HEALTHY HOME How to bring nature into your space

As we gently transition from summer to autumn my heart often sighs at the thought of closing the doors and losing the connection with nature that makes the warmer months so rich: afternoons at the beach, pebbles underfoot, lying on the grass. We have so many positive natural experiences in summer that should inform how we support our physical and mental wellbeing in winter.

Our sense of touch has an important impact on our mood. The feeling of clothes on our skin or materials on the sofa are often filtered out automatically, which means we’re comfortable with them. In order for us to create a happy sensory journey through our homes, it’s worth considering the effect certain materials can have on us.

Envisage waking up in the morning, swinging your feet round to touch the floor, and stepping on a sheepskin rug. From there, you might walk to the bathroom to take a shower. The warm wood of the bedroom floor merges into cool bathroom tiles as you step from one to the other, creating a moment of awareness, and again when you find the soft bath mat with your feet. This simple experience can influence how you feel for the rest of the day.

Another way surfaces influence our wellbeing is colour; what’s known as the ecological valence theory states that we react to colours based on how they’re found in nature: greens and blues remind us of flourishing spaces rich with plants and water, and yellows feel warm, just like the sun.

Our choice of material and surfaces can also have a positive or negative physiological impact. For instance, it’s been found that the touch of timber cladding on walls can reduce both heart rate and blood pressure. On the flip side, materials such as paints with high VOCs can have a detrimental effect on our health. Avoiding these is a step in the right direction to a healthy, happy home.