Interior design that incorporates wellness and nature is one of the favorite trends among homeowners right now. And how could it not be? It brings emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being that helps minimize stress and recharge the energy.
However, it’s not enough just to throw in some plants, splash new colors, and remove curtains from the windows. The space needs to be healthy, comfortable, and healing to encompass wellness attributes and provide us with a sanctuary to relax.
After all, the last thing you want is your home creating obstacles and sabotaging your journey to personal growth and serenity. So, here are the best design tips that will give you a nurturing and tranquil home.
Keep the air indoors clean
If you live away from the city traffic, it’s desirable to open your windows and let in the fresh air. Unfortunately, city dwellers know too well that the air outdoors may be more polluted than indoors. So, you need to make sure that fresh and clean air is always flowing inside your home.
Start by servicing your HVAC unit twice a year or more to make sure that it’s free from dirt, dust, and mold. Air purifier devices are the affordable and almost invisible solution that will take care of pathogens that may be present inside. On the other hand, plants that are natural air-purifiers are another option that will also bring aesthetic momentum to your interior design and make the space soothing.
Have a well-lit home
Light is important to have a healthy circadian rhythm that is responsible for the stimulation of feel-good hormones and a good night’s sleep. You probably already know the importance of natural light for the mood, but artificial one can also play a big part in that.
During the day, keep the curtains away from the windows to let the sunshine in as much as possible. When the evening comes, use a dimming switch to control the level of lighting and limit overhead lights only for when you keep active hours, like having guests. Candlelight is an even better option if you want to create a calming atmosphere and lull yourself to sleep.
Create your personal Zen spot
It’s no use trying to create a wellness ambiance if you share your home with other people. While social dynamics in the home can cause joy and frustration, you need your Zen spot to retreat from others. This can be a nook by the window where you can drink your morning coffee or read a book.
It may be a corner space where you spend time on arts and crafts, painting, writing, or another creative process. A basement or attic can have more than a single purpose, one of them being an ideal spot to design a spot where you will have some alone time, meditate, or do anything else to de-stress. Natural materials, like stone and wood, should dominate here, as well as warm colors and earthy tones.
Make the home office comfortable
Working from home is not unusual today, but it can be challenging if you don’t have a dedicated space for the office. Even the smallest area can be comfortable if you add a wooden desk and lots of natural light. An ergonomic chair will make sure you keep your healthy posture and eliminate back pain due to long hours.
For that productivity boost, hang a photo of natural landscapes, like mountain ranges and forests to rest your eyes and focus on brainstorming. If you have limited space and need to divide it into a living area and home office, use shoji screens or bamboo room dividers. That way you won’t enclose yourself completely in a confined space, but still, keep your privacy.
Do not let the clutter win
It’s easy to create clutter even when you are trying to bring wellness and nature to your home. Sometimes you can’t stop yourself from adding things to the room that take more and more space until you feel imprisoned. Instead of bringing new things in, figure out what you need to remove from the space and how to make it bigger.
For example, you can replace a coffee table with a floating shelf by the sofa or tear down the wall separating the dining area and the kitchen. Your space needs to be fluid and you need room to move freely, both achievable through changing the arrangements of furniture and rooms. When you don’t know what to do, always remember that “less is more” when it comes to interior design.
Concentrate on biophilic principles
Biophilic principles are based on the concept that bringing nature into your home will increase the wellness properties. Placing plant and flower arrangements around the house will make the space livelier and fresh. Water features, like aquariums and indoor fountains, will bring audio and visual stimuli to help you meditate or unwind.
Every room in your home can adopt a biophilic design turning it into a way of life and not only aesthetic improvements. For example, sustainable behavior, like using rainwater and low-flow faucets can also bring you joy and exhilaration. Keep the view of the outdoors open and even widen it if possible, so it appears that your living area and outdoor space are one. Where this is not an option, you can build a green plant wall in the living room and allow the wood to predominate the décor.
Add a seating area to your entryway
An entryway is the first place you occupy when you come home so you should make it as comfortable as possible. Give it windows and natural light to make it spacious and create a storage area for coats, hats, and shoes so they don’t create clutter. A bench can make such a big difference since you can sit down and put on your shoes or leave a heavy bag on it while you remove your outwear.
Those missing this type of space from their floor plan can easily create one with shelves and screens in light natural colors. This is an especially good idea if you have kids to teach them to take their shoes off before they spread the dirt to the rest of the house.
Opt for natural floors
Carpets and rugs may seem like something a home needs, but they are nothing but dirt magnets and cause of extra dust. Instead, install hardwood or linoleum floors made from natural materials that will keep your air quality high. Moreover, these types of floors are simple to maintain and clean, with linoleum having an advantage over hardwood for its anti-microbial properties.
Since linoleum offers various design and color options, you won’t have any trouble finding something stylish for your rooms. If you have to choose where to install linoleum, it’s best to do it in the bedroom since this is where your body and mind rest and recover from the day’s stress.
Include a fitness area
A healthy body means a healthy mind and staying physically active in your fitness area can help you with that. Every home can have a space to do some type of exercise and encourage movement especially if you work from home. Small homes can install climbing walls around the house, a pull-up bar in a doorway, and exercise ropes for resistance training.
Another important thing to consider is where you should place your fitness area. While the basement and garage may sound like a great idea this may lead to less exercise. The logic behind this is that if something is out of your sight you are more likely to forget about it. So, make sure that your exercise area is on your path and not somewhere you rarely pass through.
Try nudge architecture
Nudge architecture is a popular wellness concept based on creating cues that will encourage healthy behavior. For example, if you create an entryway in the open floor plan, you will encourage your guests to remove their coats, umbrellas, and shoes before they enter the rest of the home. This way, the dirt and everything that comes with it stays away from the living areas and doesn’t pollute your space.
Another nudge architecture trick is having a glass door on the fridge so you can always have eyes on the healthy foods and avoid sugary snacks. Also, instead of a bathtub which means you need to soak in the water or lift your legs to step inside, you can install a shower. The idea is to nudge yourself into making healthy choices through interior design and décor changes.
In conclusion
You are the master of your space and not the other way around. Change can make it inspiring and encouraging for healthier changes to your behavior and habits. Stress is everywhere around you and home is the one place where you expect to find peace and escape. Bringing wellness and nature into your home through design can give you not only a sanctuary but a lifeline to preserve your mental and physical health.
