There’s no doubt about it – what we choose to surround ourselves with can have a lasting impact on our mental well-being. From colors and lighting to furnishings and decoration, interiors and their elements have the power to completely shift our mood and mentality, and they may even influence our productivity levels, which is especially important if you’re someone who works from home.

Because our homes should be our sanctuaries and the places where we can get the much-needed peace and quiet from the noise of the outside world, it makes sense that we’d do everything in our power to utilizing interior design to our advantage and reap the numerous mental health benefits that come with a well-designed living space.

That’s why in this article, we’ll be looking at how interior design impacts your mental health and how you can design your space so that it promotes feelings of balance, serenity, and happiness.

Color psychology

A powerful visual stimulant, colors are a major design element to consider when designing spaces that promote relaxation, happiness, and productivity. Each color is associated with particular feelings it evokes, and this is why it pays to learn a thing or two about colors and their meanings before diving in the design process.

Think about the tone and mood you’re aiming for when choosing the colors for your interiors. Red, orange, and yellow are perfect for warming up spaces and are associated with power, energy, and creativity. On the other hand, colors such as green, blue, brown, and gray are refreshing, calming, and soothing. Regardless of your color choices, your safest bet would be to follow the 60-30-10 color rule, sticking with more neutral colors for large surfaces and using the other two for furniture and accessories.

Lighting design

Like colors, lighting plays a vital role in how your interiors look and feel. Cluttered environments that lack natural light are known to drain energy, and can negatively impact your mood, productivity, and self-image. On the other hand, well-lit spaces with plenty of natural light and effective lighting design can boost your mood and well-being.

Whether you choose to add skylights or update your window treatments, creating a bright environment is one of the best ways to bring natural and organic elements into your interiors and help you create an enjoyable and peaceful place perfect for relaxing and unwinding after a long day. For best results, incorporate all the layers of lighting in each of the rooms in your home, and make sure to install dimmer lights for added flexibility.

Biophilia and texture

When talking about optimizing your living space for your mental health, it’s impossible not to mention the role of biophilia and texture. Both of them are used to create harmonic living environments that emphasize serenity, comfort, and positivity that will help you become more tranquil and grounded.

Adding a couple of rugs is the perfect way to set the stage for your interiors, and you want to go for rich textures and natural, high-quality materials. Jute and cotton rugs are ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens, while rugs made of top-grade wool from New Zealand make for the perfect living room add-ons. If you’re decorating a patio or verandah, eco-friendly rugs NZ made from recycled fibers would be the most suitable choice for these outdoor areas.

To create balance, vary the textures by implementing everything from terracotta and reclaimed wood to shiny metals such as chrome. Finally, enrich your design by bringing in a couple of plants. They’ll infuse the space with positive energy and keep your living area healthy by purifying the air.

Furniture arrangement and positioning

Improperly placed furniture doesn’t only result in poorly utilized spaces that make it difficult to get around. While the optimal layout varies from person to person, there are some general guidelines you can follow to get the most from your living space.

Start by creating a clean and welcoming entryway, arrange your living room furnishings so that the room feels inviting, and do your best to keep your space free from clutter. If you meditate a lot, be sure to set up a meditation corner for yourself where you can practice peacefully and avoid any distractions. And if you’re feeling ready to take your interiors to the next level, try following some other Feng shui principles as well. Relying on this ancient Chinese practice can help promote positive energy flow in your living space, allowing you to reap a multitude of mental health benefits.

Wrapping up

Our design choices can truly make a difference in how our interiors impact our mental health. This is why we should strive to make our living spaces equally comfortable and pleasing to our minds as they are to our bodies. In doing so, we can design balanced, harmonious spaces that will support our mental well-being and help us stay positive, happy, and healthy.

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