Wellbeing-Led Living
Wellbeing-Led Living: How Smart Home Technology Supports a Healthier, More Harmonious Life
Here we are again in the dark depths of winter with another year winding-down and the next year just a few weeks away. Regardless of the Great British weather (granted, not so great this December!), it’s a season we absolutely love for all the festive celebrations and opportunities to spend valuable time with family and friends.
It’s also a time each year when we’re asked to dust off the crystal ball and look ahead at what’s new, trends and innovations we might see coming in the smart home sector.
Obviously, the presence of AI is only going to increase in every aspect of our lives, not just in our smart homes. This understandably makes some of us nervous, but AI has already been with us for a long time and – facial recognition on our phones; Siri, Google Assistant and Alexa; social media feeds; even predictive text.
But we’ll park AI for now and look at what we believe should be the focus of any smart home: wellbeing-led living.
Wellbeing-led living is about designing our everyday lives around comfort, balance, safety and peace of mind. It places human needs – your needs – at the centre of your home, recognising that our environment has a profound impact on how we feel in ourselves, and therefore how we connect with others.
At its core, wellbeing-led living prioritises ease and harmony and smart home systems simplify daily (often quite mundane) routines by automating tasks that might otherwise create distraction or just generally be a chore.
We’ve all become switched-on to the need for better quality rest, but it’s not just an approach for the bedroom: lighting that adjusts automatically throughout the day and supports natural circadian rhythms helps promote better sleep at night and increased alertness during waking hours.
Gentle morning lighting to ease you awake instead of harsh alarms, or warmer tones in the evening to encourage relaxation and rest – it doesn’t just look nice and feel nice, it really does work!
And it’s not just the lighting that can create this for you; whisper-quiet smart blinds open by themselves to allow in the early morning light, and just as effortlessly close again as the darkness draws in at the end of the day.
Temperature control is another key contributor to wellbeing. Smart thermostats intuitively maintaining consistently comfortable environments while adapting to personal preferences and daily schedules. Again, those smart blinds and shading systems can play their part in retaining warmth in your home at this time of year.
At this point – and given the time of year – you’ll be forgiven for thinking we’ve gone all ‘hygge’ in our approach, and actually, you wouldn’t be far from the mark given the fundamentals of the Scandinavian concept:
- Atmosphere – warm lighting is a must
- Connection – quality time at home with family and friends
- Comfort – indulge in simple pleasures like a favourite movie or album
- Mindfulness – being present and slowing down
- Feeling – a sense of security, togetherness
Convenience also plays a major role in wellbeing-led living. Smart home technology enables seamless control of lighting, shading, audio and entertainment systems through your preferred choice of devices – tablet, phone and remotes.
But it’s not just the device, it’s how it works for you, specifically for you. A well-integrated system works quietly in the background, supporting your lifestyle rather than interrupting it or adding anything unnecessary.
It may seem strange to be quoting the great William Morris (19th century artist, designer and leading proponent of the British Arts & Crafts Movement), but wellbeing-led smart homes really do epitomise his most famous quote: “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Safety is fundamental to feeling at ease in one’s home and smart security systems provide that reassurance whether occupants are at home or away.
Being able to check on the home remotely or receive alerts about unusual activity offers peace of mind, and for families with children or older relatives, these systems can also support safer independent living without feeling intrusive.
Importantly, smart home systems can encourage more mindful living by reducing energy waste and environmental impact through intelligent lighting and heating control. Living in a home that operates efficiently and responsibly can foster a sense of alignment between personal wellbeing and wider sustainability.
Ultimately, wellbeing-led living is not about complexity or novelty; it is about thoughtful design and purposeful technology.
Smart home systems, when carefully implemented, create homes that feel calmer, safer and more supportive of everyday life.
