Be Well
Residential wellness is a top priority for homeowners, with a focus on indoor air quality, mental wellness enhancements, home office ergonomics and fitness, according to ASID. Also on the rise is wellness real estate, which is outpacing other types of construction. When the pandemic began, a desire for healthier homes was already percolating among consumers. Wellness was becoming a hot topic. Then COVID altered these perceptions and expectations. “The overabundance of wellness culture in the past few years has given the term an air of frivolity. However, more recently, there’s been a return towards the truest sense of the word and a search for genuine and profound physical and emotional health and wellbeing,” says Barnard, who is certified to design to both WELL and LEED standards. “When people are talking about wellness in their home spaces, they now often prioritize meeting basic needs and the reduction of stressors through comfort and utility,” she says. For example, something as simple as adding seat cushions to an uncomfortable dining chair repurposed for work or homework can reduce stress. “We see people prioritize ease, joy, and comfort, which is crucial for a happy, healthy relationship with home.”
“At the core of all well design is functionality. No matter how peaceful or beautiful the home space looks, if it isn’t intuitive to the residents’ lifestyles, there will always be moments of tension when interacting with the home. Ergonomic furnishings, accessible switches, outlets, and furnishings at heights comfortable for the user can support happy living. Once those foundations are in place, the benefits are elevated through nature, joy, and art,” Bernard explains.
Integrating Nature
“I often prioritize nature by tying the interior space to the exterior, whether by highlighting existing natural views, incorporating organic materials, colors, prints, and patterns that all speak to the neighboring nature, to help create feelings of calm and grounding,” she adds.
“The pandemic accelerated what was already a fast-moving trend,” says ASID, noting growing desires to connect indoors and outdoors. “Spa-like bathrooms have been popular for years. I think we’re seeing even more of an upward trend toward actually having a connection between the indoor and outdoor space, especially in a master bathroom. Large panes of glass in the shower that feel like you’re outside, or even a door directly connected to a secluded patio area,” says Beverly Hills designer Christopher Grubb, president, Arch-Interiors Design Group.
ASID expects to see more attention paid to wellness in commercial design, particularly in offices and hotels. They also project wellness tourism to generate $436 billion in 2022. “Destinations include spas, thermal springs, and “medical tourism” to partake in any number of treatments and therapies.