Thoughtful design that goes beyond aesthetics, creating spaces that support the way people live, unwind, and feel.
A home has a powerful influence on how people feel each day. It is within the home that some of life’s most important memories are made, connections with family and friends are shared, and a sense of peace is sought after a long day of work.
Urbanhome Interior Design Owner and Principal Design Consultant, Jodi Mason, recognizes the important impact a home can have on one’s well-being and how it can ultimately improve a person’s quality of life. As a result, Jodi and her team are moving in a direction that focuses on “educating people about the power and influence your home can have on your overall sense of wellbeing.”
Noticing that the home is often overlooked in a person’s wellness journey, she is striving to change the narrative. Jodi offers several suggestions that can help homeowners create a space that supports both their physical and emotional well-being.
To begin, it is important to understand how a home should feel for the person who spends the most time in it. Start by asking the important questions: “How do I want to feel here? Calm? Energized? Grounded? Connected? Rested? That feeling should guide the layout, colours, lighting, materials and furnishings,” says Jodi.
Once that feeling is established, Jodi says it is important to “reduce visual noise.” Allow areas of a room to breathe. Often, people feel that they need to fill empty spaces, when the opposite can be true. A room with a clear purpose will contribute to the calm and clarity feeling a home is meant to provide.
Movement throughout a room also plays a role in creating a “clear sense of order.” When everything has a place within the home, everyday living becomes much easier. “Thoughtful storage, fewer unnecessary pieces and intentional placement can reduce the feeling of constant chaos” says Jodi.
The placement of furniture should also serve a purpose beyond appearance. Furniture should be positioned to encourage easy movement around the room, while its size and scale should be carefully considered. When furniture is too large, too small or improperly positioned, it can create an uncomfortable feeling. “Proper sizing and placement of furniture will create balance and make the room feel naturally settled,” says Jodi.
Creating a softer atmosphere in the home can be achieved through lighting, colour and acoustics. Overhead lighting alone is not enough to create a calming environment. Ambient lighting, lamps, sconces and accent lighting can create a softer atmosphere, particularly in the evening, says Jodi. Paired with this is a calming colour palette – one that should ultimately be personal to the homeowner. Calm colours can be earth tones, as well as deep natural colours. It doesn’t have to be white or neutral, if they are used thoughtfully. Finally, drapery, rugs, upholstered furniture, and textiles will help soften sounds creating a more intimate and comfortable environment.
Incorporating nature indoors is another important element when it comes to creating wellness in a home. Jodi says, “Natural materials, greenery, wood, stone, linen and organic textures create a grounded restorative feeling and provide that connection to the outdoors,” people need. This concept dates to ancient times when the world was not so busy. Similarly, adding spaces to unwind, such as saunas and cold plunges, adds another layer of wellness to the home. Jodi and her team are convinced there are so many benefits in this area that they have partnered with SteemD Wellness and are now able to incorporate outdoor saunas and cold plunges into their overall designs of homes and outdoor living spaces.
These tips from Jodi only scratch the surface when it comes to designing the home for wellbeing rather than simply decorating rooms. “This angle fits naturally with our upcoming Design Rehab Podcast” says Jodi. Here, she will explain in more detail her broader philosophy of designing for beauty and wellness.
At the end of the day, “the ultimate goal for a home is to support you,” says Jodi. The most important thing, she says, is that “when you come home, your surroundings should help your nervous system shift from the demands of the day, into a sense of comfort, familiarity and ease.”
