The Intersection of Real Estate and Wellness: Mental Health Lounges as a Key Feature

The real estate landscape is having to evolve because buyers and renters are no longer just looking for a place to live but increasingly want spaces that support their well-being.

Subsequently, thanks to their growing awareness of mental health and the concept of work-life balance, developers and property managers are rethinking how to design spaces that best serve these needs.

One recent trend that has emerged is the incorporation of dedicated mental health lounges into floorplans. These are specific areas that are designed to help people relax, de-stress, and practice mindfulness within residential and commercial properties.

In this post, we’ll explore how this growing trend has come to be and examine what exactly a mental health lounge is and the benefits it can bring to those who have access to one.

The Rise of Wellness-Oriented Real Estate

Over the last decade, wellness has become a more salient factor in property design and investment due to people placing a greater emphasis on holistic living.

As a result, real estate developers are increasingly integrating features that promote both physical and mental well-being into their properties. This trend is gaining particular traction in Australia, where there is an increased awareness of mental health issues and the need for supportive environments.

This has been driven, in part, by factors such as the rise of remote work, which means people are spending more time on their own, and an increased demand for community-driven living spaces where people feel connected and supported.

Additionally, there is a growing market demand for properties to have amenities like a mental health lounge that can help to combat the rising stress levels, anxiety, and burnout that many people experience.

What is a Mental Health Lounge?

A mental health lounge is a dedicated space within a residential or commercial building that is specifically designed to provide a calming and restorative environment. Unlike traditional common areas or co-working spaces, mental health lounges are geared towards relaxation, calmness, and emotional well-being.

Typically, these spaces feature comfortable seating areas with soft lighting and natural materials. They also tend to have quiet zones for meditation, reading, or contemplation, lots of greenery, and other biophilia elements and elements such as aromatherapy, wellness books, calming music, and soundproofing to create a serene ambience for some quiet time.

The Benefits of Mental Health Lounges

There are several benefits associated with adding mental health lounges into a residential or commercial space. Some of the main ones include the following.

1. Great for Reducing Stress and Anxiety

These types of spaces work extremely well as a retreat from the pressures of daily life, particularly in busy cities.

If well-designed, with soft lighting, calming scents, and comfortable furnishings, this type of environment can be an excellent place for relaxation and regaining your emotional balance.

 2. Provides Vital Support for Remote and Hybrid Workers

The shift to remote and hybrid work has resulted in many people spending more time on their own. While this might result in increased productivity and the benefit of no commute, it has placed a greater emphasis on the need for spaces that promote mental well-being at home.

Many professionals struggle with burnout, loneliness, and lack of work-life balance, which is why a mental health lounge is so important. It provides a designated space for people to step away from work, and therefore recharge, and return with renewed focus.

3. Enhances Property Value

Properties that accommodate mental health lounges often see an increase in value because they are viewed as prioritising wellness.

Therefore, prospective buyers and tenants are more likely to choose homes and offices that promote mental well-being in this way, which makes these spaces a strong selling point.

Essentially, the presence of a mental health lounge signals a property’s commitment to well-being, which provides it with a point of difference in a competitive marketplace.

How Developers Can Incorporate Mental Health Lounges

Wanting to add a mental health space into a floor plan is one thing, but actually being able to do so is easier said than done. 

For a start, the design of a mental health lounge should prioritise tranquility and relaxation, which requires neutral tones, natural textures, and ergonomic seating to create a sense of calmness.

A good way to get this right is to partner with mental health professionals who will be able to look beyond the unit cost of design to add credibility and depth to the space. By working with therapists, wellness coaches, and mindfulness experts, developers will be able to curate resources and design programmes to maximise the benefits of the lounge.

Additionally, to ensure the space is welcoming for all, developers should consider ways to make the design more inclusive, by adding features like wheelchair accessibility, sensory-friendly spaces for neurodiverse individuals, and multilingual wellness resources.

Moreover, it is also important to make sure these spaces are part of an overall plan to design a home that boosts mental health.

Photo by Minh Pham on Unsplash