Wellness is a word that’s been circulating throughout the technology and design spaces, but one of the greatest hurdles wellness its having is getting incorporated into projects. It’s not because consumers don’t want it in their home, however, quite the opposite. The problem is many builders, architects, designers and integrators simply aren’t aware of it and how it can be incorporated. According to wellness and interior designer expert, Laurence Carr, one of the most effective tools for incorporating wellness into a space is through regenerative interior design. It’s a trend that’s been gaining increasing popularity in the design scene, and one that Laurence herself specializes in.
Here, she has some tips as to how it can be incorporated into new and ongoing projects.
Color
It’s something so simple that anyone can do without a major renovation needed. By adding colors that reflect positive moods, like greens, purples and blues, Laurence states that designers can instantly transform a space, either through furniture, wall colors or accent pieces.
Dedicated Wellness Spaces
According to Laurence, “every home should have a spot marked for meditation or general relaxation.” The space, however, should not be left up to a dart throw. The best method for finding just the right meditative space, she directs, is spending a small amount of quiet time in each room and gauging how the body reacts to each space until the perfect sanctuary has been found.
Indoor Air Filtering, the Natural Way!
We could do a pretty big deep dive into biophilia (in fact, we did, at least with regards to technology integrators), but the most common way it gets used is to describe the act of bringing plants into a home to make the inside feel more outside. Those plants, however, act like air purifiers on a micro-level. Bamboo palm and peace lilies, Laurence suggests, are powerhouses in this respect, being able to remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide from the air.
Incorporate Wellness Tech
Technology also plays a role in combating indoor air pollution, but there’s so much more. If done right, the proper tech can do wonders for home occupants’ health.
One such example provided by Laurence is for high-anxiety clients. Here, she advises them to turn up the ambient temperature in their home to about 70 degrees, lower the lighting, and start playing some meditative music about 30 minutes before they enter, guaranteeing entry into a spa-like atmosphere.
Follow Feng Shui Principles
Consider, if one is sitting down with their back to a door, window or trafficked area, feelings of insecurity will start to drain on them. To get that strong, Feng Shui backing, Laurence states, adjustments to most spaces are needed. But the options are not limited to simply moving the desk. Think of some of the previous examples: perhaps a row of lush plants placed at the back will provide sufficient cover and blocking.