Designing for Wellness: How to Create a Healthy Home Environment
“Picture a space that welcomes you with calm, clarity, and quiet joy.”
It’s about more than just aesthetics; it is a feeling. It is that quiet exhale at the end of a long day, that sunshine pouring in your living room in the morning, the little joy knowing that everything around you was intentionally chosen, not just for how it looked, but for how it made you feel.
At L+P Interiors, we believe wellness begins in the home. Not as a reaction to fleeting trends, but as intentional, elegant functional design that supports how you live. Our work is dedicated to storytelling - active listening, sincere design, and making spaces that have the feel of someone’s actual home.
Because your home should do more than just hold your life. It should elevate it.
Start your wellness design journey →
Why Wellness-Centered Design Matters
We live inside for nearly 90% of the time—that's not a statistic, that's a wake-up call. The spaces we inhabit not only reflect our lives; they determine them. From our ability to sleep well, think clearly, and connect with other humans, the home is the constant.
That is why at L+P Interiors, wellness is not a layer we embellish or build on. It is a principle that is woven into everything we do, from the materials we source to the path of light within the room. We design for how you live: your rhythms, your rituals, your real life. We believe that a beautiful home should do more than impress; it should nurture, comfort, and inspire.
Explore our work in Belvedere, St. Helena, and beyond →
The Foundations of a Healthy Home
Designing for wellness starts with smart, subtle choices that work behind the scenes to elevate your everyday life.
1. Clean Air
Let's discuss VOCs. These volatile organic compounds are in all of our daily products, like paint, flooring, and furniture—and can harm our health. Therefore, everything we use is either low-VOC or VOC-free across all projects, this includes adhesive selections and textiles.
Our philosophy: Nothing goes into someone's home that we wouldn't feel comfortable breathing in ourselves or around our families.
2. Natural Light
Sunlight does more than just light up a room—as it sets your circadian rhythm, helps with mood regulation, and may even contribute to higher levels of productivity.
We design spaces to embrace light—hoping to contribute to it with window placement, reflectivity, and tone. We think about warm oak flooring reflecting morning light, or soft, creamy walls that glow at the golden hour.
3. Ventilation + Airflow
We create homes that breathe, and air quality is an important part of that process, from cross-breezes to high-efficiency HEPA filtration systems. When we design homes, we incorporate intelligence to deliver indoor air quality through natural ventilation strategies built into the house (well-placed windows, open floor plans for intake and cross breezes), and intelligence that monitors the indoor air quality, filtering pollutants and allergens, and controlling humidity. Through our designs, we will ensure that all parts of the home receive the supply of fresh, clean air the home requires and deserves to sustain the respiratory health and overall health of the occupants.
4. Non-Toxic Materials
At our core, we believe natural, sustainable materials are a key part of our design philosophy. We use mostly untreated wood, organic cotton with certification, and water-based finishes. Importantly, anything we use must not contain harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and other harmful toxic chemicals. We have an extensive vetting process for our vendors -- we look beyond visual characteristics into the safety of the materials, environmental impacts, and ethical sourcing. We use materials that improve the indoor environment by reducing exposure to irritants and enhancing our collective association with nature.
Let’s talk about your next healthy home project →
Designing for Mental + Emotional Well-being
Wellness isn’t just physical—it’s deeply emotional. Design can create calm, inspire joy, and encourage better habits. Here's how:
1. Calming Color Psychology
Color holds power. Soft blues encourage relaxation, greens promote balance to the spirit, and earth tones express warmth. At L+P we think about color storytelling - layering combinations that help represent who our clients are and where they want to go.
We don't think about generic mood boards. We think about meaning.
2. Clutter-Free Living
Visual noise = mental noise. Thoughtful storage provides calm and character to your home. We often use built-ins, custom cabinetry, and hidden storage to help organizations feel second nature.
During a Mill Valley renovation, we made multi-purpose furniture and storage to grow with a family—aesthetically pleasing, but fundamentally practical.
3. Personalized Spaces
No two clients are going to be the same, which means that no two homes should feel the same. Whether it is a music corner, meditation room, or office nook by the sun, all design decisions are based on real-life routines.
4. Lighting + Acoustics
Lighting has a significant impact on mood and energy. We use ambient, task, and accent lighting to create different activities during different times of the day. Sound comes into play too: textiles, rugs, and millwork details help to soften acoustics and create a comfortable environment.
5. Bringing the Outside In
Biophilic design is not a fad; it is a reconnection. It encompasses natural materials, views of green, plants indoors, and natural shapes. Research found that greenery indoors can help with mental well-being and concentration.
Design your calm. Connect with us →
Designing for Physical Wellness + Daily Rhythms
A well-designed home supports how you live—and how you move, eat, sleep, and recharge.
1. Wellness Kitchens
Healthy and happy habits begin here. We plan kitchens for connection and nourishment from intuitive flows to beautiful, organized pantries.
We enjoy mixing clean, elevated appliances with natural materials, and yes, we believe joy is a very important ingredient to include.
2. Home Movement Zones
You don’t need a “home gym.” A yoga corner, stretch alcove, or open flow area can do wonders. We carve out micro-moments of wellness within homes, no matter the size.
3. Quality Sleep Environments
Your bedroom should be a refuge, not a repository. We advocate light-blocking options, low or dim lighting, and relaxing color palettes. In St. Helena, we created a guest bedroom retreat where we prioritized quiet luxury—textile elements such as handwoven wool rugs, linens with texture and softness, and ambient lighting.
4. Tech That Supports (Not Distracts)
Smart thermostats, circadian lighting systems, and air quality monitors all serve your rhythm, without stealing attention.
5. Spa-Worthy Baths
Showers with sound systems. Tubs with views. Aromatherapy-ready vanities. Your bathroom isn’t an afterthought—it’s your private spa.
Get inspired by our portfolio →
Real Wellness Stories from L+P Interiors
Here’s how we’ve brought wellness design to life in real California homes.
Belvedere Project
This family of five wanted more orchestrated calm than chaos in their busy lives. We created a space that balanced quality with playfulness; oak shelves loaded with kids’ books, banquette seating for family meals, and a system of lighting triggers that aligned with daily rhythms.
St. Helena Weekend Retreat
This couple came to us to seek solace from the city. We delivered filtered light, tactile materials, and a seamless indoor/outdoor experience. The palette is quiet, and the materials are honest — linen, clay, reclaimed wood. The end product? A refuge for languid mornings and long evenings filled with wine.
Nantucket-Inspired in California
One client wished for a slice of peace from the East Coast, but called the West Coast their home. We did our best to create that dream with soft blues, traditional trims, and breezy textures. The result is a home in California with a hint of salt air and a classic nod to Americana.
Ready to write your own design story? Reach out →
Wellness, No Matter the Size of Your Project
You don't have to remodel your entire space to bring wellness into your home. At L+P, we accept projects of any scale or scope.
Are you a young family? We can ensure there is storage in place and create calm zones.
Are you empty-nesters? We will refresh your space with new lighting and new fabrics for a calming update.
Are you expecting a new baby? We design nurseries with non-toxic finishes and cozy comfort.
Designing for wellness is not about the size of the project; it's about how intentional the space feels.
View our portfolio and services →
Working with L+P Interiors
We believe in collaboration based on competence, a sense of caring, and a little bit of fun.
Discovery: We learn about you. How you live, what you love, your idea of wellness.
Design: We combine your story with elevated materials, form + function.
Reveal: A home that feels like you... only better.
Our team, led by our Founding Principal, Ansley Majit, with the support of the Studio Director Megan Bettor, Junior Designer Malia Lucey, and Design Assistant Grace Heller, brings a fluid, creative, and caring approach to every project.
Let’s create something personal →
Design That Feels Like You
Wellness is not a fad; it is a life-sustaining way of living. Your home should have your back every step of the way (in terms of what it looks like and how it feels)
At L + P Interiors, we are more than just decorators. We design with intention. We create spaces where you can feel calm, alive, grounded, and free. Because that is what home means.
Learn more, get inspired, and start your design journey →
L+P Interiors (Lark + Palm)
Award-Winning Sausalito Interior Design Firm
📍 4000 Bridgeway Blvd, Suite 305, Sausalito, CA 94965
📞 +1 (415) 987-5986
📧 hello@larkandpalm.com
FAQs
1. How to design a wellness space at home?
A: To design a wellness space at home, choose a quiet area with natural light, calming colors, and minimal clutter. Add plants for cleaner air, use natural materials like wood or bamboo, and incorporate comfortable seating or yoga mats. Include sensory elements such as aromatherapy diffusers or gentle music to create a relaxing, restorative atmosphere.
2. What is healthy home design?
A: Healthy home design focuses on creating living spaces that support physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It involves using non-toxic materials, optimizing natural light and ventilation, maintaining good air quality, and designing layouts that promote comfort and movement. A healthy home also prioritizes energy efficiency and sustainable building practices.
3. What are the characteristics of a healthy home environment?
A: A healthy home environment has clean indoor air, low-toxicity finishes, ample natural lighting, balanced humidity, and noise control. It also includes ergonomic furniture, organized storage, and biophilic elements like plants and water features to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
4. How to design for wellbeing in your home?
A: To design for wellbeing, consider a holistic approach:
Light – Maximize daylight exposure.
Air – Improve ventilation and filter indoor pollutants.
Color – Use soothing, nature-inspired tones.
Nature – Bring in greenery and natural textures.
Flow – Create uncluttered, harmonious layouts that reduce stress and encourage relaxation.
5. How does interior design impact mental health and wellness?
A: Interior design can influence mood, energy, and stress levels. Calming colors reduce anxiety, while natural light boosts serotonin. Comfortable layouts encourage social connection, and quiet zones allow for mindfulness or rest. Thoughtful design choices can support both emotional resilience and physical health.
6. What are simple, budget-friendly ways to create a wellness-focused home?
Declutter to reduce mental stress
Open windows for fresh air
Use affordable plants like pothos or peace lilies
Switch to LED lighting for better mood and energy efficiency
Incorporate natural fabrics like cotton or linen for bedding and curtains
