Wellness Design is Trending
![View into the Prado Restaurant, showing a pergola with hanging vines and greenery high above a seating area.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Prado-Restaurant-580x387.jpg)
In advance of Earth Day on April 22, and also because we’ve been dealing with a global pandemic that’s keeping us indoors more than usual, we’re talking about wellness design for interiors.
Wellness is much more than just going to a spa or doing yoga, it’s a movement that values a whole spectrum of healthy lifestyle choices, from exercise, fitness, and nutrition to living in balance, developing healthy social connections, emphasizing relaxation and joyful experiences, and valuing mindfulness and slower living. It also means creating and living in spaces that nourish our mind and body. Here are a few concepts to get started.
Biophilic Design
![An indoor-outdoor room, with a step-down pool and tall plants at the back, then a concrete flooring that runs into the indoor area, with a rattan lounge chair, wooden side table, and a floor lamp in front of thick tan curtains. A rug peeks from beneath a table and bench at the right, cut off from full view.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Nature-Indoors-580x464.jpg)
Biophilia means that people have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and life, an inherent human connection to the natural world. Biophilic design harnesses this affinity to create more natural environments in which to live, work, and play. Designs that connect us to nature are proven by research to inspire, boost our productivity and contribute to better overall wellbeing.
![A narrow hospital room is transformed by painting the walls off-white and lilac, adding window dressings, on the right wall is a full-height and full-length mural showing a lake and red flowers and greenery. A moveable chest of drawers in coordinating lilac is dressed with fresh white flowers.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Nature-Marin-Chemo-580x424.jpg)
In my design work, I frequently bring the outdoors in and create indoor environments that reference nature. A few years ago I donated my services to redesign this chemotherapy treatment room at Marin Cancer Care hospital.
![At bottom a bright blue console table supports a bronze lamp, silver bowl, and fresh fronds in a low vase, while above on the wall hangs a natural driftwood sculpture with airplants and moss.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Wall-Feature-580x870.jpg)
This mid-century living room is made more inviting by a driftwood sculptural wall feature with air plants and moss, softening the hard edges of modern design styles.
Color Design
![A condo's living room features a white ceiling and walls next to a full-height window wall, and an inset feature wallpaper in a grey floral pattern. In front of that, at the left of the image, is a grey sofa dressed with multiple purple and yellow throw pillows plus a yellow blanket hanging over the closest arm, with two grey table lamps atop side tables either end of the sofa. A pair of small coffee tables sit atop a brightly colored huge azalea area rug in purple, pink, lilac, and grey, with a pair of yellow slipper chairs at the back, in front of the window wall. Light is streaming in.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Color-Spring-Living-Room-580x457.jpg)
Color has a strong influence on the mood of a room and how it makes you feel. Lighter colors are considered to be airy and make rooms feel larger and brighter by bouncing light around. Darker colors are more formal, feeling intimate. Neutrals of black, gray, white and brown can be used on their own, or to establish a balance when combined with active or passive colors.
![A guest bedroom in shades of tangerine, including the walls, the triple artwork hung above the bed, tan curtains in a slightly darker orange pattern reveal a window at the right. On the wood flooring is a white lattice patterned rug with an orange field color, and two different side tables hold a small orange lamp and a vase of fresh flowers, either side of the bed, which is dressed with layers of tan, brown, grey, white and red-patterned pillows, atop crisp white linens, a tan comforter and an orange blanket on top.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Color-Bedroom-Tangerine-580x387.jpg)
Active colors like orange, yellow and pink are bright and excite the mind, boosting creativity, while red is known to stimulate the appetite. Passive colors like blue and green are cool, calming the mind and aiding mental focus and relaxation. Colors should be customized to your own personal tastes.
![A high-rise condo's living room shows two window walls meeting at a corner with a view of the city at the rear, and track lighting above. In front, a red sofa with yellow and blue throw pillows, a pair of yellow modern chairs, a pair of yellow and grey patterned tub chairs, surround a glass coffee table with two red poufs nearby. All sit atop a large black rug with white radial lines emanating from one end. A dining table peeks from the right side, surrounded by red modern dining chairs.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Color-Living-Room-580x387.jpg)
Make sure your colors also coordinate with each other, so that you aren’t disturbed by moving between spaces, and are pleased when viewing spaces in the same line of sight together. A good designer will take all these things into consideration when creating your home’s interiors.
Lighting Design
![A light and bright farmhouse kitchen features white cabinetry and silver drawer pulls and handles, grey countertops, and white and light tan tiling. A metal pendant light hangs at the center, above penny floor tiles that meet warm wood in the dining area. To the left, a wooden butcher block surface is built-in to the counter, with a wooden-seat metal counter seat. Light streams in from a window at the far right, with a hint of tan curtain pulled to the side, and a tan wall paint with white trim below.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Lighting-Farmhouse-Kitchen-580x773.jpg)
Light is one of the most important elements in home design. Living spaces designed around natural light sources, smart lighting systems to better match the natural rhythms of our bodies, and artificial lighting that mimics daylight are all ways to address our need for appropriate interior light.
![A traditional living and dining space in a high-rise condo, with a huge expanse of windows at the back, showing a city skyline. Multiple brown leather chairs and loveseats with throw pillows surround a glass and metal oval coffee table on top of a red-patterned oriental rug. To the right, a dining area is dressed with flowers and food and drink. Light streams in from the windows, hitting the blond wood flooring.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Wellness-Lighting-Living-Room-580x424.jpg)
Natural daylight provides a tremendous health and wellness boost, improving productivity, alertness, and even mood. We need vitamin D from natural daylight to absorb calcium and other minerals in food. Daylight inhibits the production of melatonin, which ensures that we get tired when it’s dark outside, while cortisol does the opposite, making us alert and focused, triggered by daylight. Getting the balance right is key to enjoying your home.
Kimball Starr Interior Design can create a healthy and beautiful home environment just for you – Contact her today for a consultation!