New Home Trends – Wellness Rooms
2022 is halfway through and COVID-19 is becoming a thing of the past. Companies across the world are beginning to transition out of work-from-home/hybrid schedules to full-time, back-in-office structures, bringing us back to pre-pandemic office normality. The world shut down and taught us how to adapt quickly. We learned to prioritize and work through problems, as well as prioritize our mental and physical health.
So, what now? A new trend to help support this growth of mental health is the popularity of “Wellness Rooms” or “Wellness Spaces.”
A Wellness Room is a dedicated space in a home or office building that is used for quiet time, an escape after stressful events, or to gain some needed privacy. It typically contains calming or soothing colors, low warm lighting or natural lighting, and acoustic privacy. By law, most offices already provide a similar space for nursing mothers. Some companies opt-in to provide beneficial health activities such as light and sound therapy, meditation spaces, stretching mats, etc.
Homeowners are adopting this trend and transitioning their dedicated home offices/workspaces into at-home wellness rooms. New homeowners are seeking out homes that include flexible spaces they can dedicate to their personal wellness needs. A wellness room can vary from person to person. Some examples include a space utilized for massages, meditation and yoga. Others can be used for saunas, greenhouses, or quiet libraries. Some may create home studios to participate in creative hobbies. The generalized theme of these spaces is to detach from technology and emphasize mindful peace and tranquility and the things that bring you joy. Natural textures, plants, and elemental features help to enhance these experiences. Elemental features can include water fountains, fireplaces, rock gardens, and indoor plants.
What kind of wellness room would you prefer?
Lisa
At home, wellness rooms have always been around, but were called by other names. I prefer my backyard or front porch, especially in California where the weather permits almost any sort of activity outdoors. Creating a backyard “oasis” has always been popular here to use as a place to relax and unwind in. Also, a formal living room, with no technology in it, is really a wellness room. Traditionally it has been a place to sit and talk to people, light a fire in the fireplace, read a book, get out the yoga mat, keep house plants… etc. The idea of a wellness room at work is an interesting one. We think of the “break” room as the room to take a mental break, but in the end they end up being lunch rooms with kitchens and not necessarily a cozy, relaxing space. Workplaces with an outdoor lounge space or patio / deck for relaxing and getting some sunshine are wonderful! That would be my preference, for sure!