Before You Begin

Your home affects your health every single day. Most people don't realize how much.

The average American spends over 90% of their time indoors. The quality of that environment, the air you breathe, the light you wake up to, the materials surrounding you, the noise you absorb, directly shapes your energy, sleep, mood, and long-term health.

The good news: most of these issues are solvable. Some require simple behavioral changes. Others are architectural, and require a thoughtful redesign to truly fix. This audit helps you understand which is which.

How to use this checklist

Read each statement and check the box if it is currently true for your home.
Watch your score update in real time at the bottom of the screen.
Higher scores indicate a healthier home environment.
Pay particular attention to items marked with a red dot — these carry the highest health impact.

High impact

Moderate impact

Supportive factor

Indoor Air Quality

The air inside most homes is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Poor ventilation, off-gassing materials, and moisture issues are the primary culprits.

My home has a mechanical ventilation system (ERV or HRV) or operates with a dedicated fresh air strategy.

Without fresh air exchange, CO2 levels rise overnight. This impairs cognitive function and sleep quality.

The finishes, flooring, paints, and adhesives used in my home are low-VOC or zero-VOC certified.

Volatile Organic Compounds off-gas from conventional materials for years, contributing to headaches, respiratory issues, and long-term health risks.

My HVAC filters are MERV-13 rated (or higher) and replaced on schedule.

Standard fiberglass filters capture less than 20% of fine particulate matter. MERV-13 and above captures over 85%.

There is no visible mold, persistent musty odor, or known moisture intrusion in my home.

Mold releases mycotoxins that cause respiratory illness, fatigue, and cognitive fog. These conditions are often misdiagnosed for years.

Healthy Materials

What your home is made of matters. Natural, minimally processed materials support a healthier indoor environment than synthetic alternatives manufactured for convenience or low maintenance.

My home primarily uses natural materials, including solid wood, stone, natural fiber textiles, and mineral-based finishes, rather than synthetic substitutes.

Plastics, foams, and vinyl composites often contain plasticizers, flame retardants, and binders that off-gas continuously and accumulate in household dust.

My upholstered furniture, mattresses, and insulation are free from synthetic foam or polyurethane foam as a primary fill material.

Polyurethane foam is a significant source of flame retardant chemicals linked to hormonal disruption and neurological effects, particularly in children.

Surfaces in my kitchen and bathrooms are made from natural materials such as stone, ceramic tile, or solid wood rather than plastic laminates or resin composites.

Laminate and resin-based surfaces, while durable, are manufactured with adhesives and coatings that degrade over time and contribute to indoor air quality decline.

Light & Circadian Health

Light is the primary signal that regulates your sleep-wake cycle. Most homes deliver the wrong kind of light at the wrong time of day.

My main living areas and bedroom receive direct or substantial indirect natural daylight during daytime hours.

Natural daylight suppresses melatonin production during the day, which in turn improves night-time sleep quality and depth.

My evening lighting is warm-toned (2700K or lower) and dimmable. I avoid bright overhead lighting after 8pm.

Blue-spectrum light in the evening delays melatonin onset by 1 to 3 hours, suppressing sleep quality even when you feel tired.

My bedroom can be made fully dark at night, with no significant light intrusion from outside or hallways.

Even low levels of ambient light during sleep disrupt REM cycles and increase risk of metabolic disruption.

Thermal Comfort & Performance

Temperature inconsistency is not just uncomfortable. It is a sign of an inefficient building envelope that wastes energy and compromises health.

My home maintains consistent temperatures room-to-room, with no significant drafts, cold floors, or overheated areas.

Temperature inconsistency indicates air sealing deficiencies and thermal bridging that drive energy costs and moisture risk.

My home's indoor humidity stays between 40 and 60% year-round (measured, not estimated).

Below 30%: skin and respiratory irritation, virus transmission increases. Above 65%: mold risk escalates rapidly.

My bedroom sleeps cool. I maintain or can maintain a nighttime temperature between 65 and 68 degrees F.

Core body temperature must drop 2 to 3 degrees F to initiate sleep. A cool bedroom supports this process naturally.

Acoustic Environment

Chronic noise exposure, even at levels below conscious awareness, elevates cortisol, disrupts sleep, and degrades cognitive performance over time.

My bedroom is sufficiently isolated from traffic, HVAC noise, and household sound to allow undisturbed sleep.

The WHO recommends nighttime outdoor noise below 40dB. Most urban and suburban bedrooms routinely exceed this.

My home has spaces where I can work or rest without frequent noise interruptions from other rooms or outside.

Sound privacy enables deep work and recovery. Both are impaired in acoustically open floor plans without thoughtful design.

Spatial Wellbeing & Design

How a space is organized, its proportions, connection to nature, and support for daily movement, has measurable effects on mood, stress, and behavior.

My home has views to the outdoors, including trees, sky, or greenery, from areas where I spend significant time.

Research on biophilic design shows that even brief visual access to nature lowers cortisol and blood pressure.

My home's layout encourages daily movement. I don't sit for extended periods without naturally passing through active spaces.

Passive architecture can either encourage or suppress movement. The layout itself is a health determinant.

My home feels calm and restorative after a long day. The design, materials, and light support a genuine sense of rest.

This is the ultimate test: your home should actively restore you, not passively receive you.

Interpreting Your Score

What your results mean

0 – 14

Significant Gaps

Your home has meaningful wellness deficiencies. Architectural intervention could make a significant difference to your daily health and quality of life.

15 – 27

Improving Foundation

A reasonable base, but key opportunities remain. Targeted improvements in your lowest-scoring areas would yield noticeable wellbeing gains.

28 – 37

Wellness-Ready Home

Your home already supports your health well. A WELL-focused architect can help you refine and certify what you have built or guide your next renovation.

Note: This audit reflects WELL Building Standard principles and general evidence-based wellness guidelines. It is not a substitute for a professional home assessment or clinical advice.

The Next Step

Ready to design a home that actively works for you?

My Practice is one of the only architecture practices in the Washington, DC and Virginia region led by a WELL Accredited Professional. Whether you are planning a renovation, an addition, or a new build, I would love to talk about how your home can be transformed into a true sanctuary for you and your family.

This consultation is for homeowners in DC or Northern Virginia considering a high-quality renovation, addition, or custom home. If you want to understand the process before committing to anything, this call is for you. Many clients come with nothing more than a rough idea. The call is free, takes 30 minutes, and carries zero obligation. We will discuss your goals, your timeline, and whether we are a good fit for each other.

The Healthy Home Audit

Your home affects your health every single day. Most people don't realize how much.

What your results mean

Ready to design a home that actively works for you?

The Healthy
Home Audit