Interior Design & Mental Health

The pandemic has forced home to be the ultimate multitasker; a hub of work, wellness and play. As a result, Google has seen an explosion of searches around how interior design influences your mood and wellbeing. Trend forecaster WGSN noted that consumers are gravitating towards organic forms and textures to promote a sense of peace in a world that feels out of whack. Your home is the one place you have total jurisdiction over, so now more than ever, it’s useful to assess whether it is bringing out your best. Here are 5 things to consider when optimising your home for your wellbeing:

• Clear the Clutter

  
  It can be hard to focus and feel relaxed when surrounded by items that do not serve you. Clutter can feel overwhelming, act as a distraction which can affect your memory and is correlated to increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. To keep your space aligned, it’s worthwhile regularly doing a home detox (an area a quarter is a good way to break it up seasonally). A key part of the process is taking everything out (it gets worse before it gets better!) and evaluating each item. Keep only what you love or use. Be ruthless. Practice non-attachment. Once completed, you will have greater mental clarity and feel emotionally lighter.

• Work by Natural Light

  
  Your circadian rhythm is sensitive to daylight as we evolved to be most productive when exposed to it. To reap the benefits of this programming, choose a home office setup with a good source of natural light. Associating daylight with work time will also add definition to your day, and sleep schedule, without the need for the physical change brought by a commute. If a daylight flooded workspace isn’t possible, we suggest using overhead spotlights during the day and ambient lighting (lamps/ fixtures with dimmer switches) to encourage evening relaxation and help your body wind down for sleep. Poor sleep patterns are causally linked to mental health issues. 
  
  Reminder about Vitamin D - all adults in the UK should be taking a supplement (1,000–4,000 IU / 25–100 mcg) every day between early October and April, as we cannot synthesise it from the sun in this period. It’s best to take Vitamin D in the AM as it (among many other important things) plays a role in the pathway to produce Melatonin (the sleep hormone) which helps to regulate your circadian rhythm.

• Incorporate Nature

  
  In an online dominated world of notifications, emails and ‘The Cloud’, surrounding yourself with natural elements and textures like linen, rattan and wool, creates sensory cues that bring you out of the virtual and into the present. Similarly, adding plants that you can nurture, provides you with a sense of growth and grounding. The evidence suggests exposure to nature is key to safeguarding your mental health, though sometimes life gets busy, and it’s not always possible (especially in the middle of winter, in England!). Bringing some of its soothing power into your home can give you a dose of its benefits, without the time investment.

• Consider Colour

  
  My favourite teacher would advise me to use calming, pastel coloured highlighters when revising for exams. I found his suggestion silly at the time, but there was wisdom to his words - colour can trigger arousal states and emotions. For example, yellow can make us feel elation, blue a sense of calmness, and red, passion. When I am working on creative projects, I love to be surrounded by rich colours and interesting artefacts, as they’re a source of inspiration. Conversely, I prefer a to sleep in a minimalist, white room. It’s worth considering what emotional state you’re trying to promote in a space, and choose a colour palette that stimulates you accordingly. The colours in your home should feel restorative to you.

• Add Art

  
  The inclusion of art in your home provides a vessel for you to express your taste, emotions, values, desires and visually unify your identity. I believe your mental state is better when you have a deeper sense of who you are, and feel connection to others around the human experience. When you walk past a piece you’ve selected, you are reminded of your individual reasons for being drawn to it (your uniqueness), but also, that another conceptualised and created it (shared feeling). Art in the home can act as a cue to remind you of your higher purpose in hard times; some say your home is your castle, but it can also be your fortress.

Did I miss anything? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Isabella