As Chronicle Books so cleverly puts it in the promotional material for this book, a healthy home is one that’s free of toxins and stocked with natural materials that are as good for the body as they are soothing for the spirit. The Healthy Home Workbook: Easy Steps for Eco-Friendly Living by Kimberly Rider helps its readers create a space that is friendly to the environment and also reflects the owner’s personal style, while being mindful of the pocketbook.

Known for her appearances on HGTV’s Curb Appeal, Rider demystifies eco-friendly design through projects like identifying and replacing harmful cleaning products, caring for pets without chemicals, and choosing furniture and flooring made with sustainable materials. Room-by-room health specifics, like mold in the bathroom, are addressed in a practical way, while informative reference sections help decode chemical additives in everything from bug spray to shampoo, and highlight earth-friendly materials.

It’s a useful read for any homeowner and the first of our top 5 green design books.