Does walking through the door of your home bring you an immediate sense of ahhh?
As an interior designer, creating a beautiful and functional space is important to me and my clients. But did you know that the design of a space has a significant impact on the physical and mental well-being of those who use it? This is where wellness design comes in. Wellness design is a holistic approach to interior design that incorporates elements that promote physical and mental well-being.
While it’s commonly thought that interior design is just about aesthetics, its roots are based in social science. Dating back to the early 1800s, studies in environmental psychology test how our surroundings influence our behavior and how it makes us feel. Evidence-based design, a facet of wellness design, uses these studies to inform future design decisions. For example, a recent study from the Boston Medical Center found that behavior determinants like your home’s location and its interior are even more influential on health than genetic factors. Our environment accounts for up to 70% of our longevity!! I’ll say it again to let it sink in…
While it’s commonly thought that interior design is just about aesthetics, its roots are based in social science. Dating back to the early 1800s, studies in environmental psychology test how our surroundings influence our behavior and how it makes us feel. Evidence-based design, a facet of wellness design, uses these studies to inform future design decisions. For example, a recent study from the Boston Medical Center found that behavior determinants like your home’s location and its interior are even more influential on health than genetic factors. Our environment accounts for up to 70% of our longevity!! I’ll say it again to let it sink in…
“Our environment has more influence on how long we live than our genetics.”
Wellness & Well-design
As part of my Master’s thesis, I extensively studied seniors living in a retirement community, only to find that these factors: home functionality. perceived meaning of home, and the belief you have control over aspects of your surroundings are correlated to higher satisfaction, which in turn leads to increased happiness and well-being. Well-being is a trending topic these days and in light of the 2020 pandemic, our health, home, and well-being took on new meaning.
Well-being is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity, and includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress. The Six Pillars of Well-being include physical, mental & emotional, financial, social, spiritual, & environmental. While you likely have a good grasp of the first five, the sixth pillar falls into Treibe Design’s domain.
When it comes to your home environment, small changes can have a big impact. In wellness design, these changes can include increasing exposure to natural light, adding plants and biophilic elements in your home, and including calming colors and materials. Studies continue to show that exposure to natural light can improve mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep patterns. Incorporating windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces are several ways to bring in more natural light. Biophilic elements like wood or stone can also be used to bring a sense of the outdoors inside and reduce stress. And finally, neutral and natural colors and materials can create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, while bright colors can energize a space. Overall, wellness design is about creating spaces custom-tailored to your story that promote your well-being.
Well-being is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity, and includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage stress. The Six Pillars of Well-being include physical, mental & emotional, financial, social, spiritual, & environmental. While you likely have a good grasp of the first five, the sixth pillar falls into Treibe Design’s domain.
When it comes to your home environment, small changes can have a big impact. In wellness design, these changes can include increasing exposure to natural light, adding plants and biophilic elements in your home, and including calming colors and materials. Studies continue to show that exposure to natural light can improve mood, reduce stress, and improve sleep patterns. Incorporating windows, skylights, and reflective surfaces are several ways to bring in more natural light. Biophilic elements like wood or stone can also be used to bring a sense of the outdoors inside and reduce stress. And finally, neutral and natural colors and materials can create a calm and relaxing atmosphere, while bright colors can energize a space. Overall, wellness design is about creating spaces custom-tailored to your story that promote your well-being.
To learn more about how to incorporate these elements in your next interior design project.
Elements of Wellness Design
well-building standards
A certification program that evaluates buildings and spaces in terms of their impact on human health and wellness. It focuses on seven categories: air, water, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. It is applied by using materials and design features such as good indoor air quality, natural light and opportunities for physical activity.
evidence-based design
An approach to interior design that uses research and data to inform design decisions. This includes gathering information about the users’ needs and preferences, and researching the effects of different design elements on human health and well-being. The goal is to use these research findings to create spaces tailored to the needs of the people who will use them.
neuroaesthetics
The study of how the brain experiences and understands art and design. By understanding how the brain processes aesthetic experiences, we can create spaces that elicit positive emotional responses, enhance well-being, and foster creativity. It can also inform the use of design elements such as colors, lighting, shapes and spaces for specific user groups.
chromotherapy
Also known as color therapy, chromotherapy is a technique that uses the psychological effects of color to create a specific mood or atmosphere in a space. Different colors are believed to have different effects on the mind and body, and this can be incorporated into a space through the use of paint, lighting, and other color-related elements such as furniture or textiles.
biophilic design
An approach that incorporates elements of nature into the built environment to promote health and well-being for those who use the space. This can include natural light, plants, water features, and materials that mimic the textures and patterns found in nature.
feng shui
A Chinese philosophy focused on creating balance and harmony in a space by positioning objects and furniture in a specific way. Balance and harmony is created by selecting colors, materials and furniture placement that create a positive energy flow and bring good luck and prosperity to the people living in the space.
aromatherapy
Involves using essential oils and other natural fragrances to create a specific atmosphere and promote well-being. It can be incorporated through diffusers, candles, or other fragrance releasing products, and by using essential oils that have specific properties such as calming, energizing, or relaxing.
sustainability
Refers to the use of eco-friendly methods and materials to create healthy indoor spaces that promote well-being. It focuses on natural light, clean air, and access to nature, and well as using materials with low chemical emissions to improve air quality, reduce health risks, and to reduce environmental impact of the built environment.
astrology
Using astrological knowledge to design spaces that align with the energy and characteristics of the inhabitants, based on their zodiac sign. This includes choosing colors, materials, objects, and furniture placement that align with the person’s birth chart to promote well-being.
crystals & energetic healing
Beyond adding beauty to our homes as a gorgeous biophilic accessory, crystals and stones are known for their healing properties and the ability to promote positive energy flow, balance, and harmony in a space. They are believed to have a positive impact on the inhabitants’ mental and emotional well-being.