How interior design impacts your mood and mental health

Everyone wants their home to look good but it should make you feel good too! 

Our homes set the stage for all the momentous milestones in our lives; the good, the bad and the ugly! And because our homes are such a central point in our lives, it is vital that we make them a safe haven. With the world's constant stress and confusion, your home is a place where you can take control and provide yourself the sanctuary you need to escape it all. 

It needs to make you feel comfortable as you cosy down for the evening, supported when life brings you down, secure and safe from the outside world and give you the warm hug of familiarity wherever it can! 

Interior design and mental health go hand in hand! Here we will take you through different elements in your home that you should consider to maximise the positive vibes from your home!

Layout

Source: My Bespoke Room

Okay, we know it's not the most exciting part of interior design but it’s definitely one of the most important, so bear with us!

Before we can work on how interior design can increase your mood, we first have to move the literal barriers in the way. If you have furniture that blocks the flow of movement in your home, creating inconvenience, frustration, and anxiety - you’re already starting out on the wrong foot. 

We’re not saying to start looking in-depth at feng shui but you do need to rearrange the furniture in your home to guarantee easy movement that gives easy access to flow from room to room without shuffling or climbing over anything. In fact, spaces that are easier to navigate, reduce anxiety and help you build a stronger relationship with your space, making you feel more at ease. 

The more space, the better you feel! We’re all drawn to Instagram posts promoting minimalist spaces, this is because it makes us feel fresh and organised, but this is not always realistic. Even cleaning obsessed Monica had a secret junk closet! 

We all need home life clutter, you just need to find better ways of storing (hiding) it. However, minimising the amount of clutter you need to store is a great place to start. By tackling this you can already begin to ease the tidal wave that was overwhelming you to begin with! Everything needs to have a place and so assign a clutter draw, cupboard or box - whatever works for you. 

Need help creating a layout that works for you? Then book a FREE no-commitment call with our team to see how we can help!

Colour palettes

Source: My Bespoke Room

When considering interior design and how you can use it to increase your mental health, colour immediately comes to mind! In fact, colours will affect your mood in lots of different ways, thanks to colour psychology:

Warm colour palettes

Source: My Bespoke Room & De Sliva Design

Colours like red, orange, yellow and gold give you that warm sunshine-like feeling, however, each of them has different psychological connotations and can have effects on those in a space using this as a dominant colour.

Red brings heat into a space in more ways than one! It is often associated with power and aggression and also passion. This can be quite abrasive in rooms that need a calming feel if used too aggressively and can even lead to such an unsettling feeling that you may feel anxious. However, it also makes you feel hungry, which is why kitchens and restaurants use red accents. 

Orange is often thought of as energetic and can be a great way to cheer up a gloomy space. But it’s a colour that can also make a space feel warm and cosy. It’s perfect to use in a more boho colour palette, to give the space a cosy feel. 

Yellow highlights happiness, creativity, and energy - perfect for using in moderation in office spaces to encourage productivity. Pale yellows are excellent for rooms that need the sunlight intensified in a way that is still relaxing, almost as if you’re in a permanent state of sunshine. 

Gold is an interesting colour as it can be associated with light, romance, courage, magic and wealth. Now that’s a lot of range for one colour! However, one thing everyone seems to agree on is that gold is a relaxing colour, thanks to the way it glistens and moves like water. Read on to see why using elements similar to water will boost your mental health in your home.

Pink colour palettes are thought of as calming as they connote love and femininity. However, currently, it's being used in homes more and more as a neutral base to give a room a warm feel equivalent to your home giving you a hug.

Cool colour palette

Source: My Bespoke Room

We have been talking about green a lot lately as it keeps growing and growing in popularity. Our customers love implementing greens in their homes, whether using a jade colour palette in their bathroom or a teal colour palette in their living rooms! It is thought of as a soothing and relaxing colour, associated with balance and harmony thanks to the connection it has with nature. In fact, this is why on TV shows they often have actors in the “green room” thanks to the calming phycology of the colour.

We find blue calming thanks to similar reasons so green. We relate it back to nature with the thought of blue skies and natural water like the ocean or picturesque rivers, which creates a feeling of serenity, especially when used against crisp whites. However, if used in the wrong way blue can be a very sad and gloomy colour so make sure to use it wisely or risk giving yourself a space that only furthers depression. Also, it lowers appetite so maybe avoid using this in your kitchen or dining room…

Purple is a tricky colour to use well in room designs as it has a lot of mixed feelings. Purple is often used in religions to represent divinity and can be connected to individuality and quirkiness. It all depends on the depth of colour, for example, darker shades are often thought of as angry and is also associated with luxury and privilege that can cause frustration. Nevertheless, when using paler shades, for example, a lilac colour palette can be feminine and supportive. Be careful using this colour as too much purple of whatever hue, has been proven to make people feel irritable. 

Neutral and Monochrome 

Source: My Bespoke Room

Grey’s neutrality can bring a sense of balance thanks to it being the combination of black and white, however, it is more often thought of as a cold and unwelcoming colour. It is connected with feelings of depression and emptiness.

Brown and beige colour palettes have a connection with nature, which studies show creates stable, reliable and comforting feelings, on the other hand, if used incorrectly it can feel very flat. We suggest using this sparingly, perhaps in wooden elements rather than paints and furnishings. However, if you combine with bigger bolder colours you can create excellent contrast resulting in a peaceful but cheerful space.

Black, is obviously not known for cheeriness and is often seen as an ominous colour but it can be used in a way that creates a modern and sophisticated space. Keep in mind the reason black goes with everything is because it's a mixture of all colours and so when used in moderation it can balance a room perfectly. 

White is a common colour in homes as it reflects light, it makes rooms feel bright and feel fresh. However, using too much white can make your space feel almost sterile and not at all homely as it's the absence of colour.  It’s great for using as a backdrop to some statement artwork but be careful using too much white as stains and dirt don’t invoke happiness in anyone!

Personal Colour Associations

Source: My Bespoke Room

Remember, you will always have an affinity for certain colours that are personal to you! Don't go with the trends, or select something everyone else will like, as this is your home - it should make you happy. 

When we are children we begin to connect with colour from our own experiences. Maybe you love yellow thanks to sunny days at the beach with the family, or your favourite power ranger was pink? (no judgement!) Find where you connect to colour and implement it into your home. 

Colour can be tricky to get right! If you feel a little overwhelmed or need some help deciding which colours and shades work for you then start your design with us today!

Lighting

Source: My Bespoke Room

Why do so many of us overlook lighting?! Yes, paint, wallpaper and new furniture are exciting but lighting affects how you feel in a space as much as any other element! We’re often discussing how you want low-level lighting to feel cosy and snug in spaces like living rooms and bedrooms. This is because dim lighting can set a tranquil or even romantic ambience in a space. 

In fact, restaurants use dim lighting to their advantage to make customers feel more comfortable, making them want to eat more and treat themselves the same way you would buy a massive chocolate bar or a bottle of wine while binge-watching Netflix in your similarly cosy lighting scheme at home. 

On the other hand, using natural light is just as important to include in your home. Did you know that one in three people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder? This is where the lack of sunlight or summer weather can cause some of us to experience a form of depression in the winter months. So we’re going to try to counterbalance this with some techniques you can implement in your home to help keep the dark clouds at bay as best we can. 

Source: My Bespoke Room

One of the most important things to remember is that we’re human beings - we need sunlight! 

You wouldn’t leave a plant in the dark and hope it would grow green and bountifully would you?! So allow yourself some sunlight so you can not only survive but thrive in your home.

This is especially good advice if you’re someone who works from home as a home office is a perfect place to bring in natural light. In fact, offices often try to do this as natural light has been proven to boost productivity as well as motivation. 

Nature

Source: My Bespoke Room

This idea of natural light is a great segway into allowing nature into your home. We encourage you to blur the lines between the outdoor world and your home. 

It’s probably not news to you that houseplants have massive mental health benefits! Its been proven that thanks houseplants elevate your mood and productivity thanks to the increase in oxygen level that they bring. Not to mention that they look fantastic, with or without flowers. Also, flowers have their own superpower as they have a stabilising and calming effect on people, making them feel happier. 

Speaking of nature - it's also recommended to include all of the four natural elements in your home to give you that connection to the outdoor world, leaving you feeling more centred.

First up: fire. This can be represented by candlelight, a fireplace, or even by warm, ambient lighting that makes you feel cosy and comfortable. 

Earth can be incorporated by using natural woods in your flooring or furniture or perhaps even wicker elements. If natural wood isn’t your style then you can always scatter houseplants in your home. 

Water doesn't necessarily mean you have to put a massive water feature in your living room! You could include an aquarium if you so wished or you can use mirrors that share the reflective quality of water, plus there is also the added benefit of making your room feel bigger. But be careful not to include too many mirrors as this can go from natural grounding and space to constantly feeling watched and seeing reflections of the light appear in unusual places, leading to anxiety. 

Source: My Bespoke Room

And finally, wind can be included in your home by decent air circulation, or again including houseplants to allow more oxygen into your home. 

Do you want an expert interior designer to help you create the home you deserve for a price that suits you? Then click the button below to book a free call and see if we're the team for you!

Finishing touches

Source: My Bespoke Room

One of the most important tips you should take away from this blog is that you need to implement items in your home that represent you. Personal keepsakes, photographs and mementoes, will always bring you joy so make sure to include them in your home décor and put them in pride of place! This is a great way for your interior design to have an immediate positive effect on your mood and mental health.

If you’re looking for finishing touches like artwork for your home then start by connecting the art to a treasured memory. For example, if you and your partner had an incredible holiday at a tropical location, then include artwork that reminds you of this, if you love going hiking then include pictures or paintings of mountains and trails. Take a look at how Abstract house's

Struggling to pull together a gallery wall for your home? Before you get out the hammer and nails, watch this video! We visited Summer Obaid at Abstract House to share with you her top tips and try out a few layouts!

Remember that anything that you can implement in your home than evokes happiness from a happy memory you should include. After all it is your home and it should always tell your story.