Design Elements Commonly Found in a 'Wellness Garden': Beyond Outdoor Saunas, Ice Baths, and Yoga Studios, These Spaces Also Incorporate Other Wellness Promoting Features
Creating a Wellness Garden: A Haven for Holistic Well-being
A wellness garden is more than just a beautiful outdoor space; it's a sanctuary designed to nurture both the body and mind. Here's a guide to the key elements that make up a wellness garden.
Tranquil Water Features
Incorporating water features like ponds or fountains is essential. The soothing sound of flowing water provides a calming effect, while the visual relaxation it offers helps to create a serene atmosphere. Landscape designer Katherine Aul Cervoni recommends a small bubbling fountain or a backyard pool for a soothing water feature.
Layered Planting Palettes
Soft, naturalistic, and seasonally varied plants form the backbone of a wellness garden. Ornamental grasses like sporobolus heterolepis are recommended for a layered planting palette, adding texture and movement to the garden.
Shady Seating Nooks
Privacy and comfort are crucial for resting, reflecting, or meditating. A warm seating space, such as a pergola or a leafy tree, is essential in a wellness garden. Hakonechloa grass is suggested for a shade or part shade garden, providing a calming ambiance.
Soothing Scented Plants
Engaging the sense of smell is key to relaxation. Lavender, rosemary, and mint are recommended for their calming scents. Fragrant flowers like these are powerful mood-boosters and can be found in collections like the Basil Collection from Sarah Raven and the Lady's Mantle plant from Crocus.
Multi-Sensory Plants
Plants that provide tactile, visual, and aromatic stimulation are important for a wellness garden. The Saule Outdoor Floor Cushion allows for relaxation closer to the ground, while container gardening can be used to create a mini meadow in pots for a naturalistic scheme.
Natural Materials
Using natural materials like wood, stone, or clay contributes to a grounded, earthy feel. Pile Pots from House Doctor are a charming addition for container gardening, adding a rustic touch to the garden.
Space and Weather Protection
Pergolas, parasols, or umbrellas are used to extend the usability of the garden through different seasons and to keep comfortable in the blazing summer heat while using outdoor furniture.
Promoting Relaxation and Stress Reduction
Wellness gardens promote relaxation and stress reduction through sensory engagement and exposure to calming natural stimuli like water and gentle plants. They encourage mindfulness and emotional balance by grounding individuals in the present through gardening activities and immersive nature experiences.
Enhancing Physical Health
Involving repetitive but gentle physical activities like digging and planting increases circulation, releases endorphins, and reduces muscle tension. These activities can also improve mood and mental clarity by lowering cortisol (stress hormone) and boosting serotonin levels.
Providing a Meaningful and Purposeful Activity
Wellness gardens offer a meaningful and purposeful activity that counters feelings of worthlessness and fosters achievement, aiding in depression management. They provide private, peaceful spaces for contemplation and meditation, amplifying psychological restoration beyond indoor relaxation techniques.
Designing an Outdoor Seating Nook
Designing an outdoor seating nook that provides privacy is important in a wellness garden. The Havana Sunlounger from Suntime is a chic option for unwinding in the garden.
In essence, wellness gardens integrate natural elements and thoughtful design to nurture both the body and mind, making them powerful tools for holistic well-being.
[1]: Source for the key elements of a wellness garden. [2]: Source for the benefits of wellness gardens on mental and physical well-being. [3]: Additional source for the benefits of wellness gardens on mental and physical well-being. [4]: Source for the design considerations in a wellness garden.
- To add a touch of tranquility to your wellness garden, consider incorporating interior design elements like furniture, such as the Havana Sunlounger from Suntime, in your outdoor living space.
- For a haven that fosters holistic well-being, consider following the latest interior design trends, like layered planting palettes using plants like sporobolus heterolepis, known for their ability to add texture and movement to the garden.
- To create a calming environment in your garden, opt for decor choices that complement the natural surroundings, such as natural materials like wood, stone, or clay, found in products like Pile Pots from House Doctor.
- DIY projects, such as creating mini meadows in pots with a variety of multi-sensory plants, can help infuse your wellness garden with tactile, visual, and aromatic stimulation.
- To make a strong statement and showcase your personal style, display art pieces in your wellness garden, drawing inspiration from artists and collections in the home-and-garden sphere, like the Basil Collection from Sarah Raven and the Lady's Mantle plant from Crocus.
- By promoting relaxation and stress reduction through sensory engagement, encouraging mindfulness, and providing meaningful activities, wellness gardens not only enhance physical health but also contribute to overall lifestyle well-being.
