It Took Centuries To Reconnect with Nature
In ancient times, people’s connection to the outdoors and nature was deeply ingrained in their daily lives, spiritual beliefs, and cultural practices. Their relationship with the environment was one of dependence, reverence, and understanding.
Society’s disconnection from nature occurred over time due to a combination of technological, industrial, and societal changes. Nature was no longer a partner in daily life but something to be engineered or exploited for progress. Innovations in indoor spaces—such as air conditioning, heating, and artificial lighting—created environments where people could spend most of their time inside, even for recreation. A societal emphasis on speed, efficiency, and convenience left little time for mindfulness
Minimalism Changes the Trajectory
But by the late 20th century, the environmental movement began to emphasize the importance of reducing waste, consuming less, and living more sustainably.
Minimalism became the defining philosophy for design and lifestyle, contrasting with the opulent, consumption-driven culture that had dominated the previous century. Home designs reflected the shift away from ornate opulence. More serene, functional environments began to emphasize simplicity, mindfulness, and well-being.
Finally, a renewed reverence for nature was fully restored. Larger windows brought in natural light, and fenestration efficiencies improved to make large expanses of glass more feasible. Decks and patios became more than just functional additions to homes as people caught on to the concept of outdoor living. Homeowners began to invest in outdoor kitchens, furniture, and entertainment areas, and new homes began to include finished outdoor spaces.
“Wellness” – Less Restraint, More Balance
While minimalism promotes “less is more,” wellness is less about reducing and restricting, and more about optimizing life for health and balance. Minimalist environments, when taken to an extreme, can sometimes feel cold or sparse, which doesn’t align with wellness goals emphasizing comfort, warmth, and relaxation.
Call it Wellness or Holistic Design, living in a home designed with your physical and emotional needs in mind leads to a healthier, more joyful life. Things like beauty, healthy food prep, downtime, connection, meaning and exercise all take precedence in your life when your home is designed to enhance and support them.
Wellness is all about nurturing positive connections with others. And key to the wellness lifestyle concept is fostering a connection between residents and the natural environment. So that means eliminating the border between the inside and the outside.
But there is an equal emphasis on self-care. Thus, home designs must balance communal areas with private spaces. Cozy spaces, soft textures, and nature-influenced colors and finishes are hallmarks of wellness-focused design.
Travel is a fundamental part of a wellness lifestyle
Vacations provides opportunities for physical activity, mental clarity, personal growth, and connection with nature and culture. After visiting a luxury hotel or spa or exploring the ruins of an ancient bath house in Greece or Italy, people often come home wishing to incorporate ideas. Open-air living spaces, lush indoor-outdoor transitions, lush gardens or infinity pools become part of their daily living experience back home.
As Seen In Premier Hotels and Resorts…
Thoughtful detail can indeed turn the home into a serene retreat. The best home plans take the living room to the garden, and the garden to the living room. By fluidly extending a home floorplan in both directions, terraces, porches, pools, gardens, and outdoor kitchens become fundamental spaces in people’s home life. And the right products can help extend the enjoyment of the outdoor area, irrespective of the season.
Create a private pod that entices you outside.
Even when the realities of urban living mean limited space, it is still possible draw inspiration from your favorite hotel suite. Blurring the line to the outside is especially important as a means of visually extending smaller indoor living areas. Explore vertical gardening for introducing lush greenery and vibrant flora without encroaching on precious floor area. With urban outdoor spaces in mind, some furniture-makers now offer compact outdoor solutions.
Let There Be Light—And Fresh Air…or Not!
A home lighting plan starts by carefully considering window and door placement. The thoughtful addition of artificial lighting for indoors and out goes beyond aesthetics—it becomes an essential part of creating spaces that nurture well-being and improve the quality of life. In areas meant for gathering and socializing, ambient and accent lighting sets the mood. Proper task lighting in workspaces increases productivity.
Many wellness-focused homes now feature dynamic lighting systems that adjust the intensity and color temperature of light throughout the day. These systems start with bright, cool light in the morning to boost energy and gradually shift to warmer, softer tones in the evening to support relaxation and sleep. This helps regulate circadian rhythms—the natural, internal processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle and repeat roughly every 24 hours. These rhythms are influenced by external cues like light and temperature and are responsible for coordinating a wide range of bodily functions, including sleep patterns, hormone release, body temperature, and digestion.
And in the interest of regulating circadian rhythms as the day begins to wind down, pre-programmed motorized shades and indoor/outdoor lighting sequences make it easy. Programming motorized windows and doors to open and close according to temperature presets, or simply controlling them with your iPhone when the mood strikes, can refresh indoor spaces for improved air quality. Add motorized screens to keep insects from spoiling the mood, or when you want privacy or sun protection.
