The events of 2020 have emphasised the importance of the home for people across the globe. Besides the basic need for shelter, the home plays a significant role in maintaining mental and physical wellbeing. Whether your home has now also become your office, or is still the place you reside to after a day’s work – you might want to consider adapting your space to facilitate your wellbeing in 2021. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can do that.
Natural Light
Perhaps the most important factor in maintaining health and wellbeing is natural sunlight. Along with several irrefutable physical health benefits, such as boosting Vitamin D production and promoting healthy sleep cycles, natural light plays a pivotal role in mental wellbeing. Therefore, getting as much natural light into your home should be as high on your priority list as eating a balanced diet.
Inviting more natural light into your home can be simply done by leaving your curtains open during daylight hours and using mirrors to reflect light around darker spaces. You could go one step further by investing in sun tunnels or upgrading your windows to harness more natural light – the VELUX range is a great example of products that could achieve this.
Compartmentalise your home
Separating the various areas of your life, both mentally and physically, is a significant factor that is often overlooked when it comes to wellbeing. Just as you should stop thinking about work when you clock-off, you should also spend your free time in a place that facilitates relaxation and that allows you to escape from the frustration or stress of working life. This is ever more critical if you now work from home because separating your professional from your personal life may be even more difficult.
Therefore, creating separate spaces where you can enjoy your time off is essential. It could be as simple as installing doors to separate different rooms or revamping your kitchen to provide a comfortable place where you can escape from thoughts of work.
Decluttering
An untidy and cluttered home is likely to lead to a fraught and unhappy mind. The power of organisation and cleanliness cannot be overstated when it comes to mental health, so improving your storage solutions or just having a tidy up is a great place to start.
The process of tidying (when not being told to) can also be very therapeutic for some, so you might find a new passion that stays with you going forward!
Bring in some life
Bland walls and bare rooms can often drain the life out of a living space – so it is vital that you modify your home to stimulate your senses. It could be as simple as creating a feature wall with a bold, bright colour in the living room. Alternatively, a few interesting or captivating pieces of art can really spruce up a dull wall.
Of course, you can bring energy to a room with actual life. Investing in some house plants or shrubs is a great way to liven up an empty corner or windowsill. While plants can do a great deal aesthetically, they also clean the air you breathe – helping to contribute to your physical and mental wellbeing.
Make the most of your outdoor space
If you are lucky enough to have access to some outdoor space, make sure you use it! Being surrounded by nature or even just getting some fresh air can have a significant impact on your mental health – especially if you are confined to an office or workspace for much of the day.
Whether you have a small balcony, an average sized garden or are surrounded by open fields, outdoor space should not be taken for granted.
