Most Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors and accidents in the home hurt over 6.5 million people last year, according to the Healthy Homes Partnership, a collaboration of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Recognizing these and other statistics that indicate some homes are literally making their owners sick, a number of nonprofits are offering advice on eliminating and reducing the health hazards found in homes. Plus, designers are putting in place stand alone pieces that respond to new lifestyle and technology trends.

"Some of the most serious health problems for children may start at home," explains the Healthy Homes Partnership . The Partnership offers a series of questions on its website for homeowners to ask themselves (e.g., "Is there lead anywhere in your home?," "Is your tap water safe to drink?," or "Do you have household products with chemicals in them that can make you sick?") and discusses some of the ill effects on family health a home's seemingly protected environment actually inflicts upon its inhabitants due to the dangers within.

"Many homes fall short of the basic requirements of a healthy home and contain one or more hazards that adversely affect human health," adds the Alliance for Healthy Homes , a national, nonprofit, public interest organization working to prevent and eliminate hazards in homes and an advocate for policy solutions. "Among the health hazards we may encounter in our homes are those that cause and contribute to asthma, such as dust allergens, mold, and pests, toxic materials such as lead, asbestos, and chemical pesticides, and poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide and radon."

According to Jackie Craven, author of The Healthy Home and The Stress-Free Home (Rockport Publishers), as well as numerous articles and columns on architecture, design, and cultural travel, and regular columnist for About.com, more homes are being built without relying on plastics, laminates, and fume-producing glues.

"You know when you have entered a healthy home, regardless of the period and style," Craven says. "There is a sense of harmony and purity that nourishes both body and soul. Over time, you may also notice that you breathe more easily, feel more content, and begin each day with heightened energy and enthusiasm."

Craven is quick to point out a "catch 22" as it relates to new technologies and the home. While some are improving an owner's overall life experience others, while touted as lifestyle enhancements, are actually injurious to someone's health. For example, Craven points to modern heating and cooling systems that entice promises of temperature-perfect rooms, yet colds and allergies plague society. She notes that chemical additives permit more durable paints, fabrics, wood, and construction materials, yet they fill the air with toxic fumes, and mass-produced synthetics and composite construction materials appear to save money, yet their ingredients cause ailments ranging from mild headaches to severe depression.

"Ultimately, there is something unsatisfying about wrinkle-proof fabrics and laboratory-created walls and floors," Cravin writes, citing a lack in the warmth and patina of materials drawn from nature. "They sap our spirits in ways that are subtle yet profound. The healthy home nurtures those who dwell inside and also protects the world beyond its walls."

Cravin is pragmatic in her advice for creating healthy homes. "You need not set up housekeeping in a monolithic dome or an earth-sheltered dwelling to live in harmony with nature," she said. "Even the most traditional home, which may have been built long before the rise in environmental consciousness, can be adapted to incorporate the key principles of healthy design."

Cravin provides a checklist for healthy home design for the body, psyche and soul. Her tips for a healthy home include:

Healthy For the Body:

• Free your home from toxins

• Arrange furnishings and storage for comfort and ease

• Get rid of bulky, dust-collecting cushions

• Vent moisture from damp rooms

• Create special places for exercise and relaxation

Healthy For the Psyche:

• Clear away clutter

• Let in the sun

• Choose mood-enhancing colors

• Grow fragrant herbs

• Fill rooms with soothing sounds

Healthy For the Soul:

• Provide quiet places for reflection

• Replace throwaways with keepsakes

• Strive for simplicity and moderation

• Bring nature indoors

• Honor the environment.

Consumers increasingly are realizing the importance of the relationship between decent housing and good health. Savvy design experts, like Cravin, will reap the financial and personal rewards associated with meeting the needs of home buyers seeking a healthier home.