2 min read
Designing for wellness is an investment, and unfortunately, we can’t all afford to take the plunge. Limited by finances, square footage, and sometimes even climate, designing the wellness-minded home of your dreams can feel unattainable. House Beautiful’s special projects director, Carisha Swanson, recently sat down with a slew of like-minded pros—including wellness innovator Tanya Ryno, the founder and creative director at Iron House Design; Richard Dorment, editorial director of Men’s and Women’s Health; and Siobhan Berry, design director at Gensler New York—to discuss the future of wellness and how you can bring it into your homes.
During the panel, Swanson asked each pro to offer their best advice for taking realistic steps toward a happier, healthier home. Their universal advice? Focus on approachable changes.
“It doesn’t have to be like a whole room,” Dorment says. “Think about little ways you can surround yourself in this kind of wellness.”
Getting even more specific, Dorment also suggests applying the “step in” method to your home. “For [wellness] to be open to people, it has to be a ‘step in’ approach. Not everybody can go full plunge, full in-home spa. So what are those little ways that you can get access to surrounding yourself [with] these wellness things that are part of your everyday life?” he explains.
Sara Ligorria-TrampThis cozy guest bedroom by Velina Hellen is piled high with plush, comfy pillows.
With that principle in mind, why not start at the same place where you begin and end your days? Beds and bedrooms are supposed to be the most restful and restorative areas of our homes, granting us a relaxing spot to unplug, wind down, and recharge. Having a soft and safe place to rest your head can quite literally change your life, which is why rethinking your pillow can be a huge game changer.
“Wellness means different things to different people. For some people, it’s all about sleep. Everybody can afford a great pillow, and is there anything better than getting into a bed at night and having an amazing pillow there? Something as simple as that,” says Dorment.
Pillow preference is ultra-personal, and whether you prefer firm support or a plush softness, finding your perfect match can seriously level up your sleep routine, impacting your overall wellness. Dorment also suggests upgrading your sheets for another quick boost, or taking it one step further and carving out space for some workout equipment.
“It really just depends on what you’re trying to get out of [wellness] and what element of your life you’re trying to improve,” he adds.
This beginner method of stepping into wellness encourages us to get granular about where and how we can realistically make changes in our everyday lives, because while an at-home sauna would be amazing, it’s not exactly a practical aspiration for every homeowner.
To learn more about how to incorporate wellness into the home, check out the full Next Issue panel below.
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