay in the space, the higher the risk that COVID-19 may spread. Good ventilation helps to reduce the levels of potentially infectious particles in the air, by letting fresh air in, which is especially important when you're with people from outside your immediate household.

Some easy tips to help you improve the ventilation in your home:

• Open windows and doors whenever possible. Even if it’s cold outside, a few minutes of fresh outdoor air can still help.

• Run a kitchen or bathroom exhaust fan continuously at low speed and open a window - even if it’s in a different room - to provide replacement air.

• Consider using an air purifier with a high-efficiency particle filter (known as a HEPA filter), that’s sized for the room.

• Regularly clean or replace filters in your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

These steps are especially helpful before, during and after having guests in your home. Combine ventilation with other important public health measures, such as keeping up with vaccinations, hand washing, wearing masks in crowded indoor spaces and staying home when sick to help keep you and others protected against respiratory viruses, like COVID-19 and the flu.

Find more information at canada.ca/coronavirus.

(NC) Whether you’re planning a sunny getaway to escape the cold or are back in the office on a regular basis for the first time in years, it’s reasonable to be worried about your home when it’s empty. The good news is, there are easy ways to keep a watchful eye.

Keep it bright 
While the days are getting longer, illuminating your walkway and entryways after dark can deter people from approaching your property. Set your lights up on timers or install motion-sensitive models.

Get smart with security 
While you shouldn’t live in fear, theft and break-and-entering do occur. For an easy and effective way to monitor your home, consider an all-in-one smart security system that includes 24/7 monitoring and real-time alerts. That way, you’re immediately notified of activity around your home such as someone walking up your driveway or if a door or window has been opened.

Automate from anywhere 
Whether you’re out shopping at the mall or visiting relatives out of town, take advantage of the ability to secure and control your home from anywhere with an all-in-one smart security system such as Telus SmartHome Security. Schedule or manually turn your lights on and off to give the illusion someone is home, or lock and unlock your doors when your children get home from school. True automation can provide added peace of mind and security from near or far.

(NC) Prepare your paintbrushes: colour is back. Neutral aesthetics have dominated for seasons on end, but design tastemakers have shifted their focus to adventurous interiors.

Sharon Grech, Benjamin Moore colour and design expert, shares how to confidently move on from neutral tones and kickstart a colour revival.

Balance a room
“Colour has visual weight, so be mindful of the size of your space,” Grech advises. Larger rooms can handle darker tones and strong saturation. Smaller spaces can benefit from airier, pale tones; but with ample lighting, a bold hue can be a joyful transformation.

Make a statement
There is something alluring about a room that is bursting with colour. Be bold in your expression and have fun. Instead of using an oversized piece of art for your wall, create an area of interest by painting a wall section behind a favourite piece of furniture. Paint unexpected corners of your home, like a bookcase, chimney or ceiling, to add a splash of colour and inject your personality.

Amplify the colour you love
Your home is your haven. Consider the emotional and subconscious impact certain colours have on you and let them guide your choice. Grech suggests, “Consider a shade like Raspberry Blush 2008-30 for your living room or kitchen to energize or New Age 1444 for a calming bedroom.” Colour has the ability to evoke emotions and affect mood, so consider how you use the room and want to feel in it before selecting a hue.

(NC) Unless you’re living in a seven-bedroom mansion, chances are you’re like most Canadians: trying to make the most of your small living space. From studio apartments to three-bedroom family homes, most of us are craving more space, particularly when home is also the office.

Maximizing your small space to include an office is not an insurmountable challenge. With the right tools and a little planning, you can bring the benefits of a much larger space to wherever you work.

1. Get a desk that works
Though you may love the look of something larger, chances are you can make do with a compact desk. Measure your workstation and see what makes sense, taking into account the space you want versus what you actually need. Pro tip: an adjustable standing desk can give you the option to stretch your legs throughout the day.

2. Invest in an ergonomic chair
Considering this is where you’ll be sitting for eight hours a day, investing in the right chair is crucial. Find something with various controls so you’re at a comfortable height, with feet flat on the floor and elbows and wrists straight when typing.

3. Clear the clutter
Extra pens and pencils, papers, folders, and empty coffee mugs and dishes…when you’re working in a small space, every item takes up room both physically and mentally. Combine regular work breaks with bringing dishes to the kitchen and store loose items in a box or drawer.

4. Put two screens in one
Multiple screens were great at the office, but at home, it’s rare to have the space for extra monitors. The LG UltraWide monitor has a single stand and curved screen which can show multiple windows at once, making it easier for you to multitask at work.

5. Make use of sleek backgrounds
By now, we’ve all seen the hilarious (and not-so-hilarious) backgrounds available for virtual calls. While they can be entertaining, they also serve a helpful purpose: hiding your unmade bed, scattered kid toys and dirty dishes.

Using your space wisely will contribute to a more relaxing and productive work environment so that at the end of the day you can reconnect with family, friends or your adorable pup. To check out more productivity solutions, visit lg.ca. 

(NC) Downsizing for retirement can relieve stress and help you focus on what is truly important. Whether you feel ready for the change or you’re a little nervous to plant roots somewhere new, here are some tips for a smooth and easy transition.

Start decluttering now
Even if you don’t plan to move for some time, it’s worth cutting down on your clutter. Begin thinking about items you really want to keep forever, such as your mother’s china. If those antique dishes mean a lot to you, keep them for your next place and plan to actually use them. If they are just taking up space, recognize that and don’t feel bad about finding them a new home. Beginning to tackle this step now will save you last minute stress and guilt when it comes time to move.

Consider your lifestyle
Are you looking to leave behind the hustle and bustle of city life? Or, are you excited by the option of walking to nearby shops and activities in an area where you don’t have to rely on a car? Will your new pad be the home base for a rotation of visiting family or are you planning to live the more nomadic life of the frequent traveller? Consider your physical, social, and personal needs as you think about how and where to live in retirement.

Use all tools available 
There are many options and considerations when creating a retirement plan, so use all the resources available to help you make an informed decision for your golden years. For example, you can use free census data to learn about a potential new community before moving there. You can find useful details on population, age and types of dwellings in different places. Specifically, you’ll be able to see if there is a higher concentration of seniors or lots of young children, along with the type of housing in your target area. It’s a great way to learn more about a place before you move there.

Find more information at statcan.gc.ca/census.

(NC) Embarking on a DIY project can offer lots of fun and learning for a couple, family or just for yourself. Consider taking up a project for your backyard that you can enjoy with the people close to you all year long.

Here are three unique ideas for backyard DIY projects that anyone, from beginners to seasoned builders, can do.

Re-home your garden
Make gardening even more personal and rewarding this summer by building your own planter box. Making a planter box for your favourite veggies or flowers is great for a beginner or seasoned DIY-er. With several wood and composite material options and various design configurations, you have the freedom to match your planter to your outdoor space.

Elevate your patio with a pergola 
There are few things that add to the charm of a backyard like a pergola. Whether you want to provide shade around your bistro set or give your plants room to grow to the sky, there is no shortage of ways to build a pergola or trellis in your outdoor space. Pergolas aren’t just meant for large backyards, either. Your local Home Hardware Building Centre can help you pick out the right materials and tools to build a pergola that fits your lifestyle and needs.

Build your own storage space 
A storage shed might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning out your backyard. But, whether it’s shielding your bikes, tools or furniture from the elements, or acting as a place to keep extra chairs or cushion covers, a shed can be a game-changer and a fun DIY project. With a wide range of sizes and designs available, you can build a shed that fits all of your storage needs.

You can find more project ideas at homehardware.ca

(NC) Whether it’s in your backyard or a nearby park, lawns provide more than just aesthetic benefits, they contribute to happier and healthier communities. Here’s how:

1. Providing oxygen that we breathe
   Green space are a valuable part of creating clean air anywhere. For example 15 square metres of grass produces enough oxygen for a family of four every day. That can help make a difference to how we feel and breathe.

2. Reducing the warming effect of hard surfaces 
   When the summer heat hits, grass helps keep you cool. Street or sidewalk temperatures may reach 38 degrees Celsius or higher, but grass remains at 24 degrees. Your feet and your home can thank your lawn for lower temperatures.
   
   

3.  Acting as water filtration systems 
   A healthy lawn will slow runoff and allow time for the water to seep back into the groundwater system, rather than overworking municipal storm sewer systems and creating a flood. A 900 square metre lawn can absorb more than 22,000 litres of water.
   
   To provide these benefits, lawns require care. Pesticides are one tool that help protect lawns by keeping weeds and other pests under control. Health Canada regulates every pesticide sold in the country to ensure they do not pose risks to humans, pets or the environment, when used as directed. 

Find more information at croplife.ca

(NC) There’s nothing like a warm fire on a cold day to nurture your soul. But despite its cozy scent, wood smoke contains pollutants that can be harmful, including chemicals and fine particles. Fine particles can penetrate deep into your lungs and bloodstream, sometimes leading to serious health effects or even death.
If you use a wood stove or fireplace in your home, here are some steps you can take to reduce your health risks:

Maintain your stove

• Make sure that your wood stove is well-maintained, vented correctly and working properly.

• Have it inspected by a qualified professional at least once a year.

Clean your chimney

• Clean your chimney and flues regularly, following the manufacturer's instructions.

Use your dampers

• Allow more airflow (ventilation) when starting a fire and close the dampers when the wood is well charred. This technique produces more heat, so you use less wood.

Burn wisely

• Avoid burning wood on days when outdoor air pollution levels are high.

• Only burn dry, seasoned wood. Cut, split and stack wood in a dry area for at least six months before burning it.

• Never burn wood that has been painted or chemically treated; household garbage or cardboard; ocean driftwood, plywood, particle board or any wood with glue on or in it; or wet, rotted, diseased or mouldy wood.

If you are looking to upgrade or install a woodstove or fireplace:

• Choose a low-emission stove
  Install an "advanced combustion" wood stove or fireplace insert to reduce toxic emissions.

• Look for appliances that have a sticker from the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This sticker certifies that the appliance emits up to 95 per cent fewer particulates and is up to 20 per cent more fuel-efficient than regular models.

Find more information on keeping a healthy home at canada.ca/healthy-home.