Busting 3 wellness design myths

Wellness design is one of those buzzwords that seems to be popping up everywhere lately, and we love it! After all, creating a home that supports your physical and emotional wellbeing is at the very heart of what we do here at YDM Design Studio. But with all the hype, there’s also a lot of confusion. In this blog, we’re diving into some of the most common myths around wellness design. Whether you’re planning a full renovation or simply dreaming about a more feel-good space, we’re here to show you what wellness design isn't, and what it actually is.

Myth 1: Your home must look like a spa

Whilst spa-inspired colours and materials can create a calming space, wellness design is about a lot more than that. It’s about creating functional spaces that enhance your lifestyle and goals, using healthy materials that improve the air quality in your home, enhance natural light, and improve the acoustics of each space.

Wellness design also means creating spaces that bring you joy, so the colours and materials selected are always aligned with your particular tastes. Unlike a spa, homes are meant to feel lived in. Wellness design is not about creating minimal spaces that look like a magazine cover, and it's most definitely not about boring spaces that all look the same! It's actually all about creating spaces tailored to your life that feel comfortable, make life easier, and feel inviting and warm.

Myth 2: You need a huge budget

You don’t always need expensive materials and fancy technology - small, strategic changes can still make a big difference to the way a space feels and how it supports your health. Just painting a room, adding some acoustic paneling to a study, or replacing cool toned lights with warmer globes can instantly change a space. This means that wellness design is not only reserved for new builds or major renovations. You can always improve a space without going all out.

Many affordable materials are also safe to use in your home. For example, laminate - an affordable cabinetry material - meets E0 or E1 formaldehyde ratings. This means they have low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are therefore a healthy material to use. We are always conscious of managing our client's budget to achieve the best outcome, and often use these more affordable options where possible in order to splurge where it really matters.

Myth 3: Wellness design is only for people with health issues

Wellness design is actually for everyone! No matter how old you are, how healthy you are, or how much you exercise, every person deserves to live in a home that supports their wellbeing. Wellness design in the home can bleed into many areas of your life as well. It can help you feel more calm and tackle challenges, it can help you get chores done faster so you can spend more time doing the things you love, and it can help you feel more connected to your loved ones.

At the end of the day, wellness design is simply all about creating a home that truly supports you, your health and your lifestyle. If you’ve been putting off your renovation because you’re not sure where to start (or worried you might get it wrong), we’re here to help guide you through it! Let’s design a space that not only looks beautiful, but feels like home.

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post. Have a wonderful week!

Nina xx