Mental Health in the Home
Trends and Tips for You in 2022
by Kara Murray, Partner
Alair St. Albert
It’s important to talk about mental health and wellness. As a parent, I am so happy to see how these conversations have increased in recent years, and the stigma around talking about mental health seems to be reducing.
Programs like Bell Let’s Talk Day (along with many others) are uniting voices across our communities and making it okay to not be okay, or to ask for help.
As a homebuilder and community leader, it’s important that we look at how our homes can help boost our mental health and wellness too–especially during uncertain times when we are being asked to spend more time in our homes.
In honour of Bell Let’s Talk Day, and in an effort to have our homes help increase our mental health, I am sharing some trends we are seeing this year to help accomplish this.
Over the last two years, we have been spending more time at home and less time engaging with others at school, work or play. But human beings, as innovative as we are, have manifested some solutions by designing a space in our homes dedicated to decompressing, vibing and raging.
While gyms and craft rooms have always been in demand as wellness spaces, there are new types of rooms popping up that offer similar release and expression. Some of the more popular ones are rage rooms, music rooms, libraries and spas.
Rage Rooms
Also called anger or smash rooms, these rooms are exactly what they sound like – a room where you can let loose and hit and/or destroy things to let off some steam. There are varying levels of activities you can do that don’t necessarily require that you trash all your stuff, but you can throw paint around, smash breakables or punch holes through walls. Maybe a gentler version could have you punching pillows, ripping paper or jumping on bubble wrap. The main thing is that this is your space to attack as you like. (And if you require someone to rebuild the space after it has been demolished, my contact information is below.)
Music Rooms
Yehundi Menuhin, an American Violinist, is quoted as saying “Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient.”
The rise of music rooms during this time shouldn’t be a surprise. Whether playing it or listening to it, music has a tremendous benefit on our psyche and is one of the most popular ways in which we relax and restore. The music room is a more updated version of using the garage for a jam session. Whether it is an alcove for playing your piano, or a small room with a music library and all the accompanying electronics, people are embracing a dedicated space for a musical retreat. If you want to really take it to the next level, you can soundproof the room and incorporate other elements to improve the acoustics.
Library
While libraries aren’t a new concept, they are showing up more and not just as a study/library type room, but also as reading nooks and designated spaces for curling up with a tea, a blanket and a great book. You can add a small side table next to a chaise lounge in a quieter area of the house or have a bookshelf with a built-in window seat overlooking the yard. Wherever you can relax and escape in a good book, that is the perfect place for your mini library.
Spa-like Spaces
And lastly but certainly not least, is the home spa or massage rooms. Creating an oasis in your home for soothing away physical and mental tension, these also add an aesthetic look to your home. Think of massage tables, massaging chairs, aromatherapy, organic materials and natural lighting. Some people are choosing to upgrade their bathrooms, while others are creating separate spaces for massage and stretching.
These are only a few things that you will see a rise of in 2022 while people invest in their mental well being and create spaces that facilitate that. Please connect with me with any of your home building or renovations needs.
All the best for a healthy and happy new year.
