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Outdoor Living and Biophilia

Far from a recent trend – outdoor living should be considered a necessity. During the pandemic lockdown, a friend had recently moved into a condo in downtown Boston. Unfortunately, his trendy new place came with lots of shared amenities but no private outdoor space. And in Boston, those shared amenities became closed, and he felt trapped in his own home.

Having outdoor living that overlooks green space is a biophilic bonus!  Biophilia is defined as human’s innate tendency to bond with nature and living things. It is hypothesized that it can reduce anxiety, improve mood and sleep – even strengthen the immune system.

I recommend keeping most of the biophilic connection outdoors, since filling a house with plants can lead to moisture, mold, and unwanted insects.

Improving Sleep

There are so many products marketing around improving sleep from the comfort of the mattress, the temperature of the bed, and the comfort of the sheets. But consider how our houses might also contribute to a better night sleep. Circadian lighting is one way to improve both mood during the day and sleep at night. This is “tunable” LED lighting system that can be adjusted throughout the day. Sunlight is brighter and cooler in mid-day, while it is warmer in color at the beginning and end of the day.  The warm light helps us wind down for sleep.

When the lights are turned off, having a completely dark room improves the quality of sleep. Offering blackout window treatments is outside of most builder’s offerings, but partnering with a company that can be a resource to your buyers would be a great strategy.

Unwanted noise is the final sleep inhibitor. It could be from adjacent road noise to a snoring partner. Each has its own unique challenges and solutions. Moving water has an amazing ability to not only mask unwanted sounds but also add a soothing quality. But since adding a water feature to the bedroom isn’t always practical, I’d recommend a white noise device. It can also help block sounds from light snoring.

For the truly loud snorers, I recommend offering a floor plan that allows for sleeping in different bedrooms.

Putting it all together

Turns out, there is a lot we can do as builders and designers to contribute to the wellness of our homes. Leveraging these wellness features and principles starts with educating our trade partners and buyers. Armed with the knowledge, wellness focused buyers become empowered to not only buy your homes but spread the word.

For those of you already implementing these strategies, I’d love to hear from you.  Are there any other wellness features I’ve left out?  I’d love to hear your tips and tricks.