3 Health and Wellness Trends You’ll See in 2020
From Home Lighting Control to Complete Retreats, Read These Can’t-Miss Biophilia Highlights
2019’s CEDIA Expo was abuzz with wellness trends, including biophilia. Originally referring to “the love of living things,” the term has expanded to the smart home industry, as you’ll find out later.
CEDIA showed us an entire “Wellness Pavilion” dedicated to big brands like Rayva, Delos and more, all displaying products that brought the outside in. So, why is this important? Humans spend the vast majority of our time inside, which deprives us of the light, fresh air and relaxing nature sounds we need. Biophilia, to a large extent, gives that back.
As CE Pro editor Julie Jacobson puts it, “Nature can make us whole again, and if you can’t get enough of the real stuff, you can fake it quite effectively. The research is pretty clear on the health benefits of certain nature simulations (applied in certain ways), such as circadian lighting, air movement and purification, climate controls, and nature scenes playing on ordinary TVs with a sound-system assist to play birds and streams.”
How can you achieve a more nature-like atmosphere in your New York City residence? In this blog, we’ll talk about how home lighting control, wellness retreats and cleaner air can make a big impact. Keep reading below to find out more.
SEE ALSO: The Surprising Benefits of Home Lighting Automation
Soak up the Sun
We’ve been hearing quite a bit about human-centric lighting and tunable lighting – and for good reason. Homeowners have marveled at more productive days and restful nights when their light mimics the sun’s rise and fall.
But does fine-tuning your home illumination’s tone and brightness adequately replace the sun? Are there newer lighting and wellness trends that elevate it beyond the circadian space we’ve seen for years?
New research suggests that integrators should work more closely with lighting designers to give homeowners the full effect. Why? Overhead lighting alone doesn’t let the human eye’s photosensors process incoming light as effectively. Integrators will pay more attention to side lighting, such as wall sconces, accent lights, and, most importantly, motorized shades.
Enhance Air Quality & Climate Control
Biophilia-focused product developers are looking beyond circadian lighting and examining air quality, another widespread concern among homeowners. According to the EPA, indoor air pollutants often measure two to five times higher indoors than out, especially when you consider elements like accumulating dust and pet dander.
Another area in which humans frustrate their circadian cycles is climate control. Think about the last time you went camping or spent an entire day outside. Did the air stay a balmy 73 degrees the whole day and night? No: it likely shifted pretty drastically from morning to night. Stay tuned for manufacturers doing more to mimic this shift inside in coming years.
Retreat from the Inside World
The Delos Wellness Retreat at CEDIA was nothing short of remarkable. Not only did it give busy expo workers some reprieve from standing, but everyone who entered seemed wrapped up in the tranquility apart from blaring speakers, massive TVs and long, exhausting travel days.
The room looked explicitly lit for comfort, and soon you were guided to a zero-gravity chair that lifted your legs. Next, an attendant handed you a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and you could hear your nature soundtrack of choice or a guided meditation. As you settled in and listened to the soothing sounds, you noticed you were breathing deeper. The lighting warmed and dimmed as you abandoned all outside cares for fifteen minutes.
Homeowners are joining the trend by multi-purposing their home theater spaces with surround sound, nature scenes, purified air and circadian lighting. Rayva, an immersive home theater designer, is working to build more biophilia into their already impressive concepts.
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Ready to enhance your health and wellness, just by enjoying life inside your New York City residence? Contact us to learn more about wellness trends and how you can start experiencing them at home.