And breathe: IKEA, Patternity and Denby among brands to launch 'wellness' ranges to transform homes into havens
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Life is increasingly busy, with all-consuming pressures to succeed and precious little downtime. Yet the one place where it should be easy to take a step back and enjoy the calmer moments in life is your home.
With this in mind, IKEA has launched a new range to encourage its customers to take a break from their modern lives and re-connect with nature and themselves.
Using sustainable materials such as cork, linen and rattan, the Swedish furniture giant is launching its first yoga mat, blocks and strap alongside scented candles, jewellery bowls, bedding and plant pots.
“The HJÄRTELIG range is IKEA’s first full range which focuses on helping people improve their emotional and physical wellbeing," says Alee Abas, Sales Leader for Bedrooms at IKEA UK and Ireland.
"We know that British people are some of the most hard-working in the world and that’s why we believe it’s important to take a step back from the often-hectic modern life to re-focus and re-vitalise.”
Launching in store from this month, the range starts from just £3 and will be available while stocks last.
English potters Denby's new calming blue collection is a collaboration with interior designers 2LG Studio.
Blue tones are said to promote tranquillity, with strong blues stimulating clear thought and the feeling of being lighter and softer blues encouraging a calmer mind and aiding concentration.
Experts 2LG Studio suggest pairing blue ceramics with warm woods and natural linens for a palette that is both effortless and classic.
Studio Blue is available exclusively at John Lewis — find out more on the website.
Paint can be a quick and simple way to change the vibe of a home but which colours will ensure you keep your home stress free?
"Subdued colours such as the beautifully muted tones of Peignoir and Worsted provide a soft, romantic backdrop to the home, creating a sense of quiet tranquillity in any space," says Charlotte Crosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball.
"Smart phones mean we are always working, always accessible, always online so you can use these types of colour to transform your home into a haven of calm and comfort.
"Light pastel colours like Pale Powder or Green Ground also work to create a space that feels serene, and an ideal colour palette to help you relax."
Patternity hope to inspire people to live more positive lives through pattern.
Now they've joined forces with John Lewis to produce a monochrome collection made with sustainable materials and manufacturing choices.
They've chosen materials with low environmental impact such as organic cotton towels, wool and linen cushions.
Founders of Patternity Anna Murray and Grace Winteringham reveal the inspiration behind their well-being collection.
"Our own mantra whilst we’ve been designing this collection has been on the importance of ‘sustaining the self’ and we’ve been exploring the rituals, habits and behaviours that evoke sustainability on a wellbeing level for the individual and thus society as a result."
"This collaboration invites people to look within, to relax and create daily rituals such as meditation or reflection that help to break the busy autopilot mode that we so often live In - and find moments of ‘being’ amidst the constant ‘doing’."
Scroll through our gallery above to see how to transform your home into a sanctuary of wellbeing.