7 Useful Tips for a Healthy Indoor Climate

If you often get sick or can't relax at home, check the indoor climate in your apartment. We've put together a special checklist.

Measure Light Levels

Why is this important? Proper lighting affects our health and mood. Darkness in a room brings sadness, while glare and brightness irritate.

How to measure light levels? Invite a specialist with a lux meter.
If the readings are much higher or lower than 500 lux, then the lighting is not in order.

It's too dark or too bright at home. What to do? If there isn't enough light (e.g., windows are poorly placed), buy energy-efficient bulbs, change wall paint and curtains to lighter colors, repaint the ceiling white, and add mirrors.

If there's too much light instead, apply sun protection film to the windows, buy blackout curtains, and experiment with the color and material of furniture: to scatter excess light and avoid overheating.

Check Humidity

Why is this important? Excess moisture makes the house constantly damp, wallpapers swell, and residents often get sick. Lack of moisture damages furniture, causes parquet to crack, and leads to skin problems—especially in children.

How to measure humidity? The optimal humidity level for a living room is 40–60%, and for a child's room, it’s 50%. Place a hygrometer for a day to see where the readings deviate.

It's too dry or too humid at home. What to do? Buy a humidifier or set up a large aquarium with fish. For overly humid rooms, an air dehumidifier works well.

And Temperature

What should the optimal air temperature be? Let’s look at SanPin guidelines: in cold weather, it's 20–24°C; in summer, no more than 25°C. But it’s not that simple: many homes are built with construction violations—crevices and gaps appear, and building materials don’t meet GOST standards.

It's too cold in winter or too hot in summer. What to do? You can use simple methods: in winter, insulate walls, install a warm floor, and call a specialist to check windows for air tightness. In summer, an air conditioner, fan, and indoor plants will help. You can also install a thermostat to control the temperature in your apartment with one button. More tips can be found in our article about heat.

Check Ventilation

Why is this important? If there’s constant noise and drafts in the apartment, everyone gets sick. If air isn’t circulating, it’s hard to breathe, headaches occur often, and chronic fatigue builds up.

What should the speed be? According to standards, airflow in summer shouldn’t exceed 0.25 m/s, and in winter — 0.15 m/s.

How to measure it? Use an electronic anemometer—it will tell you what’s wrong with the ventilation. A specialist can recommend how to fix it.

Check Dust Levels

Where does dust come from? It doesn’t only come from outside. Dirt from shoes, mold, bacteria, and skin flakes are also sources of dust.

How to deal with it? You can install air purifiers with powerful carbon filters. But don’t expect miracle effects. Better to not forget about a monthly deep cleaning: wipe surfaces with damp cloth, shake out rugs, wash floors, wash soft toys, and vacuum more often.

Measure Oxygen Levels

Why is this important? Lack of oxygen weakens immunity, causes oxygen deprivation in the body, and reduces work capacity.

What’s the standard? The generally accepted norm is 21%.

How to fight low oxygen levels? An air ionizer helps: it saturates oxygen with ions. Breathing becomes easier this way. Remember: the room should be ventilated at least occasionally. A mini-garden also helps: plant aloe and a few palms.

And Noise

Why is this important? Noise affects our mental and physical health: it causes stress, neuroses, and irritability.

What’s the acceptable noise level in an apartment? According to standards, daytime noise should not exceed 70 dB, and evening noise — 60 dB.

How to deal with noisy neighbors? Soundproofing and noise-absorbing panels will help. If a renovation is only planned, think about buying acoustic foam in advance: the home will become as quiet as a recording studio. If neighbors are constantly noisy, read our article to resolve the issue legally.