Health Update: Today’s Homes Are Being Designed with Wellness In Mind – What Experts Say

Wellness was once synonymous with gyms, spas, and resorts, but today you’ll also find it incorporated into the style and functionality of our homes. “The desire for a deep connection to nature and wellness is not a trend—it’s here to stay,” says designer Julee Ireland.

According to Zillow’s 2026 Home Trend report, home listings are seeing a 33% increase in mentions of wellness features—reflecting homeowners’ desires for design choices that not only look good, but can help us feel good, too. “Wellness and comfort are now just as integral to design as the color, texture, and materials that define our spaces,” Ireland says. 

Wellness at home is not defined by a single room or feature—it’s a strategy shaping how spaces are planned, furnished, and even experienced. From lighting and material selections, to spaces designed for unplugging and recharging, the modern home is considering how mental and physical health can be supported through everyday living and home environments.

1. Comforting Color Palettes 

Color is a powerful wellness tool, and today’s homes are moving away from the stark whites and grays that defined previous decades. “Homes are leaning into deeper, cocooning colors such as saturated greens, blues, and burgundies that wrap a room with a sense of calm,” says designer Andrea Goldman. “Clients crave spaces that feel grounded and lived-in, and color has become a meaningful way to achieve that.”

Even in spaces like baths, which traditionally rely on lighter, spa-like palettes, color plays a restorative role by connecting with nature. These intentional uses of calming, comforting color create restorative and rejuvenating environments throughout the home.

2. Lighting Designed for Health

Lighting may be one of the most science-driven advancements of wellness-focused design. While layered lighting has long been a hallmark of well-designed interiors, the wellness approach goes much deeper.

“We’re moving away from choosing lighting just for style or trend and toward creating experiences with light through spaces that reflect who we are and how we want to feel,” Ireland says. She recommends investing in lighting that mimics natural daylight and adjusts throughout the day.

This is an emerging approach to lighting that aligns with nature the body’s circadian rhythms. One strategy is to allow more natural light into the home. A complementary strategy uses technology like apps, smart light bulbs, and lighting systems to shift temperature and brightness throughout the day. Not just intended to reflect natural light, this more dynamic approach to lighting also allows you to set lighting for different moods and activities to further enhance your experience at home. 

Other wellness-forward light features now finding a place at home include red-light therapy panels and infrared saunas.

3. Spa-Inspired Bathrooms

Perhaps nowhere is wellness more deeply rooted in today’s home than the bathroom. The 2026 Bath Trends Report from the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) describes the bath as a space designed for wellness, with “escape and relaxation driving fundamental design decisions.” According to the report, the concept of the bathroom as a personal retreat is not longer an aspirational luxury—it’s a mainstream expectation, proving that purposefully rejuvenating features are no longer relegated to resorts and spas. In fact, they are becoming part of our daily rituals and routines. 

In order to accommodate spa-like features such as steam, aromatherapy, chromotherapy lighting, and integrated seating, showers are growing in size and often replacing tubs. But for those who keep a tub, designer Denise Merbeth says that therapeutic options—like whirlpool jets and customizable lighting therapies—are in high demand.

Another luxury wellness upgrade: toilets. “Smart toilets with bidet functions have become popular now that we are realizing the health and sanitation benefits,” Merbeth says. Toilets with heated seats, deodorizers, and even self-cleaning technology are finding a place in the bath as contributors to hygiene, comfort, and wellbeing.

4. Sensory Improvements

Sensory design pays special attention to the senses, with the goal of feeling more deeply connected to our home and the experiences we have there. In many ways, it creates a better background for everyday living. Sensory design brings more of what we love into our spaces, such as comforting textures and tranquil scents that make the home feel like a personal sanctuary.

Sensory-friendly design also works diligently to remove things that can be overwhelming, overstimulating, and detract from wellness. For example, consider reducing noise through quieter, high-performing appliances and use carpets and rugs for better acoustics.

5. Biophilic Design and a Deeper Connection to Nature

One of the most influential forces shaping wellness-centered homes is biophilic design. Rooted in the idea that humans thrive when connected to nature, this approach emphasizes natural light, organic materials, and visual or physical connections to the outdoors. 

Architectural design features like larger windows and glass doors offer a visual connection to nature, while indoor-outdoor spaces bringing interior comfort, style, and even activities (such as cooking and dining) into the outdoors. Whether it’s doorways and windows or patios and porches, these connections help bring us closer to nature. 

Inside, decorative elements like plants and nature-inspired patterns can be found, while natural materials like wood are gaining new footholds in the home, especially as kitchen cabinetry and wall coverings. In addition to physical and visual connections to the outdoors, organic and nature-inspired materials, colors, and patterns help us feel grounded in our homes.

6. Spaces for Movement, Unplugging, and Dedicated Self-Care

Areas specifically dedicated to physical and mental wellness are also gaining ground. For instance, Zillow’s 2026 trend report noted increased mentions of golf simulators, pickleball courts, and other movement-focused activities in and around the home. Zillow also reported a growing desire for quiet, tech-free spaces like reading nooks—which are up 48% in home listings—a stat that Zillow says reflects the craving for unplugged relaxation at home. 

A wellness room is another example of a space specifically dedicated to wellness. In this case, it’s about intentionally setting aside room for activities and or hobbies that enhance our mind, body, and wellbeing, whether that’s an at-home yoga practice or a place for concentrated journaling. Outdoor wellness spaces like meditation gardens and plunge pools offer the same concepts for focus and relaxation–enhanced by nature.

7. Healthier Materials and Indoor Air Quality

Material selection is also an element that designers are viewing through a wellness lens. Homeowners are increasingly aware of how elements like finishes and furnishings affect indoor air quality and long-term health. Manufacturers report a growing demand for low-VOC products, like flooring and paints, chosen specifically to support healthier indoor environments. Similarly, designers are seeing increased requests for natural materials with inherently healthy traits, from antimicrobial materials to hypoallergenic textiles. Non-toxic materials, natural fibers, and thoughtfully-sourced finishes reduce exposure to harmful chemicals. 

Related home improvements include air purification and circulation. Individual air purifiers, high-performing HVAC filters, and powerful kitchen ventilation are all being incorporated to enhance the environment by removing elements such as excessive moisture, odor, smoke, and allergens. They condition interior air quality but can also address exterior factors such as air pollution from wildfire smoke, smog and other hazardous.

8. Kitchens That Support Healthier Living

A central source for personal health and nutrition, it makes sense that the kitchen is a key contributor to wellness in the home. Today’s kitchens are evolving into more intelligent, personalized spaces that support healthier lifestyles.

According to the NKBA’s 2026 Kitchen Trends Report, common health-conscious requests include appliances that encourage better eating habits, such as refrigerators designed to keep fruits and vegetables fresher and more visible, as well as cooking appliances that incorporate steam and air-fry technology. Water filtration systems are improving the quality of water for drinking and cooking, while also removing harmful contaminants. 

Beyond physical health, kitchen design also has a focus on reducing stress. Hidden storage minimizes visual clutter, while safety features like water and gas leak detection provide peace of mind. Lighting quality and increased natural light, and better air circulation are part of a more holistic approach to kitchen design for wellness.