Interior Design for Wellbeing

It’s back to school time and for many of us, back to work time too. There is still a lot of uncertainty with Covid-19, variants and precautions. However, our homes remain our sanctuaries, as a safe place to retreat from the world or a busy day, so it is important to have the best interior design for wellbeing.

Oskar Torres Interior Designer 1_color and wellbeing_casartblog — Oskar Torres South Hampton interior design work.

Like artwork, what appeals to one person may not be the same concept that appeals to another. Same with interior design. However there are some interior design for wellbeing concepts that are considered fundamental standards to use. [Side note: the above links to a Psychology Tomorrow article by Chloe Taylor, who has written extensively as a guest writer on our blog.]

The use of color is most important. Using the right color for the best use of a room can make all the difference. Base your color preference by what is in your closet, colors you most like to wear and how the natural light affects them in a room. Yellow is mostly associated with a sunny outlook, positivity and nurturing, so it’s best use tends to be in kitchens, where friends and family gather and delicious meals are made. Blues are serene and calming and can be best used in bedrooms, offices, nurseries or sitting rooms. Reds and oranges are associated with high energy and appetite, so are best used in dining rooms and workout rooms. Using different hues within the spectrum of these primary colors can expand and alternate their use. For example, a light-purple-hue blue can bring calm and energy to an office space. Knowing your mood also helps. For instance if you are someone who needs energy to boost awakeness, try using yellows and blues in a bedroom. White, beige, and grey are considered neutrals but their hues can change by the natural light, intensity, and time of day. Colors that come in from windows reflecting lots of foliage can bring out green/blue tones in white, so rather than fight that natural effect, choose a white with these tones to accentuate the crispness of the natural light. On the flip side, if your window is right next to a brick building, you might want to choose a neutral tone that balances out that color reflection so there is not so much of it.

Casart Coverings Happy Yellow Colorwash temporary wallpaper_Drysdale Interior design_casartblog — Drysdale Design & Casart Colorwash wallcovering

Just like color, accentuating the natural light in a room can make it more cheerful, expansive and appealing. Keep window treatments to a minimum in a low-lit room and hang curtains extra high in a low-ceiling room to visually help expand the sense of height and space. No one likes to feel boxed in.

Organizing and decluttering a space works wonders for mental compartmentalization — keeping things both visually and mentally organized and in control. Decorative items should bring satisfaction, a sense of personalization and practicality. Accessories with a use have purpose but maybe too many pillows just adds clutter and confusion. Two sitting stools can be multi-functional for side tables as well as extra seating for guests.

eye-catching living room with nature and wellbeing in mind_casartblog post by Chloe Taylor — Living Room imbued with nature. Photo via Unsplash

Finally, adding natural elements can visually bring the outdoors inside. Plants with flowers not only add pops of color but can add scent and air filtration. Bring plants or nature scenes into a space to make it calm and connected to being outside, especially when you are spending a lot of time indoors. Casart Coverings’ nature-themed removable and reusable wallpaper designs help with this and wellbeing. If you have a yard or outdoor space to add a small fountain or bird feeder, just the ability to sit and watch nature acts as a meditative exercise. Even looking at pictures of nature by surrounding your interior with natural art can bring a sense of enriched connection to a larger world beyond oneself. This helps minimize stress as we start the new school year and back-to-work routines with a refreshed sense of wonder and appreciation and with a better interior design for wellbeing.