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The most valuable renovations extend far beyond curb appeal and resale potential, offering investments in daily wellness and quality of life. Therapeutic saunas, sun-drenched sunrooms, backyard plunge pools, private meditation retreats, and advanced sleep technology rank among today’s home improvements designed to nurture both body and mind while reducing stress and anxiety. Here we highlight several home wellness upgrades that offer science-backed benefits to transform your space into a relaxing, restorative environment.
1. Sunroom
A sunroom is a space designed to let in maximum sunlight through an abundance of windows, including skylights. “There’s something deeply human about wanting more light, more connection to the outdoors, and more usable space that doesn’t feel boxed in,” says Melissa Skinner, patio enclosures expert at Great Day Improvements in Cleveland, Ohio. “A sunroom delivers all of that in a way few other home improvements can. It blends the line between inside and outside while keeping you protected from the elements, and it does so without compromising your comfort.”
A well-designed sunroom is a lifestyle upgrade, a mood booster, and often the most flexible room in the entire home, says Skinner. It’s the perfect space to relax and unwind, entertain family and friends, and enjoy hobbies. “Because of the natural light and views, these activities feel better in a sunroom than they do in a standard interior room or dingy basement,” notes Skinner. Plus, being exposed to more natural light has been found to boost mood and energy.
Essential Gear
The Sun-Tek Fixed Self-Flashing Polycarbonate Skylight features a tinted, domed design and maximum impact resistance. It’s designed with a unique self-flashing mount, which is installed directly between the shingles and roof decking. Because it’s made from a single piece of material, it’s easy to install. Available in a wide range of sizes, this model is suitable for either asphalt shingle or composition roofs, but not for metal roofs.
2. Infrared Sauna
For thousands of years, saunas have been used for therapeutic purposes like relaxation, relieving sore muscles, fighting illness, and improving cardiovascular health. Fortunately, you no longer have to wait for a vacation to relax in a sauna; you can install one right at home.
Infrared saunas, which heat the space using infrared light, are a top choice. Unlike UV rays that can damage skin, far infrared (FIR) offers therapeutic benefits, including deep heat penetration, detoxification, and cellular activation. When used in sauna therapy, this specific wavelength penetrates deep beneath the skin, helping to mobilize toxins, stimulate metabolism, and promote overall wellness.
Modern residential infrared saunas are compact, energy-efficient, and can be installed outdoors or in bathrooms, spare rooms, and home gyms without structural changes. Compared to traditional saunas that rely on extremely hot air, infrared saunas use direct radiant heat that mirrors the body’s natural heat, which allows infrared saunas to operate at lower, more comfortable temperatures. They also warm up faster and provide longer and more comfortable sessions.
Essential Gear
Supported by Sun Home
Invest in your home—and your well-being—by adding the Sun Home Luminar sauna to your backyard. It features an aerospace-grade aluminum exterior with double-pane tinted windows and a cedar cabin surrounded by full-spectrum infrared heaters. Furthering its therapeutic capabilities, this sauna is equipped with customizable LED lighting, Bluetooth surround sound, a smart control center, and charging ports for your personal devices.3. Plunge Pool or Tub
Smaller than traditional pools, plunge pools can be installed in a small yard or in a large, sunny indoor space. Cold-plunge pools in particular have gained attention recently for their many health benefits. According to the Wim Hof Method, research shows that cold exposure boosts metabolism and the immune system; minimizes inflammation, sore muscles, and swelling; improves sleep; and reduces stress and anxiety. A home plunge pool or tub allows you to soak in water between 45 and 55 degrees to reap these benefits.
Plunge pools come in a variety of sizes; styles; and materials such as concrete, vinyl, and fiberglass. They also sit above the ground or come as inground units, and some include custom add-ins. “Plunge pools become a destination, a gathering place, as well as an oasis for cooling off,” says Karen Larson, co-founder of Soake Pools in Madbury, New Hampshire. “To top it off, they leave space for other beautiful outdoor features for gardens since they don’t take up much space,” adds Larson.
Essential Gear
Enhance your wellness routine with the KPLUNGE 62‑inch handcrafted premium cedar cold plunge tub that is great for patios, home gyms, garages, or spa-inspired wellness spaces. Built for indoor and outdoor use, this plunge tub is made from a wood exterior and corrosion-resistant stainless steel interior with 169 gallons of capacity. The oval barrel design allows for full‑body immersion to enjoy deep, effective cold therapy. The wooden step, foldable thick cover, and headrest add more comfort. It is compatible with any chiller (not included).
Get the KPLUNGE Cedar Cold Plunge Ice Bath/Hot Tub at The Home Depot for $4,199.
4. Meditation Shed
Meditation, which is the habitual process of training your mind to focus and redirect your thoughts, provides an extensive list of science-backed benefits including reducing stress and anxiety, improving focus and attention span, controlling pain, improving sleep, decreasing blood pressure, and regulating emotions.
Finding a spot for some peace and quiet can often be challenging. Building a backyard shed is the perfect way to create a personalized meditation retreat right at home and avoid having to drive to the yoga studio or book a vacation. Since this separate space is detached from your house, it allows for quiet contemplation without distraction. There are many types of sheds to choose from, including those with French doors and windows to allow the sunlight to shine into your serene space.
Essential Gear
With design touches that make it look more like a cottage than a shed, the EZ-Fit 10-foot by 14-foot Riverside Shed Kit is an ideal choice for building a meditation retreat. Architectural features like window boxes, shutters, a cupola on the roof, and paneled doors with wrought-iron hinges give this gabled-roof shed a finished look. It’s functional, too, thanks to a set of carriage-style doors, an additional single front door, and multiple windows that provide ample lighting and ventilation. Plus, the doors have locks to ensure privacy and security.
5. Smart Mattress and Bed System
A good night’s sleep is essential for maintaining health, energy, and a positive mood. We now have the opportunity to choose a smart mattress and bed system for our home that can help us achieve the best sleep possible. The innovation behind smart mattresses brings a host of features designed to revolutionize the way we sleep in which technology gives us the information and tools to improve our rest and recovery, and therefore, overall well-being.
Smart mattresses use built-in technology to track sleep patterns like movement, quality of sleep, duration of sleep, heart rate, and breathing; adjust firmness and temperature; and provide sleep reports for a personalized sleep experience. Sensors in the mattress gather data throughout the night so you can adjust settings like firmness or temperature in real time to help you sleep better. You’ll just need to plug in the bed, download an accompanying app, pair the bed with your device, and calibrate the bed according to your unique preferences.
Essential Gear
The Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Smart Base has all the bells and whistles, including sleep tracking, on-demand lumbar support, a built-in sound bar, targeted massage zones, and automatic anti-snore adjustments. You can also adjust the head and foot into both pre-programmed positions or customize your own. With the app, you can also connect the bed to your voice assistant to make adjustments and check the temperature, humidity, and air quality of the room. Tempur-Pedic has even partnered with Calm, a leading meditation app, to help you sleep more, stress less, and live mindfully.
Get the Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Ergo Smart Base at Tempur-Pedic for $1,999.
