How to bring wellness into your designs

Now more than ever, people want their space to be somewhere safe and tranquil – an escape from the embattled world around them. A quiet revolution has begun and it’s never been more important to incorporate health, wellness and positivity into your designs.

When you’re planning your projects, spend some time getting to know your clients – what do they find invigorating, what do they find relaxing? Do they need a clutter-free environment in which to unwind after an intense day, or do they find cheerful colours and personal artefacts helpful in boosting their mood?”

Here are 5 elements that will help you create interiors that are good for the environment and the people within them.

Fabulously Fresh Air

We all know the health benefits of fresh, clean air. A popular trend to promote pure air involves designing an interior with plants in mind. While the science on house plants and elevated oxygen isn’t really there, when you bring greenery and flowers into an interior you create a feeling of wellbeing and serenity through your connection with nature – more on that in the next point.

There are, however, plenty of other ways to set up a house for good air quality. At the building stage, homes can be designed in such a way as to create cross-breezes, particularly in rooms with large windows or doors. If you want to go more high tech, your decor recommendations could include air purifiers, some of which use AI to measure the pollutants in each room and purify the air accordingly.

Feel Connected Through Biophilia

No, it’s not a health hazard! Biophilia is a relatively new concept (born in the early 80s) that explores the symbiotic connection that humans have with nature. It is modelled on the idea that it is when we live in harmony with our natural world that we really thrive.

Recently biophilic principles have flourished in the world of interior design. Bringing the outdoors in is a major element of this ideology, but you can also design indoor environments that reference nature in other ways.

Whether you’re designing an interior or sourcing furnishings, look for curves and waves instead of straight lines – there are no straight lines in nature. Take inspiration from leaves and snowflakes, no two of which look the same, and use asymmetrical shapes or dissonant textures to reflect the natural world. Cultivate as much natural light as possible – floor-to-ceiling windows and solariums drenched in sunshine. Think of ways to incorporate movement into your designs, whether it’s smart tech furniture from Naos or patterns that create a sense of motion. When you’re considering furniture, look at natural materials like wood.

Luminosity With Lighting

We’re already mentioned natural daylight which is a key element of wellness in the home – dark interiors can get depressing, especially during the winter months. For evening time, amber light can encourage a sense of calm and quiet meditation.

Today we’re lucky enough to have light technology that is fully customisable in a way where it can work with natural circadian rhythms. As light mirrors nature’s patterns, it can make us more productive and promote better sleep.

Think skylights to wake your clients up in the morning and soft amber LED candles for bathrooms and bedrooms.

Ergo…Consider Ergonomics

Ergonomics is a science that focuses on ways to close the gap between humans and the world we live in. In the context of design, it means making designs more user-friendly. The five aspects of ergonomics are safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity/performance and aesthetics.

In design, this can be as practical as removing obstacles and creating a free-flowing space. When considering the comfort aspect, where are books, ornaments and other knickknacks placed? Does the room have a cluttered feel or does it give off a sense of space? It’s not necessarily about choosing a minimalist style, but rather finding proper places for things to maintain a light and airy feel.

Ergonomics also extends to furniture. Chairs with adjustable heights, pivotal screens with anti-glare filters, chair arms that mimic the movement of human arms and temperature regulating fabrics are all great examples of how to bring the natural movement of ergonomics into the home.

Acoustical Comfort

Acoustical comfort is all about finding a quiet refuge at home. If you’re lucky enough to be able to design a meditation room for your client, this is an excellent place to start. If not, a quiet corner with a favourite armchair will do the trick nicely. It should be well removed from any spaces used for work, so think about curtains to cordon off a work desk in a bedroom or a sliding door that seals a small study area.

Music plays a big part in acoustical comfort. Think about installing audio devices in each area of the house where you want to stream music or sounds. Relaxing, sing-along tunes for cooking and water fountains or gentle wind chimes for relaxation areas all contribute to the overall tranquillity of a space.

At FCI we’re passionate about bringing design trends to life. We love new technology and we also love going back to basics. We’re here to help you with ideas, problem-solving and planning your projects step by step. Drop our friendly design team a line anytime.