color palette Archives - A.Clore Interiors

What does it mean to design with wellness in mind?

Designing with wellness in mind involves what building materials and lighting we select along with how we integrate the outdoor-indoor space through Biophilic design and greenery incorporation as well as delivering healthy air quality. Designing with wellness in mind is not going to go out of style because it will constantly be changing to meet the needs of the users, and at the end of the day every individual wants to feel good.

This is what we want to strive for going into 2023!

The ideas of what wellness means have changed over the course of the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now more than ever in the design world we are seeing just how important wellness in interior design is and what we can do to help create a better home environment.

Materials like cork, bamboo, and rattan are all eco-friendly resources that can be used in interior spaces for flooring, furniture, and rugs selections to support renewable resource use.

A term called Biophilic Design is something we’ve been hearing about in the last couple of years, this means incorporating green spaces within the interior environment that promotes oxygen as well as bring the feelings of nature indoors. This can be achieved by simply adding live greenery into our spaces or creating greenery walls as seen above for a feature design element while being sustainable.

Nano walls are a great solution to making the indoors feel like they are a part of the outdoors. These are foldable glass doors that when closed create a seamless picture-perfect view to your backyard but when opened there is full access to the outdoors. We have seen this application done in both commercial and residential designs.

Lighting has become one of the main focuses of wellness in design as it plays a very important role in our mood. Adjustable color temperature lighting is where we are seeing the most applications of wellness-inspired lighting designs. Using LED lights ranging from 2700-3300 Kelvin for warm lighting to 3300-5300 Kelvin for cool lighting and daylight falls around 6500 Kelvin. This idea of lighting temperature variation gives the user the choice to set the lighting around their home to their preference.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is something we are learning more and more about due to the harmful practices of building construction of the past. SBS is enhanced by air pollution, off-gassing from material selections, and poor indoor ventilation systems. We also must be aware of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs come from carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke, mold, radon, as well as chemical off-gassing. They can be found in common products like paint and paint thinners, hairspray, and cleaning products. When we are specifying building materials, we want to steer clear of paints, finishes, adhesives, fire retardant furniture and fabrics that contain VOCs to help stop off-gassing. In a more commercial setting, you want to look for buildings that have certifications like LEED, BREEAM, and WELL. This signifies that the building was constructed with non-toxic building materials and maintains a healthy ventilation system for purifying the air from pollutants. Double, even triple checking that a building is safe to begin construction and possesses no concern for SBS is the first step in designing with wellness in mind. Once all other applications of a project are complete it is important to continue to keep up with good air quality control by changing out your air filters and keeping those beautiful plants alive!

Sources:

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/why-wellness-means-big-business-for-designers

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/4-wellness-design-trends-the-experts-say-are-here-to-stay

https://biofilico.com/wellness-interior-design

Thank you for being an A.Clore Interiors Blog reader…..

Don’t forget: you can find us on Facebook – “like” us to keep up with the latest and greatest!

You can always find more design inspiration on our Pinterest and Instagram pages!

Connect with us on Google+ and LinkedIn

Visit our Website for more information on what we are about and how interior design can change your life!

“There is a shade of red for every woman” -Audrey Hepburn

“Everything utilitarian needs a little red edge” – Reno Dakota

The Color Red

Red is a warm, primary color. It is a bold and symbolic hue that is often associated with strong emotion. Red grabs our attention, pulls us in, and makes us aware of its presence. It calls us to action and gets us motivated. If you are looking to create a cozy and intimate space, red is the way to go. This catching color reminds us of beautiful things in nature like sweet strawberries, delicate roses, falling autumn leaves, and calming sunsets. Let’s not forget red is also a symbolic color of our great country, representing hardiness and valor. The flat
lay below incorporates a mix of red, white, and blue, inspired by our beautiful star-spangled banner.

How Red Affects Mood & Behavior

Did you know that all colors have a different psychological effect on us? The human mind processes colors in diverse ways causing us to feel and act differently. Colors affect how we react to sounds, smells, taste, and time. Some colors can even help heal sick patients and aid in their recovery.

Red is often associated with love, danger, anger, excitement, fire, strength, confidence, and luxury. In Chinese culture, red is very popular for weddings and acts as a symbol of happiness. Bright, warm colors like red are also quite prominent in the restaurant industry, a perfect choice to stimulate the appetite of consumers. If you think of it there are tons of fast-food places that use red, McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Chick-fil-A, Sonic, Pizza Hut, and Dairy Queen, just to name a few. The reason behind this is simple, red is bold, catches our attention, and somehow makes something in our brain say, “Hmm I could go for some food”. Not only does this hue cause change in mood and behavior but studies show that it can physically cause our body temperature to rise and make us feel warmer.

All these emotions and meanings behind just one color! Because red is so lively and simulating it should be used in moderation and with care. As designers, we take into consideration these effects that color has on the human mind to help us determine the best use and fit for each space. We suggest using red in entertainment spaces such as the living and dining rooms. Red is also a great choice for window treatments, pillows, and accent furniture. Here you can see how red steals the spotlight in a dining nook. The drapery, art piece, and accessory tray all pull red from the seating creating a fun layering effect that fills this small space with excitement.

This nightstand is a perfect example of using red on a piece of furniture to create a fun accent and carry it throughout the room within the artwork and area rug.

Colors That Pair Well with Red

There’s no doubt that red makes a statement on its own but that doesn’t mean you have to pair it with neutrals to make a space look great. Many times, red looks best when paired with colors that are just as vibrant and eye-catching. Check out the interesting mix of patterns in this photo! The scheme in this living area uses red in combination with blue, teal, and green making a space that is daring yet visually appealing to the eye.

Red’s complement is green and although most of us associate those colors with the holiday season they can be combined in a way that is not so literal by using variations of the hues. To avoid making your space look like a holiday party we recommend pairing it with a sage green or mint green. Other select colors that work well with red are teal, navy blue, peach, and yellow. If you choose to take the neutral route but still want to create a dramatic ambiance, use black, white, or gray or a combination of all three to really make the space pop. In this unique bedroom, we placed red accents on a neutral black and white background adding to the already existing moody vibe of the artwork.