THE RISE OF THE WELLNESS WING
SMALL AMENITIES ARE NO LONGER ENOUGH AS BUYERS AND BUILDERS DOUBLE DOWN ON PROMOTING HEALTH AND LONGEVITY AT HOME
In the not-so-distant past, wellness features in high-end homes meant saunas, home gyms, or sports courts—the hallmarks of healthy living. But as our collective view of well-being has evolved, so, too, has the definition of wellness in the home.
What was once seen as extraordinary now feels expected, setting the stage for a new era of highly customized mind-body and longevity systems. These next-level enhancements, amenities such as hyperbaric chambers, cold plunges and red-light therapy rooms, are the types of treatments and technology once reserved for cutting-edge clinics and elite spas.
“There’s a growing awareness that health and well-being are the most important priorities in life right now,” says Santiago Arana, Principal at The Agency. “People are more conscious about self-care and longevity and creating environments that support a healthier lifestyle.”
What’s more, as homeowners are spending more time at home, they want, or even expect, their personal daily health routines to be immediately accessible, says Sandro Dazzan, Managing Partner of The Agency Malibu.
Ultra-premium, off-the-charts self-care spaces are on the rise because people are craving control, vitality, and a sense of calm within their daily lives, says Sedona, Arizona-based interior designer Stephanie Larsen, who’s known for design that merges luxury and well-being. “People want wellness at their fingertips, woven into their routines instead of something separate that they need to step out of their way to acquire,” she says. “Wellness amenities help homeowners cut through the noise and create spaces that support them physically, mentally, and spiritually—it’s all about environments that look beautiful and feel beautiful to be in,” she says.
PERSONALIZATION IS KEY
Beyond the typical spa-inspired additions, homeowners are taking a personalized approach to their well-being that essentially fills a prescription for their space. “The focus is on blending technology and luxury design with preventive, performance-based amenities that not only help us relax but also boost our longevity and enable us to live better, happier lives through every moment,” Larsen says. Some of her clients are achieving this by installing bespoke elements such as lighting systems that mirror circadian rhythms, living herb walls, edible gardens within reach of the kitchen and soundproof sanctuaries designed for meditation, quiet reading, and moments of solitude.
These days, people consider their house and surrounding property as more than just a place to call home. “They’re viewed as spaces that support a healthier, more balanced lifestyle,” says Jason Davis, San Francisco-based studio director for Marmol Radziner, a design-build firm that specializes in creating seamless indoor-outdoor spaces. “We now see more trending amenities like pickleball and bocce courts, chicken coops, vegetable gardens, spas, and cold plunges,” he says.
In limited spaces, closets are being traded for saunas, and gyms are replacing media rooms. “It’s about more than just convenience or luxury. Our clients increasingly recognize the importance of reducing stress and maintaining a strong focus on health,” Davis says.
“Many of these aspects were once considered luxuries, but they have since become priorities, or even necessities, in what people now expect from their homes.”
And sometimes one dedicated space is simply not enough. For example, Dazzan is showing homes with entire wellness floors or wings with separate rooms designated for different activities. “I recently saw a property that had a dedicated infrared heated room for practicing Pilates and yoga,” he says. “The home gym has evolved into a whole wellness center, designed to complement fitness with holistic well-being.”
Even when every square foot is spoken for, homeowners are finding creative workarounds. Some are dropping fully outfitted shipping containers onto their properties, which double as stand-alone wellness sanctuaries. According to Dazzan, these sleek structures can house anything from cedar barrel saunas and cold plunges to cutting-edge gym equipment. Finished with hardwood floors, mirrored walls, and a roll-up door, they transform into high-end, freestanding retreats. “It’s an instant kind of health and wellness setup,” he says. Dazzan is also seeing homeowners without space to spare making the most of their basements. “They’re adding living walls, bringing in natural light and elite equipment to turn even a subterranean space into a soothing sanctuary.”
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WELLNESS FROM THE GROUND UP
Beyond adding wellness amenities after the fact, homeowners are now prioritizing healthier living environments from the very foundation of the home. For HQ Residences Miami, a development project Arana is working on in Miami, “we’re incorporating cold plunges, saunas, and other wellness-focused spaces directly into the design.”
Larsen prefers to think of wellness as the bones of a space when designing a space. “The goal is to make it effortless, automatic, and elevated through every design choice. It’s about building support for our well-being into every room as a foundational, permanent fixture, rather than an add-on or afterthought. She prioritizes natural light, surrounding views, systems for promoting air quality and noise management and focuses on the flexibility of the space to encourage rest, connection, and mindfulness.
Billy Rose, Founder and Vice Chairman of The Agency, has observed a growing focus on the health of the home itself—air purification, sound attenuation, and lighting systems designed to align with natural circadian rhythms. “Homeowners are bringing in specialists to make the entire home healthier,” Rose says.
Rose is also noticing a trend among homeowners to nurture themselves from the inside out—literally, by cultivating organic fruits, vegetables, and herbs in gardens, greenhouses, or high-end planter boxes.
WHAT THE INVESTMENT REALLY MEANS
Wellness is so much more than a passing trend—it’s the future of design. The industry is projected to grow to nearly $10 trillion in just a few years, Larsen says. “By introducing wellness amenities into the home now, homeowners benefit not only in the short term but also gain a competitive edge in the future market, building resilient investments that will hold value for buyers in the long term—especially for younger generations who are prioritizing wellness in their decision-making processes,” she says.
Like any sought-after amenity—whether it’s a theater, chef’s kitchen, or wine cellar—wellness features create emotional appeal, Arana says. “Buyers connect with them on a personal level, and that emotional connection often translates into a willingness to pay a premium.”
