5 Ways Interior design boosts mental health.

Interior design isn’t all about colours and making a space ‘look pretty’. It’s also a well-known fact that interior design boosts mental health, well-being and feelings of security.

How interior design boosts mental health and how to achieve the optimum home environment for overall well-being.

Interior design isn’t all about colours and making a space ‘look pretty’. It’s also a well-known fact that interior design boosts mental health, well-being and feelings of security. It’s about creating an environment that is comfortable, and functional and promotes mental well-being. In this article, we’ll be looking at five key ways interior design boosts mental health and well-being. We’ll also aim to discuss how you can create a space that’s favourable for your own relaxation and happiness.

Meet the author.

Claire Mac is a parenting & lifestyle blogger based in Teesside. Claire blogs about her parenting journey but doesn’t let motherhood doesn’t define her. She shows her audience how to embrace being yourself and finding yourself outside of motherhood – Something which can easily get lost once small humans arrive. She’s an advocate for banishing mum guilt and embracing a non-judgemental view of motherhood. Her blog covers everything from family life to interior design to self-care and self-love and juggling freelance life. It’s a space not only for parents, but others looking for relatability, reassurance and encouragement.


5+ Ways Interior design boosts mental health and how to achieve it.

Sunlight.

One of the most important elements in any interior design for healthy well-being is sunlight. Sunlight is essential for our physical and mental health. It helps regulate our circadian rhythms, which in turn helps us sleep better at night. It also helps boost mood and energy levels during the day. When designing a space be sure to incorporate plenty of natural light. This can be achieved by installing large windows or skylights, or by using light-coloured paint and mirrored surfaces to reflect light.

Use artificial light with purpose.

Not all rooms are blessed with natural light. Our home is filled with dark spaces and minimal windows, especially our master bedroom. Nothing we do seems to open up the space, so we chose instead to minimise it with dark colours and cosy textures. But for other dark spaces such as the far reaches of our living room, we’ve used artificial light that mimics natural daylight. While these may not be as good as natural light, they work surprisingly well where a skylight or window just isn’t possible.

It’s also recommended to install dimmers so that you can vary the level of light to match your mood. These were a big thing growing up in Ireland but have fallen by the wayside in millennial home design. Why not be one of the first to bring back the trend?

Natural Elements.

Another important aspect of interior design for well-being is the use of natural elements and bringing the outside in. Nature has a calming and grounding effect on the mind and body. Incorporating natural elements such as plants, wood and stone into a space can create a sense of connection to the natural world and promote a sense of peace and tranquillity.

Minimal Clutter.

Clutter can be overwhelming and can make a space feel cramped and uninviting. In order to create a space that promotes mental well-being, it’s important to keep things as minimal and organised as possible. This can be achieved by decluttering, getting rid of unnecessary items and creating a designated spot for everything. By keeping things simple and organised, you can create a space that is easy to navigate, promotes a sense of calm and makes it easier to relax and unwind.

Colour Scheme.

The use of colour is an important aspect of any interior design. Different colours have different effects on the mind and body, and choosing the right colour scheme can help create a space that promotes relaxation, focus or even energy. Cool colours like blue and green are calming and promote relaxation, while warm colours like yellow and orange are energising and promote focus. Choosing a colour scheme that aligns with the desired mood of the space can help create a sense of balance and well-being.

Learn more about decorating your home in this post from A Life With Frills! This is especially helpful for anyone who has just purchased a new build home.

Make the Space Communal.

Finally, it’s important to make a space communal. A space that is cosy, yet designed for spending time with others can promote a sense of connection. This can be achieved by creating a comfortable living room, a dining area or a shared workspace. By making a space communal, you can create a space that is not only functional but also promotes social connections and a sense of community.

Image from Designecologist

In conclusion, interior design for well-being is all about creating a space that is comfortable, and functional and promotes wellness. By incorporating these elements you can create a space that is truly conducive to relaxation and happiness. And in turn, this can help improve mental health. Remember to keep things simple, natural and easy on the eye, and you will have a space that promotes well-being and relaxation.

Remember your pets.

Pets are family, and therefore they deserve to be included in our home interiors. This can be as simple as adding a few extra blankets to your sofa for your furry companion. Or buying a fancy bed fit for a small, four-legged monarch. As cat owners, my husband and I take pride in our various cat trees, hiding spaces and cosy blankets. But, as you can imagine, our bed is the one place they both seem to congregate. No amount of towering structures or hiding spots seems to grab their attention for longer than a few moments. Despite this, we still consider both our girls when it comes to interior changes. Sometimes more than we even consider ourselves.


How else do you think interior design boosts mental health?

Maybe you’ve discovered different ways you can make interior design work for you and your family. Personally, I love to use dark colours in spaces I want to feel more enclosed and comforting. We’ve used black in our bedroom complimented by whites. And we further expect to use navy and other stormy colours in our living room to reduce the coldness of the space. But of course, this isn’t for everyone! Interior design is not only about boosting mental health, but it’s a personal preference!

My husband and I personally love designing and creating a home fit for us. It may not be to everyone’s tastes, but it’s a great way for us to work on something together. In the last year, we’ve reworked our bedroom into a cosy, mono-tone space, with accents of gold. And this year we plan to repaint our kitchen, and add various elements to a space that is still very much a ‘new build.’ While we may not follow all of Claire’s tips below, we incorporate the vast majority of them. We especially love adding elements of nature, and sunlight where our home allows.

35 comments

  1. This is a great post and I totally understand how interiors can make you feel better (or worse!) When it’s your space, you want to feel cozy and safe and some colours / decor etc just doesn’t lend itself to that, epecially when there’s a lot of clutter around x

  2. I love these tips from Claire – I have been trying to decorate my bedroom to make it a peaceful place where I can head with my pup when everything else gets too much and following some of these will definitely make it better for both me and Otis!

  3. I loved reading this; interior design is always such a great read! I think bringing nature inside and using artificial light to help can boost mood and surely pets have their positives! x

  4. I enjoy reading Claire when it comes to home interiors helps on giving me an idea of what I want and what I don’t want in my apartment.
    Love the post!

  5. I didn’t really think about how interior design would but as I started reading it makes sense. I have good sunlight which is so nice and does make a difference when it is sunny.

    Thank you for sharing this piece from Claire.

  6. I agree 100%. I try and de-clutter every season! And the more I decorate my spaces, the better my mental health is!

  7. Great article – I completely agree with you about clutter! I had a massive de-cluttter recently and I feel so much better for it! Just now need to crack on with the rest of your list!

  8. Clutter is something in my house that I need to cut down on. It stresses me out, but at the same time I am not very good at letting things go!

  9. I love the use of artificial light with purpose. Sadly, while there is a light switch, some of my rooms do not have lighting on the ceiling. So I’ve had to place with a purpose!

  10. Aahhh yyeessss! I am on the right path then. I always throw my curtains and windows wide open for the sunlight and fresh air to come in! So refreshing….

  11. Great post. I completely agree with everything mentioned. The relation between mental health and how the home looks is something we need to consider seriously when we design our home. The impact of natural light especially in the winter months can have a big impact on our mental well being. t is something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

  12. These are all such great tips. I completely agree about adding in natural elements. I have a plant in every room and it’s really a mood booster! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  13. Everyone designs their home with their preferences and interests. Even I like a well-lit room, especially the natural light early in the morning brings so much of positivity and energy. Those are some good pointers you have shared and are worth noting.

  14. A sense of spaciousness can elevate mood and boost creativity. This effect can be achieved in almost any space with the right design, furniture, lighting, and colour schemes. Glass and mirrors are great for creating the illusion of space.

  15. I agree with all of this. I have found that light from multiple directions helps my mood tremendously.

  16. These are awesome ways to boost our mental condition through interior design! This is such a great reference for future renovation. Thanks for sharing this with us!

  17. I definitely agree that interior design affects mental health. I love to open the curtains and get natural light in. I also find that when things get cluttered, I need to declutter and it helps improve my anxiety.

  18. I agree with the point about clutter. Clutter often causes stress because it makes it hard to find things. It also makes a space harder to clean. Great post!

  19. This is a really great and very informative post! Having natural elements on your house has a really big impact.

  20. I agree. Interior design really plays a role in improving our mental health. These techniques and approaches have been proven to reduce stress and depression.

  21. This is all so true! I just started thinking about this in the last few years. We have as much natural light as possible, plants throughout the home, subtle colors, and lighting with dimming options for the days I have a migraine.

  22. What a great post and something I can totally relate to! At the moment, I have been struggling with the way our home looks. It’s just so messy and cluttered as of late and with the dreary days, it just makes my mood very dark. I know that this is a work progress and this weekend was the start of our decluttering. In the next few weeks, I hope we can add a bit more color to our interior as well as different lounging options. Fingers crossed!

    Maureen |

  23. I couldn’t agree more with this – I find that if my exterior space is comfortable, then my mental health is much more stable. I get stressed in a messy and cluttered space.

  24. Great article! There are so many stressors surrounding us these days and this article shows one easy way to improve our mental health through color, light, design, etc….

  25. This is super interesting. I actually had no idea that interior design could come with mental health benefits.

  26. I find natural light is a big one for me and I like to make sure that I welcome that in whenever I can; plus some natural decor or elements in my apartment. I hadn’t considered the impact of what’s around me in terms of decor, etc could be an element of improving my mental health but it makes perfect sense.

  27. Every person has a different perspective about the type of interiors they want at home. The height and width of a space, lights, a colour scheme, choice of objects and their placement, definitely impacts the mental health. Maintaining harmony and positivity at home is very important. Great post 👍

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