When you appoint an interior designer you are most likely thinking about colour swatches, beautifully designed spaces, and how they can help you create an individual space reflective of your personality. One thing you may not have at the front of your mind is how interior design affects health and how a professional interior design company in Dubai can help you make your home or office beautiful but also make it a healthy space.
Perhaps one of the best-known philosophies surrounding how interior design affects health is the practice of Feng shui – the Chinese practice that describes the relationship between spatial arrangement and energy flow. However, modern-day science is also playing a part in interior design.
The importance of light in design
Natural light helps your body clock regulate itself, reduces strain on the eyes and in general brings about a sense of wellbeing that isn’t found in ‘traditional’ artificial lighting. Human-Centric Lighting mimics this by dimming the smart light source, most likely an LED, to reflect the levels sunlight throughout the day.
The use of materials
We have previously spoken in our blog about Materials Used in Luxury Interior Design in Dubai and how artificial materials are also being widely used in interior design. However, sourcing sustainable natural materials such as wood from forests that correctly manage not only brings a feeling of warmth to the touch but the knowledge that you are helping to maintain our naturals resources – now doesn’t that make you feel good!
Home offices
Since the outbreak of the pandemic one area of interior design that has come under the spotlight is that of home offices. Once just a desk tucked away in a corner these spaces need to be reimaged and redesigned to reflect the time spent in them. This not only needs to be applied in the design of the space but in the ergonomics of the furniture to maintain physical health and avoid back issues arising from time spent sitting in a chair unfit for purpose.
Outside spaces or the indoor versions of them
We have already mentioned the importance of correct lighting and how natural material can add a sense of wellbeing to a design. If your workspace or residence does not afford you the luxury of outdoor space then this should be incorporated into the scheme of the design. Not only do living plants look good and can help create a new dimension of design (thinking hanging plants over dining tables or living walls) they also provide health benefits by helping to purify the air. Speaking of which….
Indoor air pollution
Normally when we talk about air pollution we are discussing our outdoor environment. Significantly in this region, air collects significant amounts of sand, dust, salt and biological spores as wind currents collect particles from across many land masses, deserts and bodies of water. If these particles are allowed to accumulate and recirculate in an AC system they can have a negative impact on human health – especially for those who are already prone to respiratory illness or are vulnerable e.g. young children. Internal pollutants can also have a damaging effect, for example, paint can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) some of which are harmful. This is why the consideration of air circulation while ‘hiding’ somewhat ugly air vents is so important in interior design – balancing aesthetics with airflow is one very important consideration of how interior design affects health.
At Idea Art we pride ourselves on the thought and care we put into every project, residential or commercial, making sure that space is not just aesthetically pleasing but also considers the wellbeing of all its occupants. If you would like to talk to us about making your space a healthy, happy one then contact us for a call or email us for more information.
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