What makes a house a home?

Health and wellbeing is no longer about what we eat and drink and how often we exercise. Today, Brits are turning their backs on disposable, desire-based buying in favour of more thoughtful purchases that offer a combination of personal and planetary benefits. A new report, 'Window on the World'  reveals key trends that impact the way we live in our homes in 2017. The report, published by the Wood Window Alliance, found that 49% of homeowners state that having natural materials in their homes makes them feel discernibly happier than when surrounded by artificial materials. In addition, 1 in 3 plan to use more natural materials and 27% plan to increase the amount of natural fibres in their homes this year in a bid to improve their quality of life. Only 10% of Britain's children play outside compared to 40% in 1985. Increasingly, because of the way we live (urban environments, lack of outdoor space, technology keeping us tethered to screens etc.), it is not only children who are becoming disconnected from nature - adults too are increasingly spending most of their time indoors. When it comes to going green indoors, 46% are planning to increase the amount of plants and flowers in their homes this year in a bid to improve their connection with nature and overall health. With regard to future plans, 1 in 4 homeowners are actively planning to decrease the amount of plastics in their home this year. Almost half (46%) of respondents are conscious of the impact of synthetic materials on the natural environment, and 1 in 3 is conscious of the impact on their wellbeing. Timber is cited by 67% of homeowners as the material they would like to have more of in their home. What is biophilic design? Leading biophilic designer Oliver Heath's top tips for happy homes: "Natural light is fundamental to our levels of energy and our ability to sleep. Position furniture next to windows so that you can have greater opportunity to look outside. Greenery and nature have been proven to be good at helping to restore your mental and physical energy quickly." "The introduction of natural materials is fundamental to creating more mindful spaces. These materials could include timber for windows, doors and floor, stone for walls as well as sheepskin, wool rugs and possibly cork for the floor." Download: Windows on the World report - The rise of Natural Wellness.