Whether you’re designing a living or working space, taking into account the psychological impact of your design is an important consideration. While numerous interior design features have been associated with improved mental health, recurring themes include sunlight, open space, plants and flowers, natural elements, colour, and artwork.
Space
Whether we like it or not, all humans have evolved in ways that make us sensitive to environmental cues. Home interior design can encourage or discourage productivity, intimacy, efficiency and even happiness. Every element in your home triggers an emotional response — the spaciousness of your room, its layout, furniture placement, lighting, use of materials, colour and even plants and flowers. Several studies indicate that a cluttered environment drains energy and can contribute to feelings of stress and anxiety. Creating designated storage spaces and keeping your area clean can help alleviate these symptoms. A good mood can also be enhanced by displaying personal art or photographs. Top interior designers can provide ideas on incorporating these elements into your home. They’ll also ask you what makes your home special, which can help them design a uniquely individualized space. It makes you feel connected to the area and less disconnected from your world.
Colour
As people spend more time at home than ever, it’s crucial to remember that your environment can directly impact your mental health. Whether you’re in the kitchen or your bedroom, everything about the layout of your home can trigger an emotional response. Decades of colour theory research have confirmed that each colour has a different psychological effect. Warm hues like red and orange are connected to feelings of passion, comfort, wrath, and strength, but cool hues like blue and green have a calming impact on the brain. Biophilia—the design trend of incorporating elements of nature (like sunlight, free-flowing air, organic materials, plants and flowers, and art) into interior spaces—has also been proven to improve mental health by decreasing stress levels and encouraging a sense of well-being and safety.
Decor
Every aspect of a room’s design affects the mood. The size of a home, furniture arrangement, lighting, colour, and even artwork can impact productivity, happiness, trust, and more. Experienced interior designers consider these elements when creating rooms for their clients. They also consider how a person or family uses the space, how often, and what their needs are in the area. They also ask about any stressors or triggers in the room to understand how they can help reduce them.
In addition to design elements, regularly decluttering and organizing your home can keep stress levels down. You may enjoy your surroundings and feel terrific while doing it if you keep your clutter and stuff to a minimum and use dedicated storage locations.
Natural Light
For some, fall is a time of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It’s estimated that around 6% of the population experiences this mood swing, typically resulting from fewer daylight hours in autumn and winter. Regular exposure to natural light is a mood-booster linked to increased serotonin levels, which act as our brain’s natural mood stabilizer. Studies have found that just 13-15 minutes of sunlight can be enough to trigger the release of these feel-good hormones. It’s no wonder that when asked what features they most desire in an office, employees didn’t list fancy gym perks or nap pods; instead, they recorded consistent access to natural light and views of the outdoors. Luckily, you can incorporate many design elements to boost your daily dose of mood-boosting sunshine. Invest in a skylight, open up those curtains, or install a large window to make the most of your natural light.
