We are thrilled to have Rose Morrison’s creative and talented writing in her article, How Does Interior Design Affect Our Mental Health?
Her insights are sure to inspire a pick-me-up that we all seek during winter. Thank you, Rose!
Please be sure to read Rose’s bio below and follow the link to her other articles on Slipcovers for Your Walls.
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It’s no secret that the spaces we live in can impact our mental health, and the science of how that happens is quite fascinating. Everyone has their own needs when it comes to the use and qualities of their homes. Regardless of what that might look like in your life, house and workplace, interior design contributes to our well-being.
Your emotional wellness can often benefit from a bit more intention and personal touch. Here’s how interior design can affect our mental health.
Light
One of the most influential elements of interior design on mental health is light, which is extremely beneficial to momentary mood and long-term mental wellness. Many people experience some form of seasonal mood shift, with some afflicted by seasonal affective disorder [SAD] or [a type of] depression.
When you experience mental health struggles like these, especially ones tied to the amount of light available, having a space with optimal lighting can make a huge difference. Large windows and those facing in different directions can be extremely uplifting, as they allow for the most light availability within a space.
Cleanliness
Another means of interior design impacting mental health is living in a clean and uncluttered space. Dirty homes can make people feel depressed or claustrophobic. It can be extremely calming and uplifting to exist in an area free of visual distractions. With this in mind, it makes sense that decluttering and minimalism lead to a sense of mental serenity.
Go through your rooms and get rid of any items that do not bring you joy or that you no longer use. Donate them to the charity of your choice, or if you think you can get good money for them, hold a yard sale. Paring down excess clutter can have a freeing effect on your psyche.
Uplifting Space
Another way interior design can affect mental health is how a room feels when it’s entirely put together. Decor exists to be more than the sum of its parts. It isn’t about just one piece of artwork or furniture — or even the colors within a room. It can be about the feeling emitted when those elements come together cohesively.
[Here’s an example of a black and white, minimalist-color, removable wallpaper, Koi Fish pattern by POZdesigns working to create a fresh, clean, modern and invigorating bathroom.]
With this in mind, it makes sense that some spaces depend on a specialized quality that puts them over the edge. A unique detail like a mural, specialized crown molding, or even a fun accent wall can make a room feel uplifting, fun and filled with character.
[Casart’s new Nature Noticed removable and reusable wallpaper panels were designed to uplift and personalize a space, particularly during the pandemic by surrounding a room with images from nature, which is our take on Biophilic Design. This reconnects our association with the outdoors, especially when we have been staying inside so much and might feel disconnected from getting outside whenever we’d like.]
A Personal Spin
Sometimes, the impact of design on mental health isn’t so much about the abstract principles as it is about the personal spin within a home. It should feel comforting, calming and familiar. This could mean being in a location that feels comfortable or putting your unique spin on decor and colors within a space. Having somewhere that’s truly your own is often all it takes to trigger a positive, relaxed response.
Some great examples of this include putting up favorite artwork, painting, using wallpaper, and adding personal details throughout the space. A blankness that comes with cleanliness can feel very serene, but your home should not feel bleak, as this can have the opposite of the intended impact.
Calm
There are plenty of things that can make a space feel calm, and that often varies from person to person. Sometimes, it involves low, warm lighting or minimal space without too much clutter or excess decor. This is quite subjective, but a few things apply across the board. For example, blue and other light pastels tend to relax most people, as well as a lack of clutter and dust.
To find your inner Zen, think about a place that makes you feel relaxed and incorporate those elements into your home. If you find peace in an art gallery, add more paintings to your walls. Perhaps you find comfort in nature. Bring in some tropical floor plants so you can enjoy the great outdoors year-round.
Awe
Awe is a vital emotion. It’s the feeling you experience when something feels extremely vast and beautiful in a unique way. In a landmark paper published in 2003, psychologists Dacher Keltner and Jonathan Haidt presented a “conceptual approach to awe.” They suggested that awesome experiences can be characterized by two phenomena: “perceived vastness” and a “need for accommodation.”
Although this can denote negative and positive experiences, awe can be an important emotion to introduce and experiment with — especially for kids still learning about the world around them.
There are plenty of things that can inspire awe, from deep colors to natural elements you can include in your design by bringing them inside. Ultimately, it’s an extremely personal thing that varies from person to person. Awe isn’t uniform, which is a part of what makes it what it is in the first place.
Changing Things Up
Sometimes, the ability to change and shift things can boost mental health. People often need to switch things up to feel refreshed and enlivened. [This can easily be done with Casart removable and reusable wallpaper, instantly transforming a space.] This can involve moving furniture around, painting a new color on the walls or putting up some great new artwork that you love. Whatever the case may be, bringing a bit of change into a space can be uplifting, fun and reinvigorating.
Making simple switches like this may not seem like it will do much, but why not give it a try? Rearranging your furniture is a small thing that can make a big impact and even bring a bit of “wow” back into your life.
Interior Design and Mental Health
The interior design elements you work with every day have a significant impact on your mental health. Creating a space that feels clean, inviting, personal and awe-inspiring can be just the boost you need for so many reasons.
[To end on a an “upbeat” (no-pun-intended) note, here are 10 simple ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day without spending a lot of money. Some tips include, simply adding some personalized accessories like cut-out, origami hearts to the table with candles and a memorable framed photo or artwork to share with the one you love. Make the setting personal and you’ll both love it!]
Many thanks to Rose for this article with lots of helpful tips for achieving an interior that uplifts mood and benefits mental health this winter!
About the author:
Rose Morrison is a home improvement and design writer.
She is also the managing editor of Renovated. Follow her on Twitter to see more of her work.
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