photo courtesy Modern Group AZ Cork Flooring This warm and inviting space is created through the use of a natural, joint-friendly cork floor, such as this one featuring TORLYS cork tiles. Tiles measure 12 x 12-inches, cost $5.50 to $7.50 per square foot as shown, and are available at Modern Group AZ: 8271 E. Gelding Dr., Scottsdale, 480-596-1100, moderngroupaz.com.

Boost your home’s health with these safe, salubrious and stylish amenities.

Most people have heard “home is where the heart is,” but without attention to contaminants, home could be where the heart monitor is, too. Breathing fetid air, touching tainted surfaces and standing on stiff flooring makes your casa both uncomfortable and unhealthy. The good news: You don’t have to autoclave your decor to achieve a health-appropriate threshold; luckily, there are a few healthful upgrades that will also enhance the warm, welcoming vibes of home.

A healthy home has salubrious air, and is clean, non-toxic, maintained and comfortable. One popular, comfort-increasing option is cork flooring in lieu of the old carpet-on-concrete standard. Easy on the eyes and the knees, cushiony cork is great for people who suffer from arthritis or other joint afflictions.

“It’s environmentally friendly, it’s hypo-allergenic, it’s anti-microbial, it’s sound insulated. It’s luxuriously soft and highly durable,” says Stefanie Wollach of Modern Group AZ, a commercial and residential contracting company based in Scottsdale.

Also fusing form and function are hands-free sinks. With their quick-touch technology, there’s no need to worry about sharing a sink with a sick family member or smearing salmonella on your stainless steel when slicing meat. “With the hands-free faucets, there are generic-looking sinks, but there are some higher-end models with more finishes,” Ryan Young of Central Arizona Supply says. “You could get chrome, or you could go with a nice Venetian bronze finish… There are a lot of options.”

Check out these other amenities to keep your home both fashionable and in good fettle.

Delta Hands-Free FaucetThis single-handle kitchen faucet (Delta model #4380T-DST) features Touch20 Technology, which means you can turn the water on and off germ-free with a simple, quick tap anywhere on the handle or spout. $502 as shown. Central Arizona Supply: Four Valley locations (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise), 480-834-5817, centralazsupply.com

First Alert CO615 DetectorThis carbon monoxide- and smoke-detector has a plug on a lengthy wire for easy placement anywhere in the house, can be tested and silenced with a remote, and runs on AC with backup battery power. $55. Artie’s Ace Hardware: 13811 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, 602-953-2600, acehardware.com

Green PlantsGreen plants like aloe vera (pictured) can help purify the air in your home while providing verdant decor. Other clean-air flora include palms (especially areca, bamboo, and lady palm) and blooming plants like cyclamen, hibiscus, and shrub rose plants called jacinas. Call for available plants and prices. Cactus Flower: 7077 E. Bell Rd., Scottsdale, 480-483-9200, cactusflower.com

Simplicity Symmetry VacuumYou can breathe easier with the Simplicity Symmetry Patriotic “Best” vacuum, designed for maximum dust control with a HEPA bag that’s said to trap 99.97 percent of airborne particles. $450. Kings Sewing & Vacuum Center: Three Valley locations (Phoenix, Mesa, Surprise), 602-404-3344, kingssewandvac.com

Frazee Nontoxic Paint“New-paint smell” is not good, as it usually comes from volatile organic compounds (VOC), i.e. toxic chemicals that can cause headaches, allergies and even cancer. To curb VOC emissions, choose a non-toxic paint like Frazee’s EnviroKote, which is also antimicrobial. Call for prices. Scottsdale Design Center: 15125 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, 480-991-8247, scottsdaledesigncenter.com