For many homeowners, spare rooms don't serve their intended purpose – they are more often used forstorage of clutter. However, they may be one of the best opportunities to enhance your everyday wellness from the comfort of home.
In England, most households have more bedrooms than they need. 68.8% of homes were under-occupied at the time of Census 2021. This equates to around 8.3 million homes having one spare room and a whopping 8.9 million with at least two spare rooms. That means millions of homeowners are not short of space, but rather a compelling reason and a practical plan to make that space work harder.
At the same time, self-care has moved from an occasional treat to a normal part of British life. YouGov published research in 2024 which showed that 24% of Britons practise self-care every day, while a further 44% do so at least weekly. The most common activities are simple, such as spending time with family and friends, walking in nature, reading, regular exercise and eating healthily. A spare room can therefore become more than occasional guest accommodation; it can become a flexible space to recharge.
But a wellness room is not created by décor alone. Research points to the importance of daylight, fresh air, thermal comfort, soundproofing and biophilic design.
Click on one of the sections below to learn more:
The spare-room opportunity: improving, not moving
Older adults are more likely to own a home than younger people. In fact, 80% of over 65s own their home compared to 64% of those aged 35-64 and 42% aged 16-34. They may also be sitting on several more rooms than they need after grown children have moved out. However, the desire to improve rather than move is strongest when you have emotional or habitual ties to your property or its location.
Putting your spare rooms to good use can give your home a renewed sense of purpose and comfort without sacrificing space for younger generations. To do this successfully, a considered redecoration is essential for optimising storage, function and space, so you can still use the old bedroom as intended in the future.
A dedicated wellness space can simply be a quiet, well-designed room where a yoga mat can stay rolled out, workout equipment can be stored, or a bright reading nook can be added. It provides a private convenient space for self-care that doesn't require travel or a membership.
At home wellness matters for older adults
Home-based wellness can also help address one of the most common barriers to healthy routines – getting started. Sport England notes that people become more likely to be inactive as they get older, with 42% of people aged 55 and over classified as inactive, compared with 29% of the adult population.
For homeowners who do not feel comfortable in a public gym or leisure centre, who have mobility or accessibility considerations, or who simply prefer privacy, a spare-room wellness retreat can therefore lower the threshold. The room – in the comfort of their own home – can support simple and effective strengthening routines, yoga, mat Pilates, stretching or mindfulness activities.
What does a wellness room need?
Daylight: the foundation of a restorative room
Natural light is one of the simplest ways to change how a room feels. Daylight supports visual comfort, makes a space easier to use and helps maintain healthy circadian rhythms. Unsuitable or inadequate lighting can affect sleep, alertness and overall wellbeing.
For a wellness room, this matters because a naturally bright room feels usable and welcoming straight away. Larger windows, slim windows or bifold doors can also improve views of the outdoors which strengthens the sense of connection to nature.
Fresh air and ventilation
Ventilation is equally important. Indoor air quality is a core part of a healthy room because everyday homes can contain moisture, odours and pollutants from everyday living. Wellbeing activities particularly benefit from a room that feels fresh rather than stale.
Thermal comfort and sound: the difference between a spare room and a retreat
If a room gets too cold in winter or too hot in the summer, you may not get as much use out of your extra space if you’re only confined to using the room seasonally. Equally, if you live on a busy street, you may find it harder to relax at home. Thermal and acoustic comfort are important considerations if you want a room to be usable throughout the year.
High-quality glazing solutions can contribute to a more stable, peaceful environment by eliminating reduce draughts, supporting insulation and limiting unwanted noise.
Four wellness-room trends for 2027
There are many ways to design a wellness room, and this will mostly depend on its intended purpose. For example – you could use it as a home gym, in which case, smart storage, air conditioning and ventilation will be essential. Alternatively, if you want a quiet room to escape to, installing bookshelves or a window seat can make for the perfect reading spot. Personal saunas were a popular trend in 2025-2026, but as we go into 2027, there are definitely some key things to focus on.
1. Going analogue
After decades of screens being central to work, entertainment and social connection, many people are actively seeking time away from screens and electronics. This is backed up by searches for the term 'digital detox' soaring 110% since last year. A wellness room can encourage slower, non-digital habits, reduce stress and offer an escape from busy life. It can be a space dedicated to reading, crafts, mindfulness or slow movement. You'll want to prioritise comfortable furnishings, efficient storage and ambient lighting, so a digital detox becomes an inviting retreat.
2. Connecting with nature
Biophilic design – the idea of strengthening connection to the natural world through light, views, materials and planting. Perfectly suited to a wellness room, it can be achieved through vertically stacking indoor plants or hanging baskets. This helps make the most of space while enhancing greenery and air purification. An outdoor view and plenty of natural light can also enhance your mood.
In addition to bringing in plenty of plants, updating your windows can make a dramatic difference to the interior feel of the room.
● Bay windows: the outward projection from the home provides a panoramic view and captures light from varying angles throughout the day.
● Tilt and turn windows: dual opening and expansive maximum sizes mean that you can benefit from safe ventilation, exceptional views and full opening when you want to connect with the outdoors. Because they open inwards, they are well suited to rooms with balconies.
● Picture windows: these can offer some of the most expansive views and slimmest sightlines.
● Bifold doors: completely folding away when open, bifold doors create a continuous transition with the outdoors.
● Sliding doors: if you want to maximise outdoor views or save on space, sliding doors are a practical and visually striking option.
3. Circadian-aware lighting
According to YouGov's health and wellness roundup 2024, getting enough sleep is one of the top health priorities, and lighting plays a critical role in this. Adequate natural light during the day makes a room energising, while soft lighting, sunset lights or red lights in the evening can help it feel calmer and promote a healthy bedtime routine.
4. Earthy tones and natural materials
Earthy colours and materials are naturally calming. Additionally, natural materials are also beneficial for reducing unpleasant odours and improving the indoor environment. Natural materials don't hold onto odours as easily and can be naturally antimicrobial. Meanwhile, plants actively promote good air quality by removing pollutants. When designing your wellness space, consider timber panelling, natural throws, cork yoga mats and organic textures.
Why the right windows matter for a wellness room
A spare room becomes easier to use when it feels worthwhile spending time there. With the right glazing, the room can shift from an overlooked space to a restorative retreat. If you are planning to update your spare room, it might be the right time to explore replacement windows. Aluminium windows offer exceptional strength and resilience which allows them to achieve expansive sizes.
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Sources
● Office for National Statistics, “Overcrowding and under-occupancy by household characteristics, England and Wales: Census 2021”.
● GOV.UK, “English Housing Survey 2024 to 2025: Chapter 1: Profile of households and dwellings”.
● GOV.UK, “English Housing Survey: Home ownership, 2019–20”.
● YouGov, “Stress reduction and mental well-being are key motivators for Britons practicing self-care”, 2024.
● Sport England, “Older adults”.
● GOV.UK, “Physical activity: applying All Our Health”.
● Global Wellness Institute, “United Kingdom’s $224 Billion Wellness Economy”, 2024.