Page 38 - Designing Ways 272

WINDOW
TREATMENTS

Interior design

experts reveal top

tips that can benefit

your health from

your home choices

he stress of the pandemic
really put a spotlight on to the
Timportance of good mental health
and looking after your physical well-being
whilst working and spending more time
indoors. Interior design experts from
Hovia have researched and recommended
top tips on how to upgrade your home to plants or building a plant shelf; other ways One of the best tips to getting a good
gain more health benefits. to directly involve plants is to feature fresh night's sleep is investing in blackout
flowers in a vase. To add nature elements, blinds, shutters or curtains to create
Letting in the light you can invest in natural furniture or add the darkest bedroom possible. Picking a
Wherever and as much as possible, a nature wallpaper feature wall. wallpaper or paint colour that is a cool
in your home or office, turn off those or neutral colour like blues, greens and
fluorescent lights and let the natural The view greys can reduce your heart rate, lower
sunlight in through the windows. Dako In your office or home, try to get a good your blood pressure and slow down
Windows researched that the exposure and unobstructed view of some form of your breathing rate. To create a more
to natural light helps our bodies not only nature or nature experience. According relaxing environment to encourage
produce Vitamin D but also positively to Chromogenics, it has proven to have sleep, use diffusers or essential oils to fill
effects circadian rhythms, sleeping positive health effects such as being more your bedroom with smells like lavender.
patterns, motivation and has proven to creative, energised, and productive. It is In the summer months use a quiet fan
improve our mood and happiness. also has been researched that you are less or wool duvet to prevent overheating at
Hanging a mirror on a wall opposite likely to take sick days off work. night.
a window produces more light within You can design your space with a view
the room, or painting/wallpapering your by creating one with photographic or Creative corner
walls and ceilings in white can brighten nature inspired art prints, or choosing Updating an unused corner to create
up the room. Other tips include keeping a picturesque landscape wallpaper. It a new space for yourself is an easy and
your windows clean to allow in more is great to add hanging plants in your satisfying way update to your room, and
light, and organising your furniture, so it window, which also brings the benefits of it will give you a designated space to
does not block the windows. Another tip bringing nature indoors. unwind. For example, using this space
is to use reflective surfaces such as glossy for a yoga or meditation area can manage
or metal accent surfaces that will bounce Sleep in darkness your stress, reduce negative emotions,
the light around the room. In your bedroom, create complete increase creativity, also motivate you to
darkness while you sleep to get a better adapt a daily habit.
Adding the outside in sleeping pattern and relaxation. UDesign You can design a new environment
Nature or elements that remind you stated that in the UK a staggering 70% through different decorating, and can
of nature, such as a plant wallpaper, can of us sleep less than 7 hours per night, separate the room by trying a new calming
really add some great benefits to your which is an important statistic, as half wallpaper or paint colour. An alternative
indoor space. The University of Exeter has an hour less sleep than needed can be is investing in a room separator, to really
researched that bringing plant elements detrimental to your health as it has a give your corner a new space to relax in.
into your daily life can massively boost your cumulative effect. Sleep Foundation have Keeping the space tidy and clutter-free
well-being by 47%, creativity by 45% and researched that sleeping in darkness will also keep you less stressed and more
productivity by 38%. Other positive impacts can help stimulate the production of productive. A tip: incorporating mood
also include reducing risk of psychiatric melatonin, a hormone that helps you lighting is a great way to create a relaxing
disorders and reducing our cortisol levels, fall asleep quicker. There are many atmosphere.
allowing better recovery from stress. benefits to a good sleep overall such as For more information contact Lucy
Top tips for adding more nature to your being more motivated, alert and having Adams: lucy.adams@journoresearch.org
home or office space is decorating with boosted immunity.

38 Issue 272 • dw