Small tweaks to your home environment can invite calmness, relaxation

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Published Date 7/8/2020

With everything happening around us and many of us still staying close to home, our personal priorities pull us in many directions. The normal rigors of life often keep us from enjoying our homes as havens for relaxation, rest, and happiness.

Redfin's Emily Huddleston suggests some simple solutions to instantly boost your mood. One is color psychology. "Marketing companies study color psychology for a reason: color affects your mood. Take a page out of the psychology book and surround yourself with colors that help you relax and put you in a happy mood," she says. "Every color can be expressed as either warm or cold, with a different effect on the way you feel. In general, cool colors have a calming effect, while warm colors add comfort and can be invigorating."

She goes on to point out how a cool blue or green is relaxing and rejuvenating in a bedroom or bathroom, while warm reds and purples are energizing and exciting, stimulating brain activity and conversation — good choices for painting an office or living room. White, of course, can help brighten rooms by reflecting light, making a small space feel larger and more open, which can help you feel more energized.

Even your furniture plays a part in how restful your home environment is, says Huddleston. "Furniture with soft, round edges creates a feeling of relaxation and comfort. Your eye picks up the visual cues of a rounded-edge coffee table or a sofa, and your mind becomes happier and less stressed. Do you already have a boxier sofa? Don't worry – just add a throw blanket and a few pillows to break up the hard lines."

Natural materials connect us with nature, even indoors. Studies show that natural goods can directly correlate to improved sleep and stress reduction. Huddleston suggests eliminating synthetic materials like fleece and polyester in favor of natural materials like cotton, silk, or wool. "Include other natural elements in the form of flowers and plants (more on this in idea #4) and welcome in sunlight and fresh air whenever possible. You will feel happier, calmer, and more rested, all proven beneficial to your psychological well-being."

And we agree. Plants are amazing gifts of nature, boosting your mood, productivity, concentration, and creativity. They also clean the indoor air by absorbing toxins and producing oxygen while absorbing noise, providing privacy, and reducing stress. Adding plants throughout your home is one of our top interior design ideas for boosting happiness.

Sleep cycles are affected by light. "On cloudy days it's not uncommon for people to feel sad or drained of energy, but when the sun is shining, that solar power goes right to our inner beings," says Huddleston. It's not a new design idea, but it is still transformative to welcome natural daylight inside. Large windows and skylights bring in sunlight at all hours of the day. She points out that if you're stuck with small windows or if you have a home where the weather is often gloomy, it's a great idea to add lamps that use full-spectrum or halogen lightbulbs to mimic natural light. The right light will keep your sleep cycle accurate, providing an automatic boost to happiness. If you desire more sleep in the mornings, simply buy some soft eye blinders and apply them before you settle down for the night.

Clutter can definitely add to stress. "People turn to minimalist interior design options to reduce stress and believe in the power of the "less stuff, less stress" mantra," says Huddleston. "Think about how good you feel when you've cleaned the house, and everything has been put back in its rightful place. Now, imagine the reality of 'less stuff' altogether – less to clean and put away. Yep, that's a real spike of happiness simply from conquering the clutter."

Incorporating calming scents into your home can help fight off gloomy feelings. Candles or essential oils in specific scents are known to help reduce anxiety and boost happiness and productivity. "Calming scents include lemon and lavender, while jasmine and rosemary are invigorating," she says. "Cinnamon and peppermint can support your clarity of thought and boost productivity. Find the right scents to promote the feelings you'd like to experience while you're at home."

Source: TBWS

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