How to make your house a healthy home through wellness design
Real life is hard. Long working days, rising prices and perpetually disappointing British weather mean setting up a space to destress in your home is more important than ever. If high-tech solutions and a clean, cosy style sound like your slice of sanctuary, wellness design is for you.
What is wellness design?
This oh-so modern interior style is all about delivering that healthy home feeling we’re all craving. Quiet tech to seamlessly fit your space, soft and simple colour palettes, and curvy, fluid furniture all take the spotlight here, with naturally warm lighting and cosy quilts playing soothing sidekicks.
5 ways to boost well-being in your home with these simple design tips
Designed to cultivate a space that supports healthy habits, this interior style works in every room - for a happier home mindset from morning until night. Read on for our tips and tricks for prioritising well-being in your décor.
Lighten up your colour palette
Soft and simple is key for this style. Light neutrals and dialled-down pastels set the stage for a holistic healing environment, balancing warm and cool tones with lots of natural light to soothe the senses. Warm greys, tans and light woods create a soft and inviting feeling in your space, pairing well with cool pale pastels in blue, green and lilac tones for a crisp and clean finish.
Need a little extra help with your tones and shades? Take a look at our advice on choosing the right colour scheme for your home.
Invest in texture
Tactile textures and soft furnishings - nothing says serene like curling up in your cosiest chair at the end of the day. Comfy, on-trend fabrics like boucle promise both visual and textural interest to bring warmth to your space, while quilts and throws are functionally snug and complete your homely setup. If reconnecting with nature is essential to your semblance of sanctuary, consider a spattering of air purifying plants to add leafy texture and biophilic appeal to the room.
Maximise your space
Want to make the most of the space you have no matter the occasion? A modular sofa is your new best friend. Offering endless customisation options, modular sofas can create the cosy nook of your dreams no matter the shape or size of your room - for flexible furniture that adapts to fit your lifestyle.
Keep it simple
A tidy home is a tidy mind as the old adage goes, and clean living for a cleaner mindset is the heart of this style. The smooth silhouettes of Scandi-inspired minimalism, with its sleek shapes and curves in light wood, work perfectly against a stress-free decluttered background. Struggling with too much stuff? Check out our expert advice and bespoke tidying tips, then take advantage of stylish multifunctional furniture like sideboards, storage footstools, and bookshelves.
Integrated tech
Big, bulky black-box TVs are a thing of the past - the future is quiet tech that seamlessly slides into your home décor. We’re talking sleek recliners with hidden charging and lighting features, subtle speakers hiding in plain sight, and smart home devices that let you take control of your environment for ultimate zen at your fingertips.
Searching for smart solutions to take your living room to the next level? Read our handy guide for all the tips and tricks to remember when choosing your modern tech sofa, then explore some of our favourite high tech products for a sophisticated smart home.
Disconnect with a digital detox
We love sleek and simple tech to quietly elevate your home – but sometimes wellness means switching off, unplugging, and disconnecting from the world. From doomscrolling evenings away on TikTok to incessantly checking work emails and banking apps, 41% of adults say they’re on their phone too much, so time off-grid is more valuable than ever.
Not sure how to digitally detox? Read on to get the low-down on logging off and letting go.
What is a digital detox?
A digital detox is a time dedicated to putting your devices away – including phones, tablets, laptops, E-readers, and TVs – and going offline. An extreme digital detox might see you travel to a remote retreat, cut off from wi-fi and phone signal, to reconnect with your hobbies and disconnect from the buzz of constant online activity. Not quite ready for a full social shutdown? Start by popping your phone in a drawer for the evening and picking up a book or catching up with friends.
Why digital detox?
With one in three people attempting a digital detox, the big question is: why? More and more of us are letting FOMO control our free time, so for many, a digital detox is a chance to reset and remember to live in the moment, appreciating what we have. Time away from screens lets us reconnect with our loved ones and foster more meaningful relationships, alleviates the pressure of keeping up with the world, and can reignite your creativity and problem-solving spark.
Does a digital detox work?
A digital detox certainly isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to modern online life – but it’s a pretty good start! In our research, 71% of people noticed their mental health improve after reducing their screen time, with nearly half of those saying they slept better too. They also found themselves feeling calmer and more present, with less time spent online and more time spent in the here and now – so it’s certainly worth a try!
How to digitally detox
Ready to tackle your tech time? With so many devices to stray from, starting your digital detox might feel overwhelming to say the least. We’ve put together a few top tips to make daily offline adventures that little bit easier:
- Delete social media apps from your phone, or set time limits to avoid doomscrolling
- Turn off push notifications that’ll drag your attention back to your screen
- Replace evening and weekend hours on your phone or laptop with ‘quiet hobbies’ like reading (paper books, not E-readers!), walking, painting, or gardening
- Stash your phone and telly remote in a drawer when not in use – that way, you won’t reach for them out of habit
- Make your bedroom a tech-free zone, avoiding blue light that’ll disrupt your sleep and letting you unwind without social media stress
Should I create a digital-free zone?
Thinking of introducing a tech-free area in your home? You’re not alone – 39% of people we asked have considered it, and 13% have already taken the plunge. If your thing is cosy corners and curling up with a book, you might create a tech-free reading nook in your living room or bedroom, with a spacious snuggle chair, soft cushions, and warm lighting. All things social more soothing to you? Make use of your outdoor areas with a comfy garden sofa to sprawl out on; leave phones inside and make catch-ups in the sun a digital detox staple.
Wellness design - affordable vs. affluent
Ready to commit to a clean and comfy space but not sure on the cost? Good news - a healthy home is achievable on every budget. While innovative integrated tech is a splurge-worthy way to encourage wellness and cleaner living, leaning into warm, sensorial style with tactile throws is an easy and affordable first step towards a soothing sanctuary.
Working on a budget?
Choosing a single, statement piece to complement your existing décor can introduce warm and welcoming energy to your space without breaking the bank. A boucle armchair or cuddler sofa ticks the texture box for cosiness and offers a perfect spot for settling down to rest and recharge after a long day. Decorate with a light, super soft throw and a warm lamp for an irresistibly snug setup.
Splashing your cash?
Spending a little more on your sanctuary might mean investing in integrated technology for a cleaner, more comfortable space. A luxurious power recliner sofa packed with clever features and storage adds cosy convenience to your home, or choose an air purifier or humidifier to keep your environment as clear as your mindset. home, or choose an air purifier or humidifier to keep your environment as clear as your mindset.
How to incorporate wellness design into your home
Ready to make a change for a healthier home? Check out some of our favourite wellness design ideas for cleaner, cosier living for the whole family.
Biophilic design
Bring all the peace of the great outdoors inside by using biophilic interior design in your home. Designed to create a soothing, natural atmosphere, this style embraces oak furnishings, luscious greenery, and earthy tones.
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Wellness design FAQs
What is a wellness home?
A wellness home is a space designed with your physical and mental well-being in mind. That might be as simple as using bright and happy colours in your kitchen to start your day off right, or as grandiose as featuring a home gym and lots of high-tech gadgets to monitor and improve your physical health.
You can design a wellness space in your home by keeping your rooms free of clutter, arranging your furniture to prioritise social set-ups, and using purifiers and air purifying plants.
Is a wellness home and a mindfulness home the same thing?
While they’re not exactly the same, a wellness home and a mindfulness home often share a lot of features and work towards the same goal: your happiness and health.
Being mindful means to be aware of the things around you and how you interact with them. A mindfulness home might include open spaces for meditative rest, multifunctional furniture like an ottoman bed or storage footstool making you feel more organised, and decluttering techniques like Marie Kondo’s famous KonMari method to achieve that tidy home, tidy mind feeling.
A wellness home takes that same philosophy and extends it to your physical well-being, too. Along with sleek storage features found in a mindfulness-led space, you’re likely to find calming colour palettes, multi-sensory design, and health tech in a wellness home.
How can I create a mindfulness home?
If you like the sound of a more mindful mood in your home, focus on creating a space you feel completely at ease in. You might choose to dedicate just one corner or room in your house to create a cosy meditation zone, or take a mindfulness-first approach with your whole home décor.
Take tips from wellness design to style a space that’s right for you, with a peaceful colour scheme and lots of natural light. Lots of soft furnishings help you rest and recharge, while multifunctional storage furniture keeps chaotic clutter and daily stress at bay.
