4 Home Improvements To Boost Your Productivity
and Beat the Winter Blues
Judie Docs, Executive Officer – CSP, MCSP, CGP, CMP, MIRM
North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA) ncbia.com
Although the beauty of winter snow can seem picturesque at first, the season’s blustering chills and fading greenery can make even the best of us feel blue at times. To combat those feelings, consider introducing biophilic design to your living space.
Biophilic design incorporates elements of nature into the built environment, bringing our surroundings indoors. Why? Because there’s evidence it makes us more productive and at peace.
Examples of biophilic design include adding houseplants, introducing natural light, buying furniture that matches your area’s geography, or even adding nature sounds like wind chimes.
Here are some ways you can incorporate biophilic design into your home:
- Add houseplants to make your space feel alive.
Adding low-maintenance greenery such as snake plants, succulents or cacti can make your house brighter and more in tune with what you’d experience outside. Aside from the visual effects, plants are known to contribute to cleaner and healthier air to breathe, as well as reduce stress and increase productivity in people.
- Use natural shapes and materials in your design.
Nature is filled with uneven shapes that appear more visually interesting than perfectly measured
ones. Consider adding curved couches, chairs, or tables to your decor or adding arches into your build.
Also, consider furniture pieces and finishing touches that incorporate naturally found materials like wood or stone. Exposure to wood, in particular, is thought to improve specific stress indicators in humans.
- Usher in natural light.
No matter your region, you can bathe your home with natural light by incorporating the right windows and doors. From skylights and clerestory windows to French or sliding doors, you can work with a home-building professional to determine which best suits your space.
- Add familiar colors to rooms you spend the most time in.
Hues of green you’d see on budding plants, the serene blues found in a lake, ocean, or river, and pops of fall’s golden yellows are just a few examples of visually captivating, soothing, and mood-lifting colors to add. Try them on your walls, furniture, or even cabinetry.
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