What you see is what you feel
…or the power of the home to create wellbeing, and how to achieve that.
If you think your environment and how it looks doesn’t have any link to your mental wellbeing, think again. In reality, these two are tightly connected and there have been many studies that have showcase this. It has been shown that an environment that is calming, pleasant and soothing can even have an impact on quicker recovery from stress (see studies done by environmental psychologist Roger Ulrich if you need the facts).
Spaces that are cluttered, messy, lacking natural light or any items that spark joy create a mental load and go against the brain’s natural need for order. That’s why for me it is so important, and it’s the main drive behind my work, to design spaces that create wellbeing above all.
Without the help of an interior designer, there are a few important things you can do yourself, on a day-to-day basis, to make sure your home helps you recharge your batteries, not drain them.
Keep it tidy
This is the rule of gold. I get it, tidying up takes time. But being tidy doesn’t.
Walking into your kitchen in the morning and finding a sink full of dishes to wash and leftovers from yesterday’s dinner is not a great mental cue for a positive day ahead. As much as you can (extra points if kids and pets are involved to make things complicated), try to keep at least some areas of your home tidy, especially the ones you see at certain moments when you need to feel uplifted.
For instance, what is the first thing you see when you wake up? Is it your dressing table? Keep that tidy, add some flowers you love and a nice, framed picture to make you smile when you look at it first thing in the morning and get you in a good mood.
Let fresh air and sunshine in
The sense of smell is so important, and it triggers the brain. Fresh air will clean and uplift air in your home and will make you feel refreshed. Try to open all windows first thing in the morning when you wake up for 10 minutes, and before you go to bed. Then use candles or essential oils of your favourite scents to create the mood that you love: use orange or eucalyptus for an energising feel, or lavender before sleep.
Natural light is also incredibly important. This has nothing to do with the colours you paint your walls in, and has everything to do with the actual natural light that comes through your windows. Make the best of natural light, especially in a country like the UK where there isn’t that much of it. Keep your curtains open, and the blinds up. If you need privacy use fabrics like voile or shutters that can still let light in.
Surround yourself with items you genuinely like
This really isn’t about having the money to buy expensive things. Yes, ‘things we like’ can be the £5,000 sofa we see in the shop window, but it can also be a £5 bunch of fresh flowers in a pretty £10 vase on the windowsill, with natural light pouring over it.
We all need to buy things for our homes: we’ll need new towels, new bedsheets, we’ll need to replace a mug that broke or get a new rug. Always put the effort in to buy an item that you don’t just need, but you actually, genuinely like too. Go the extra mile and research until you find what you like, there are so many things out there for all budgets.
Avoid thinking ‘it’s just a mug’, ‘it’s just a chair’, ‘it’ll do’ because slowly they add up. And you can end up having a home full of things that are just ok, and will do, but not a home full of things that spark joy.
Choose your colours wisely
The easy thing to do is to whitewash your walls. And there is a time and place for that. If that’s a bit of you, and it makes you happy, then whitewash away.
But it is worth you stop for a second to think a bit more about colours, as they can have a real impact on your mood. Fresh, light colours can uplift and energise, while darker, deeper colours can create a feeling of safety and warmth. Cooler colours can be calming and soothing especially in a monochromatic palette.
When thinking of what colours to choose, ask yourself how you want to feel in each room, and create a palette that serves you.
These are just a few, basic steps on your journey to making your home a heaven where you can recharge your batteries and relax. Enjoy!