Studies show that our environments have a direct impact on our health. Which is why an increasing priority for homeowners is having a home that supports their health and wellness.

Wellness interior design is especially important for healing. Whether you’re recovering from a big life change – like loss, divorce, or an illness – or simply want to design your home to support your well-being, keep reading for our expert advice.

Purge Your Home

The first step in this process is to deep clean and purge your home. Take inventory of what you use regularly, use sometimes, and haven’t used in years, and get rid of the things that are just taking up space. This process can range from clearing out expired products in your medicine cabinet to letting go of pieces of furniture that hold painful memories.

Once you rid your home of excess clutter or any items that are a heavy emotional weight you’ll start to feel lighter and invigorated.

Support Your New Lifestyle and Help Healing

Next, think about how the design of your home can support your new lifestyle and help your healing process. Ask yourself what sort of changes will make your day-to-day easier. These can be from a functional or aesthetic perspective, or both.

Maybe you want to reconfigure the layout of a room for better functionality, or you want to refresh a space with a new color scheme and furnishings. Perhaps you want to add more storage and organization. You might want to open up your living, dining, and kitchen spaces for better flow and sightlines throughout your home.

Don’t feel limited by what you see in front of you. Try to reimagine the space so that it meets all your needs. You might not be able to implement all the changes, but you can always start with a dream list and then narrow it down to what’s feasible. You’ll be surprised how small simple changes can go a long way.

Bring in Nature

Studies continually demonstrate that having regular access to nature supports your well-being. There are numerous cognitive and emotional benefits from reducing stress and anxiety to boosting your emotional wellness and immune function (Healthline). That is why proponents of biophilic design strive to bring nature into our interior environments.

Bring the natural world indoors to aid with healing in a variety of ways. Think about designing with beautiful natural materials like wood and stone. Include more houseplants throughout your home. Accent an empty corner with a small tree or large potted plant. Bring life to shelving and tables with smaller potted plants. We firmly believe that the more plants you incorporate throughout your home the better. Not only are they beautiful, but they help create better air quality.

Allow more natural light in your home and improve the airflow and circulation by opening windows to let fresh air in. Last but not least take advantage of any views of a yard, garden, or natural landscape to help you feel more connected to nature at home.

Make Your Bedroom a Sanctuary

Another way you can promote healing is to transform your bedroom into a retreat for sleep and relaxation. Consider what makes you feel calm and comfortable. This usually includes a soothing color palette. We recommend a nature-inspired color scheme. Think earth tones, greens, and blues which are all associated with calming effects.

Dress your bed in luxurious and comfortable bedding. Invest in high-quality sheets, a comforter, duvet or quilt, pillows, and blankets which all play an important role in turning your bed into a haven for sleep. Include a range of lighting for different needs, from brighter lighting for dressing and getting ready to dimmer lighting for relaxing and winding down.

Don’t forget artwork, photographs, and decor that inspire positivity and bring you joy, while also fitting with the calm atmosphere. Clutter is sure to induce stress so make sure that your bedroom leans on the minimal side and ensure that you have enough organization to keep your room tidy and stress-free.

Create Spaces for Self-Care

Be sure to also designate spaces for self-care in your home design. This will mean something different for everyone. Ask yourself what you enjoy doing just for you and then how can you incorporate spaces in your home to accommodate that activity.

For some ideas, this could be a zen spa-like bathroom where you can relax and pamper yourself. Or a reading nook where you can lose yourself in a favorite book. Maybe a meditation, yoga, or fitness space to support both your physical and mental health.

Self-care should not be overlooked when it comes to promoting healing, so really take the time to think of what would be ideal for you.

Pay Attention to Scents

Different scents have the ability to instantly remind us of past experiences, so when purging your home don’t forget to think about the smells that remind you of things you want to move on from.

Reinvigorate your home with new calming scents. Lavender, jasmine, and rosemary are just a few scents that can help you relax and destress. Use candles, diffusers, room mists, or fresh flowers to bring in new and positive scents.

Don’t Forget the Details

Last but not least, the details can have a major impact on how you feel in your home. Small things like turning off your TV and playing relaxing music, can have a positive effect on your attitude. Or try keeping electronic devices out of your bedroom to foster better sleep.

Feeling inspired by these ideas but want to go a step further and overhaul your interiors? Then AHG Interiors can help. We’re a full-service interior design firm with expertise in wellness design. We take on a range of interior design projects from room refreshes to major renovations. Contact us today to learn how we can turn your home into a healing space.

Wellness Interior Design: How to Create a Healing Environment at Home