Wellness-Focused Design: How to Create a Healthy Home

As we spend more time indoors, our living spaces play a more significant role in our overall well-being. It’s important not to underestimate the impact that our environment can have on our physical and mental health! The spaces we inhabit can either support or undermine our health, influencing our mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Often we may not even realize this is happening. Our home is the one place where we have control over the kind of environment that we create, and whether we realize it or not, it is affecting us in a positive or negative way. At Wellhouse our focus is “design that restores.” We believe that with a little bit of intentionality and creativity, your home can become your sanctuary. A place that you love to come home to and immediately restores your feelings of peace. This can be something that you strive for in your home! Whether you’re living by yourself or married with four kids, a wellness-focused design approach prioritizes creating a healthy and supportive environment that nurtures both body and mind. By incorporating thoughtful design elements, you can transform your home into a sanctuary that not only LOOKS beautiful, but also promotes your overall wellness. This is something we would love to help you with! But if you’re up for the challenge, let’s dive into some of the elements that should be considered:

1.        Natural Light

Exposure to natural light is something that varies greatly depending on how many windows you have, but regardless, it is something that we can all try to maximize. The sunlight helps to regulate our circadian rhythm, or our internal body clock, which controls sleep-wake cycles, hormone regulation, and other bodily functions. The more sunlight we’re exposed to throughout the day the more balanced we tend to feel. It can also help to boost mood and energy by releasing endorphins, also known as the "feel-good" hormones, which improves our mood, reduces stress, and increases energy levels. And couldn’t we all use more of that! Here are some tips on maximizing sunlight in your home:

·      Incorporate opening your blinds and curtains into your morning routine to let the morning sun come in.

·      Place sofas or chairs near windows to create a sunny reading nook.

·      If you work from home, try to place your desk near natural light since you will be spending much of your day there.

·      Use sheer curtains or blinds to filter harsh sunlight while maintaining privacy.

·      If you have the space, create a nice sitting area outside; a place where you can get some sun while drinking your coffee in the morning.

·      In the evenings use warm, soft lighting from table or floor lamps instead of harsh overhead lights to make your home feel cozy and to help you wind down.

·      Use dimmers or smart lighting systems to adjust brightness and color temperature.

2.        Ventilation

Proper ventilation can be easily overlooked in a home, but if you want the healthiest environment possible for you and your family, this is an important aspect to consider. Indoor air pollution can exacerbate respiratory issues, allergies, and other health concerns. Good ventilation is crucial for removing stale air, reducing allergens, and preventing moisture buildup. This is good not only for your home, but also for your lungs and overall health. You may not notice a health problem, but studies show that good ventilation can help improve cognitive function, memory, and concentration. If this is something you want to start prioritizing in your home, consider some of these steps:

·      Open windows whenever weather allows to let the fresh air in.

·      Spray or diffuse essential oils like Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, or lemon which have natural air-purifying properties.

·      Use fans or whole-house ventilation systems to circulate air.

·      Invest in an air purifier to remove pollutants, allergens, and bacteria.

·      Use a HEPA filter, which captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.

·      Incorporating plants with air-purifying properties, like peace lilies or snake plants.

3.        Color Schemes

Colors can significantly impact our emotions and mood. It’s important to be intentional with the colors that you choose because they each have different psychological effects. Consider how you want your home to make you feel when you walk in the front door and choose colors that will help you to achieve that feeling. This may not look the same for everyone; while there are standard emotions most people derive from colors, your own personal experiences and cultural conditioning can also influence what you associate with certain colors. Keeping that in mind, here is a list of colors and the emotions they can promote that you can reference for your home:

·      Blues: trust, loyalty, serenity

·      Greens: calmness, balance, growth

·      Pink: softness, warmth, nurturing

·      Brown: comfort, reliability, earthiness

·      White: purity, innocence, cleanliness

·      Black: power, elegance, mystery

·      Red: energy, passion, excitement

·      Orange: warmth, excitement, playfulness

·      Yellow: happiness, optimism, hope

·      Purple: luxury, creativity, wisdom

4.        Textures and Materials

Incorporating natural materials and comforting textures can do wonders in creating a cozy atmosphere for your home. It can be challenging to figure out how to do this if you have four blank white walls staring at you, but with some creativity any room can be transformed! Nature is the perfect place to find inspiration for this. There is texture everywhere you look in nature, and our goal is to lean into those cues when designing and decorating. Texture gives a room depth and truly brings it to life! Here are some great things to consider when trying to add texture to your home:

·      Incorporate wood: adds warmth, character, and a sense of connection to nature.

·      Stone: provides a calming, organic feel and can help regulate indoor temperatures.

·      Plush throw blankets, rugs, and pillows: add tactile comfort and visual appeal.

·      Branches: add a fun and organic shape to counterbalance all the squares and rectangles of traditional furniture

·      Baskets: a great way to add more storage to a room while introducing a new texture

·      Shelves/Built-ins: adds depth to walls and can be decorated or used for storage.

5.        Functional Layout & Creating Zones

A functional layout promotes movement, flow, and productivity - important in homes of all sizes. Be intentional with this step and take time to determine what purpose you want each space to have. You can then create zones for the different things to prioritize in your life, whether that’s reading, working out, sewing, music, etc. Having these spaces created with a specific purpose in mind will make it easier to accomplish goals since you’ve taken inconvenience out of the equation. These spaces are ready and waiting for you to get started. Try to keep them free from clutter; the goal is to maintain these zones so that they are inviting and inspire you to be productive. Some rooms in your home may need to have multiple functions, but even within the same room, you can divide the space into different zones. Here are some step by step guidelines you can follow:

·      Determine what purpose you want each space in your home to have.

·      Create zones for the activities you want to prioritize.

·      Use rugs, furniture, and lighting to designate your different zones, even within the same room.

·      Create clear pathways for easy navigation throughout your home.

·      Be sure to select furniture that is the right scale for your rooms.

·      Make these spaces as cozy, fun, and attractive as possible so you’re excited to be in them.

·      Keep these spaces clean and clutter free so you don’t get distracted.

6.        Personal Expression

Finally, be sure to make your space your own when it comes to the colors and decor that you choose for your home. Whether you rent or own, it is amazing how much joy can be derived from coming home to a space that is just YOU. When decorating, try to decide what you want to feel in that space before you start purchasing. Do you want a cozy, moody room where you can curl up and relax, or do you want a bright airy space where you can think clearly and be productive? . Not everything has to be new - in fact we prefer a mix of old and new! Here are some tips on how to decorate your home:

·      Display personal items that bring joy and positivity.

·      Showcase meaningful artwork, photos, or collectibles.

·      Incorporate sentimental objects, like family heirlooms or mementos.

·      Add personal touches, like a vision board or inspirational quotes.

·      Choose colors that align with how you want your space to feel and that make you happy

·      Determine what your design style is and try to achieve that in how you decorate.

·      Remember there’s no right or wrong! Do what makes you happy in your home.

 Remember, a healthy home is a happy home! By investing time and effort into creating a wellness-focused space, you'll reap the benefits of improved physical, emotional, and mental well-being. And you’ll have a home that you can be proud of! If you are hoping to implement some, or all, of the suggestions made above, remember that creating a healthy home is a process. Don’t feel pressured to make changes overnight; try to tackle one thing at a time so that you don’t feel overwhelmed.

There is a lot to consider, so if you would like help in designing your dream space feel free to reach out to us. We would love to help! There is nothing we love to do more than help people design their homes in a way that best supports them and their lifestyle.