Can changing your interior design change your mood?

Freshening up your home décor is beneficial in more ways than you might think

Our home is our sanctuary, and should feel like it. It’s where we spend the vast majority of our time, and because of that it can have a strong impact on our thoughts, feelings, mood and overall wellbeing.

Multiple studies carried out by psychologists and architects alike have shown this, finding that certain designs and layout can be used to promote relaxation, while others can encourage alertness and higher thought. Factors like high ceilings have been shown to help improve creativity and inspiration, while lower ceilings can help you stay more focused.

Understanding just how powerful your home environment can be is a key step in improving your general mood, because your interior design is firmly under your control. The way you choose to decorate your home can change a lot more than just how it looks; it can change the way you feel. So here are some of the elements you will need to consider when creating a home environment that makes you feel good. 

How are health and home linked?

Our thoughts and feelings are easily influenced by our surroundings, but this is something we usually don’t notice until we make the decision to change them. Coming home to an interior space that looks good ultimately makes us feel good. But simply choosing your favourite colours and items isn’t enough — you need to understand the benefit that each factor can bring to your home environment and therefore to you. Understanding balance will help you find the best way to effectively use the available space and combine elements like lighting, colour, layout and furniture to create a space that is pleasant, relaxing and energising in the long run.

A room with a view

Nature is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal when planning your interior design. If you’re lucky enough to have a home that looks out onto a large garden or perhaps a nearby park, use this to your advantage by turning your view into a room’s centrepiece. Nature and greenery has been shown time and time again to improve energy levels, reduce anxiety and help you feel more focused. One study found that working in a natural environment made employees 8% more productive and improved wellbeing by 13%.

However, for those living in busy urban environments like city centres, it can be difficult to find a home which looks out onto natural beauty, and busy street scenes have been shown to be both distracting and even tiring.

But it is still possible to include natural beauty in your interior design in order to improve your wellbeing. Adding greenery to your home in the form of flowers, foliage and plants is a simple step which can make a big difference. Bright kitchen flowers, leafy living room houseplants and floral dining table centrepieces can all make your home feel fresher and more colourful. This will help you feel fresher, too, giving you the energy you need to get on with your day.

Finding furniture that feels right

The right furniture should be chosen carefully in order to make the most of your space and reflect your own personal taste and style. Everything from your sofa to your bed and your dining room table can have a massive impact on the look and feel in that space, changing the way you feel.

This is all about personal preference. Some people prefer soft forms and curved edges — which studies suggest could be a subconscious desire to avoid potential dangers — while others might like the clean, defined look of more rigid shapes and styles.

Many people like choosing furniture and accessories, which is reflective of their own cultural heritage and ties, as this can help make it feel more personal. Beautiful vintage furniture is a great way to create a truly unique space in your home with a rich history behind it, and you can find stunning vintage options on sites like Vinterior

The two L’s: Layout and Lighting

Once you’ve found the perfect furniture for your home, you need to know how to arrange it in the best way for your wellbeing. This means considering a combination of aesthetic and practical elements, namely how easily you can move about the space during your normal daily routine. Your furniture arrangement can also have an impact on how often people interact in that space, as positioning seating against a wall has been shown to discourage socialisation, whilst central chairs positioned in groups facing each other encourages interaction. This is important, as socialising is a key factor in maintaining a positive mood.

Lighting is another vital factor to consider when decorating for your wellbeing, as it can influence our mood considerably. Natural light is important as sunlight and brightly lit areas have been shown to increase both positivity and productivity, helping us get energised for the day ahead. Different spaces and situations may call for different lighting, as dimmed lights at a dinner party can stimulate conversation and help you feel more relaxed, while low lights in the kitchen can make you feel more tired.

All the colours of the rainbow

Colour psychology has been present in society since as far back as the early 19^th Century, when Johann Wolfgang von Goethe released his book Theory of Colours. Things may have evolved since then, but one thing is certain: the colours we use in our interior design can have a very real impact on our own wellbeing.

Any hotel or restaurant owner will tell you that colour influences mood. Colour schemes can be used to help improve relaxation through the use of soft, warm colours, or to energise with bright tones and lots of light.

Yellow is a positive colour, thanks to its association with sunshine and happiness. It’s a popular choice for kitchens as it can boost energy levels and make you feel more alert. The kitchen is the most frequented room in most houses, so your colour choice here is extremely important. Orange has a similar effect to yellow but is often seen as warmer and homelier.

Blue has practically the opposite effect to yellow, as it is a tranquil colour associated with the sea, sky and relaxation. Light, pastel blues can be used in place of neutral tones like white and grey, while darker blues are often best reserved for feature pieces and elements. Because of its calming effect, blue is popular in bedroom and bathroom décor.

Red is one of the boldest colour choices out there. When we think of red we think of passion, love and strong emotions, meaning it can be overpowering and aggravating if used across large spaces. A feature piece of red décor, however, can be a good way to make you take notice of the space around you, helping you feel more awake and inspired. Consider purple as another bold option which can be used in larger quantities.

Green is the colour of nature, and as such can reduce feelings of stress and boost your focus levels. This makes it a great option for a home office.

White and grey are two neutral colours that can be used more liberally than most. They are clean and airy, making a space feel bigger and brighter, which can encourage you to feel more positive.