The ongoing obsession with health and wellness sometimes feels like it’s taken over every aspect of daily life.
It’s intrinsic to the fitness and beauty industries, and shows up at the grocery store as trendy superfoods and supplements. Even our technology reminds us to look after our well-being by switching over to the sleep-protecting yellow glow known as “night shift.”
In this five-part series, we sort through the noise to offer advice on tried-and-true ways to boost mental and physical well-being right at home. That includes gyms that go beyond a treadmill and some free weights to address muscle repair, and we have tips for building home spas without the snakeoil.
We also cover how to build a bedroom and light up a home in a way that protects our all-important circadian rhythm and sleep, and how to harness the healing power of nature in our home decor.
Lights, Water, Relaxation: How to Create the Perfect Home Spa
A home spa can be life changing, said Linda Hall, an international spa and wellness consultant. Anyone who’s had the chance to relax in a five-star luxury spa on holiday probably has an inkling of what she meant, but for those with enough money and space to incorporate a spa into their own homes, “the health and well-being benefits are just endless,” she said.
“A spa is all about the reconnection back to self. It’s about that feeling of being nurtured, warm, safe, connected,” she said. “If you’re lucky enough to have a home spa then you’ve got that experience every day when life is tough or life is challenging…Read More
Photo: Rodnae Productions / Pexels
Designing a Bedroom for Sounder Sleep
The bedroom is the ultimate sanctuary. It’s the place where (hopefully) the rest of the world fades away and we drift into a blissful dreamland.
Encouraging relaxing vibes has as much to do with the things we place in the room as it does with the overall design, especially the technology we have within reach—often the less, the better…Read More
Photo: Getty Images
Biophilic Design Is the Ultimate Holistic Approach to Home Wellness
Since people have an intrinsic desire to be outdoors to reap the benefits of nature, it’s no surprise that biophilic design continues to gain ground as an aesthetic with human wellness at its core.
The theory––which has evolved into a movement––might be in the spotlight these days, but it isn’t a fad. On the contrary, biophilic design has been around for decades. In 1973, German-born American Erich Fromm detailed biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.” And biologist and Harvard research professor E.O. Wilson’s 1984 book, “Biophilia,” states that humans are attracted to nature and need to feel connected to it…Read More
Photo: CookFox
Tuning Home Lighting Into Your Circadian Rhythm
You’ve likely heard the term circadian rhythm, particularly surrounding the sleep-wake cycle. It’s essentially the body’s internal clock that’s cued by light or lack thereof.
Our bodies naturally rely on the sun’s rising and setting patterns to dictate when we sleep and when we wake. Generally, when the body’s circadian rhythm is in sync, the sleep-wake cycle is restorative. But when it’s not, sleep can be troublesome…Read More
Renderings: BIOS Lighting
Home Gyms Get Holistic
After strength training, you recline on an infrared therapy bed then opt for time in the hyperbaric chamber to optimize muscle repair.
You’re not at a swish spa or flashy fitness facility. You’re home, and these state-of-the-art treatments are becoming components of high-end personal gym setups…Read More
Renderings: Fitness Design Group
London’s Latest Developments Include Historic Dockyard Conversions and New York-Style Lofts
Spring has arrived in London and with it the promise of a busy housing market.
In the prime-housing market, developers are putting their best foot forward as they launch an array of new homes, ranging from glass high-rise aeries to period lateral flats. They hope to impress increasingly discerning and savvy buyers from around the globe, with good design, common spaces and gardens, and diverse amenities.
But what’s in store for the capital’s top-end market in 2023…Read More
Modern Tech, Resort-Style Amenities and Views Are Back on Trend in Australia
Any negativity around living in high-density dwellings in Australia during the height of the pandemic has been replaced by the desire for cutting-edge design, exceptional views and glamorous interiors.
These aren’t cookie-cutter condos, instead they feature five-star concierge services, private plunge pools and unique floor plans often larger than a typical Australian house.
With low supply of prestige property in almost every corner of the country, and a continued flow of foreign and returning expat investment into Australia, the upper end is weathering the storm better than the wider market…Read More
Credit: Sammut Group