While every project is unique, some design elements are fundamental to our wellbeing.
Windows, windows, windows
If there is one universally celebrated aspect to welcoming interiors, creating access to natural light would top the list.
“Natural light is massive,” says Melbourne-based senior interior designer, Stephanie Clarke. “When we have great access to natural light and ventilation, it supports our circadian rhythms and connects us to the natural world. It touches upon an integral part of ourselves.”
Northern light is ideal because it delivers maximum light in winter and can be easily shaded in summer, ensuring the most efficient option for heating and cooling, which in turn creates year-round thermal comfort.
Natural light supports a wide range of activities, including hobbies, which have a positive impact on our mental health. Skilled designers can manipulate natural light by careful placement of windows in places such as stairwells to draw light through the house.
Connection to nature
As human beings, we’re hardwired to seek out other living organisms. The term biophilia, coined in the 1960s, has recently gained wide use in design circles as architects and interior designers incorporate elements from the natural world.
This kitchen by Arent & Pyke is imbued with biophilic elements such as natural stone and timber.Credit: Anson Smart
This can be expressed through indoor/outdoor design or the choice of natural materials such as stone, linen or timber. Well-ventilated spaces, a literal breath of fresh air, are good for mind and body alike. For Clarke, whose work has focused on the healthcare sector, it is even simpler.
“My house is filled with plants,” she says. “Putting greenery into your home is quite easy and it has such a positive effect. Even imagery of plants or materials that represent nature and natural textures makes a difference to wellbeing.”
Bring the joy
Discussions about wellbeing in design often focus on creating serene environments but Juliette Arent, co-founder of Sydney-based interior design firm Arent & Pyke, says a truly happy home needs joy.
This is most ably expressed through colour.
“We are huge fans of colour because it has such a big impact on mood,” she says. “Often, there will be lots of corals, pinks and reds in our work. They are really strong heart colours to imbue happy, positive feelings.”
Interior designers Juliette Arent (left) and Sarah-Jane Pyke use colour extensively to evoke a sense of home.Credit: Anson Smart
It’s possible, she says, to induce those feelings through small design elements.
“It might be a spot in the kitchen; somewhere to stop to enjoy a lovely aspect,” she says. “You want those moments of joy and humour and playfulness to break away from the mundanity.”
Founder of Cities for Play, Natalia Krysiak, says encouraging room for play is even more important for children.
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“When you ask kids what are their key requirements, the first thing they say is having other kids to play with but they also like being seen by adults. It gives them a sense of security and makes them feel like they want to play,” she says.
As more families move into apartments, this means providing for good acoustics in tower blocks.
“When the acoustics are very poor in apartments, parents will tend to ‘shush’ their children or subdue them. The noise we might cause that the neighbours might hear can impact on parenting styles,” Krysiak says.
Playfulness in design is not just for children, says Stefania Reynolds, at home with her daughter Maddison.Credit: Anson Smart
But play isn’t just for kids, says Reynolds: “Playfulness adds warmth, personality, and emotional resonance. It invites people to feel joy, curiosity, or even delight in a space. ”
Refresh and recharge
While most consider bathing a necessary daily function, the mental health benefits of water therapy range from better sleep to lower stress levels. Arent says bathrooms that comfort as well as cleanse can boost mood, while getting the job done.
“A bathroom is a space where you should be able to recharge and refresh,” she says. “It’s cleansing for the mind as well as the body. We choose materials for the bathroom so that it feels less clinical but still fresh and clean.”
Dr Kirsten Day, senior lecturer in architecture at the University of Melbourne, says our homes are more than the sum of their parts.
“It is not just you go home, do your ablutions, prepare your food and sleep. There is real consideration,” she says.
A happy home will look different for everyone, says Clarke.
“It’s about a sense of identity, seeing it reflected back at you,” she says. “People can feel very comforted by having tokens, mementos and photos around them because they evoke positive memories.”
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