How Design Enhances Your Health and Well-Being: Views

Nature affects us in ways that are surprising and crucial to our wellbeing. Sunlight striking the walls creates a play of shadows and mystery which can be exhilarating. Views of natural scenes never get old and can be spellbinding even on the rainiest days.

You know this, so when you come home from a stressful day into a cramped home with small windows, you feel something is missing. It is hard to relax, and in winter, the contrasting darkness outside with uniform lighting inside does nothing to create a feeling of inspiration. In fact, it does the opposite.

Renovating or building a new home has been on your mind, but what is your goal? If you want to arrive home and feel the way you do when entering an exclusive resort or spa, then it is vital to focus on designing for health and well-being.

This type of design work is called biophilic design and it focuses on your innate relationship with nature. Bringing natural elements into the home the right way can improve concentration, reduce your tiredness, boost your mood, and even lower your stress level and blood pressure.¹

One of the specific ways to do this is to open your home to views of natural landscapes. A visual connection with trees, plants, grass fields and water elements as they change through the seasons is a powerful device.² Full height glass windows and doors that connect free and flowing interior spaces to terraces and gardens with a backdrop of tree covered hills and valleys is ideal.

Unobstructed views from above are preferred,³ so you may want to consider an “upside down” home where the living areas are on the top floor extending out onto generous balconies.  Thoughtfully designed exterior lighting can also help expand the space and turn dark, winter days into something more uplifting.

Harmonizing the biophilic design devices into an elegant and inspiring home is something we are specialized in, so feel free to contact us if you need our professional guidance and expertise for your renovation or new home project.