Our well-being is influenced by a number of factors but some of the most substantial are the spaces we live in. Our homes should, ideally, offer comfort and safety, enabling us to relax and, importantly, restore our happiness. However, it can often be the case that a home isn’t designed with well-being in mind and, as such, residents find themselves disconnected from their living spaces or, worse, being actively drained or stressed out by the design of their homes.
Interior design is a learned skill and it is wrong to assume that residents are able to immediately translate their ideals of comfort and values of well-being into effective home styling and aesthetics. For this reason, we’re sharing five features of living spaces that actively support well-being, helping residents to feel safer and restored by their homes.
Welcoming Natural Light
Artificial light has a number of practical purposes and, with modern LED bulbs, it can even be colourful and warm. However, there are a number of reasons as to why natural light should be welcomed into a home as much as possible.
Primarily, natural light better measures circadian rhythms, allowing residents to properly synchronise their sleeping patterns with daylight and, as a result, improve their sleep hygiene. Natural light is also valued by interior designers, who recognise the positive and irreplaceable effects it has on living spaces.
Choose Your Colour
Even a subtle difference in shades of white can mean the difference between a room that feels stark and cold and one that feels relaxing, which is why it is important to consider the selection of colour in your home. Residents should ensure they are surrounded by colours that not only reflect their tastes but the moods associated with each tone. Bold reds can, for example, be stylish but also evoke energy, making them unsuitable for relaxation.
Embracing The Wild
Welcoming nature into a living space doesn’t need to be complicated. Even a few houseplants can help a room to feel less associated with urban life and more organic. The effort to embrace nature within a home is worthwhile pursuing as biophilic elements, much light sunlight, are shown to have a restorative effect on residents.
Features such as log cabins, floral prints, and natural materials are conducive to natural designs, creating a living environment that feels better connected with the wild.
Sustainability In Design
Well-being in design isn’t solely about aesthetics. In fact, it is increasingly important that homes support a more ethical lifestyle, helping residents to feel better about their impact on the environment. Features, such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging stations are investments that can dramatically reduce a home’s carbon footprint and, as a result, ensure residents feel good about their lifestyle.
Spaciousness
Space is often a challenge for homeowners and many are left feeling that their home cannot be more appropriately optimised. Some, like Marie Kondo, have popularised the concept of reducing belongings as a way of improving happiness at home. Others, instead, seek to improve their storage and take greater advantage of vertical space instead of relying on horizontal levels.