If you’ve followed the holiday trends these days, you would’ve noticed how staycations are becoming the new vacation. Folks are not in favor of the idea of leaving home to travel thousands of miles in search of peace and fun.
Many are choosing to bring the holiday into their very homes. This pattern during the summer is expected to become the norm even for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
However, that is only possible when one’s home is the replica of a wellness retreat. Do you also wish to enjoy a cozy holistay without stepping foot outside? This article will discuss four ways to transform your home into a health and wellness retreat.
Give Your Backyard a Spa-Like Appeal
What if you could have easy access to the benefits of hydrotherapy without having to leave your home? This is possible; thanks to the innovation of residential saunas.
Do you own a small backyard yard that hasn’t had much use besides the occasional run and play? Derive big benefits from it by turning it into a relaxation sanctuary. According to Healthline, a sauna offers a host of health benefits.
Since ancient times, saunas have been used to cleanse and purify the body. Some of the most well-documented benefits include stress and pain relief, improved blood circulation, better cardiovascular health, detoxification, and workout recovery.
You can relax whenever you want with better privacy than that offered at a public sauna. What’s more, is that ThermaSol shares that outdoor saunas are crafted to be impervious to weather conditions.
Your backyard sauna will still require regular upkeep and maintenance, but it will not easily crumble under harsh weather. For added strength and security, you can cover the roof area to enjoy your home sauna for years.
Incorporate Natural Elements
A one-time walk in the woods is enough to excite one’s senses to the invigorating power of nature. As per the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, research has found that spending quality time in green natural spaces can have a vast range of health benefits.
It can promote relaxation, lower cortisol levels, and maintain blood pressure. You see; reading about nature is one thing. Finding it all around is the surest way to get a glimpse and touch of the divine.
If you wish to transform your home into a wellness retreat, you cannot do without natural elements. What do we mean by that? Let’s look at some ways to make this happen –
- Use decor items made of natural materials like wood or stone. For the furnishings and upholstery, choose materials like cotton or linen.
- Directly bring the outside within by introducing air-purifying plants into each room. Choose among NASA-approved ones like Peace Lily, English Ivy, Snake Plant, Bamboo Palm, and Red-Edged Dracena.
- Have an aesthetically appealing stone fountain installed. Water holds a significant place in wellness interior design circles. Its trickling sound is said to be calming and full of positive energy.
Add Steam to Your Wellness Design Plans
Steam is said to be invigorating for the body, almost as if it can make us feel alive. Many people take facial steam to improve blood circulation, hydrate the skin, and purify it from within.
The same benefits can be enjoyed for the rest of the body. You need some simple changes in the form of a steam shower system at home. It is a shower system in which water is heated until it vaporizes.
Then, the delicious steam can be enjoyed within an enclosed space. The highly humid environment created by the steam shower is ideal for finishing up an intense workout session, clearing your pores, or simply washing off the stresses of the day.
There will be some special design considerations to have a steam shower system installed. These would include angled ceilings, glass enclosures, bench seating, and waterproofing. It will not only offer personalized relaxation but even enhance your quality of life on a day-to-day basis.
Opt for Natural Lighting and Calming Colors
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the average American spends 90% of their day indoors. If you’re like this, the indoor air and light quality will affect you considerably.
As for the indoor air, we have previously discussed how nature can offer much-needed cleansing. What about light? The human body requires natural light exposure for reasons like vitamin D production, maintenance of circadian rhythm, and optimal cognitive performance.
Our sedentary lifestyles and physical requirements do not usually find a meeting point. This is why it is important to make room for plenty of natural light through smart architectural design. Let’s look at some ways to bring this about –
- Use skylights on the roof area.
- Introduce shades of white, cream, or anything light for the walls and ceiling.
- Install glass panels or walls to flood in light.
- Spruce up with reflective surfaces like scones, mirrors, gleaming cabinets, and more.
- Replace heavy curtains with voile drapes.
- Try high-gloss paint on the ceiling and wall areas.
We have mentioned colors like white, beige, and cream for a more open and brighter space. There are other calming colors you can choose like soft pastels, neutral blues or greens, and earth tones. They will together help reduce stress and complete your wellness retreat.
End Note
In closing, let’s briefly touch upon the importance of having a home that doubles up as a wellness retreat. Most of us tend to spend a good portion of our day at home. The cacophony and challenges of the outside world are stressful enough.
Imagine if your home was an echo of the external chaos. True health and wealth are all about being able to escape the routine distractions to a world of tranquility and stillness. If you let your home be that safe space, nourishing your body/mind, and getting your natural rhythms back becomes second nature.
