| Furnishing for Fulfilment

Furnishing for Fulfilment
Placing wellbeing at the fore of the home

There’s no denying the global pandemic has shifted people’s priorities to focus much more on wellbeing in the home. With Australians spending more time at home for both work and play, creating a comfortable space that invites wellness and wellbeing has become a popular pursuit.

Encouraging fulfilment, the implementation of functional furnishing in the home has not only proven to boost concentration levels (and as a result, productivity), but also to increase muscular diversity, improve mental wellbeing and inspire connection.

Furniture for intergenerational living arrangements

Encouraging fulfilment, the implementation of functional furnishing in the home has not only proven to boost concentration levels, but also to increase muscular diversity, improve mental wellbeing and inspire connection.

Experimenting with ergonomics

With the lockdown forcing more people to use their homes as a central space for work, play and socialising, designers have rapidly innovated to produce furniture that adapts to our physical and mental health concerns.

Unsurprisingly, consumers have been spending more money on home furnishings to improve their overall wellbeing in 2020, with a focus on modular furniture. Sales of modular units to fit any room size, such as John Lewis’ Sofi range, have risen 170% since lockdown.

People have found the relationship with their houses and apartments is changing. Two in five (40%) of home-owners say they would prioritise space for an office if they were searching for a new home.

Tomorrow Together

Furniture for connection

Beyond physical health, brands and designers are exploring how furniture could improve mental wellbeing by encouraging interaction and connection.

Designer Chifen Cheng is responding to social isolation in older adults with the Tomorrow Together collection. Inspired by the rise of intergenerational living arrangements, the furniture doubles as an intuitive playground to disrupt the sedentary lifestyle of seniors, while encouraging play and interaction for children.

“The sofa solidifies cross-generational bonds by bringing a sense of joy and purpose through moments of skill-sharing, storytelling and playing,” says Cheng.

The Venn Room by SpacePopular

Isolation, augmented

While physical interaction remains important, this is not always possible due to strict and ever-changing local and international lockdowns.

In response, brands and designers are exploring ways to offer comfort and connection through digital means, like that of The Venn Room by SpacePopular. Taking cues from the structure of a Venn diagram, the concept allows physical spaces to blur using virtual reality, enabling people to virtually sit together if they physically move furniture into suitable positions. Meanwhile, Spatial is bringing VR and AR innovation to workplace interactions by allowing users to create a 3D-realistic avatar from a single selfie.

As Beulah continues to create transformational spaces to be enjoyed by present and future generations, we look to these innovative and forward-thinking designers for inspiration in offering residents fulfilment both inside and outside the home.