Compliments of
Wellness by Dezign
October 2026
How to Hire a Contractor Who Cares About Toxins
Make Your Porch Halloween-Ready
Simple design tricks that feel intentional, inviting, and just a little spooky.
Healthy Home Products That Aren’t Always What They Seem
This month, we’re embracing the transition into fall and looking at the ways our homes, routines, and everyday choices can support a healthier season. From preparing your home for cooler weather to creating a morning routine that sets the tone for the day, October is a good time to make a few thoughtful changes that can improve how your home works for you.
In this issue, we’re also getting into the fun of the season with Halloween-ready porch ideas and creative ways to use leftover candy, what to look for when hiring a contractor, and why some products marketed as healthy may not be as beneficial as they seem.
Whether you’re getting your home ready for the season, making a few changes to your daily routine, or simply looking for healthier ways to enjoy fall, I hope this issue gives you practical ideas to take with you into October and beyond
Recipe of the Month
Curried Pumpkin, Chicken and Rice Soup
Heather Christo, Deliciously Allergen Free Recipes
Whatever the case- this soup is awesome, (and I have others to back that up!) and makes for a really healthy and filling dinner perfect for blustery winter nights. Hope you love it!
Photo Credit: Heather Christo
Feng Shui Essentials
What Cozy Actually Means
Designing for Autumn and the Nervous System
By Dee Oujiri
Cozy has become an industry. It shows up in candle names and the particular filter applied to photographs of fireplaces. It appears in the marketing of blankets, and the interior design vocabulary of social media, where it has come to mean something specific and producible: warm tones, textured textiles, a beverage held in both hands, the suggestion of weather outside, and comfort within.
Organization
Fall Into a More Efficient Home
Keep your home comfortable, clean, and energy-conscious.
By Jolene Nannette
Cleaning out and organizing your pantry and kitchen for fall is not just about tidying up; it's an opportunity to get ready for the changing season, explore new recipes, and prepare for cozy evenings ahead. Here are some tips to get your fall off to a great (and organized) start!
Featured Article
What is Wellness Real Estate?
The new frontier in the wellness economy
Cassy West
Wellness Real Estate
Creating a Balanced Morning Routine for Health and Wellness
By Cassy West
For homebuyers and homeowners trying to build a wellness-focused life, mornings can feel like the one part of the day the house doesn’t support. Between rushed decisions, cluttered spaces, and competing priorities, common morning routine challenges make it hard to stay consistent, even with the best intentions. A balanced morning routine creates a calmer start that reduces daily friction at home and strengthens healthy lifestyle habits over time. The payoff is simple: better rhythm, better choices, and a clearer health and well-being impact.
Halloween / Fall
Make Your Porch Halloween-Ready
Simple design tricks that feel intentional, inviting, and just a little spooky.
By Sabrina Aguilar
A Halloween porch doesn't need to be packed with decorations to make an impression. In fact, the most put-together displays often rely on a few simple design tricks: varying height, repeating colors, layering textures, and using light to draw attention to specific areas.
Halloween / Fall
What to Do With Leftover Halloween Candy
By Lucy Chatman
Halloween is fun, but let’s be honest: sometimes it leaves us with way too much candy. Between the trick-or-treat haul, the leftovers from the candy bowl, and the pieces nobody actually wants, it doesn't take long to end up with a kitchen full of sweets.
Healthy Home
How to Hire a Contractor Who Cares About Toxins
If you have spent any time in the healthy living world, you know that what we put in our bodies matters. But when it comes to the four walls around us, things get complicated. You decide to renovate a bathroom or finish a basement, and suddenly you are faced with a dizzying array of adhesives, paints, and industry standards that do not actually align with health. You want to hire a contractor who understands that a home should be a sanctuary, not a source of chemical off-gassing.
Architecture
Healthy Home Products That Aren’t Always What They Seem
By Kate Hamblet
Walk into almost any home improvement store and you’ll see plenty of products promising to be better for you and the planet. Paint is labeled “low-VOC.” Flooring is advertised as “natural.” Insulation is “eco-friendly.” Cabinets are “green.” Even cleaners, adhesives, sealants, and finishes come covered in leaves, earth tones, and reassuring words about health and sustainability.
Aromatherapy
How five essential oils can soften the passage into fall
By Debbie Pullens
As the seasons change, the way we use our homes changes too. We open the windows less often, spend more time indoors, and start looking for simple ways to make our spaces feel fresh, comfortable, and inviting.
