Interior Design and Mental Health: Five Ways Your Home Can Make You Happier

Article by Laura Zarnke, Writer and Content Strategist

Over the last two years, Canadians have spent more time at home than ever before. The places we live have become more than just “home”. Home is now the office, boardroom, classroom, daycare and more – all at a time when national feelings of anxiety and depression are at an all-time high. So, it’s no surprise that more and more people are reimagining their living spaces, and considering the link between interior design and mental health.

But can interior design really play a role in improving our mental health? The answer is, yes! Many interior design techniques and approaches have been proven to reduce stress and depression. A few components in particular – effects of sunlight, spaciousness, connection to nature, colour and functionality – are just a few of the most impactful considerations that, when used correctly, can create an environment conducive to improving our mental health and physical wellbeing.

Thanks to the science and psychology of interior design, we know how to work with these various elements to create the desired effects.

From inducing warmth and safety, defining a welcoming place for loved ones to gather, or creating a positive and efficient working environment, space can have a whole lot of impact on how we act or what we feel.

Interior Design and Mental Health: Putting Psychology to Work    

The way a space is designed considers much more than simple aesthetic beauty - particularly at the intersection of interior design and mental health. In good interior design, each decision made is intentional and helps to fulfil the overall goals of the space.

For retail businesses, interior design can be used to tell an engaging brand story and help customers build an affinity to the product or service. In an office setting, design decisions are made with employee health and wellbeing in mind and support efficient and productive workforces.

Similarly, restaurant design is more than just creating a trendy new locale. There is a psychology behind how design elements are chosen to ensure that diners enjoy their experience – and choose to return. The right balance of factors must be struck to give guests the best dining experience possible. We explore this topic in more detail in a recent blog post, The Psychology of Restaurant Interior Design.

Interior design is incredibly influential. So, how do we harness the positive effects of interior design for human psychological health? At Sansa Interiors, we love to explore how interior design and mental health intersect to create spaces that not only look beautiful but promote health and wellbeing, too.

In this article, we touch on a few of the most important elements of interior design that affect mental health and explore how we can optimize our spaces to improve our overall well-being.

Interior Design and Mental Health: Five Key Design Considerations

Here we will discuss five key design considerations that can influence mental health.

1. Prioritise Function

Naturally, people want more from their homes now than ever before. We are seeing people willing to invest in their personal spaces and excited about creating more comfortable and specialized zones within their homes that respond to their unique needs. But as the needs of the home change and evolves, it’s important to keep a close eye on how each space functions.

To create good design, we need to start by looking at the most important function of each room and take the opportunity to solve any challenges that may exist first. Room layouts, furniture placement and storage solutions all contribute to a space’s functionality, and ultimately how we mentally feel within that room.

A cluttered environment has been proven to drain energy and negatively impact our overall mood. When thinking about interior design and mental health, a great way to make the most of your space is to have systems in place that facilitate organization and tidying. Choose furniture pieces that suit your needs, so you don’t end up fighting against your space. In addition, some principles of design including balance, proportion, symmetry, and rhythm can introduce a sense of harmony.

Prioritizing good function as a part of your interior design plans will have huge benefits for your mental health, too.

2. Choose Colour Carefully

Colour is one of the most influential aspects of any design – particularly when we look at the intersection of interior design and mental health. A simple change in wall colour can transform a bright and airy open space into a dramatic and moody cocoon. The study of the effects of colours on mood dates back to the ancient Egyptians, and there’s no doubt that the colours we choose can affect a person’s mood, state of mind and overall disposition. 

In modern-day examples, we see how graphic designers and marketing professionals use colour to influence consumers. The same is true for interior designers – we can use colour to influence mood, decrease stress and promote wellbeing.

While we don’t all react the same way to colours, we can lean on a few general guidelines about how people respond to colour.

Some colours, like red and orange, induce passionate and energetic feelings, others like green and blue, have more soothing effects. When thinking about choosing a colour that will help to promote good mental health, leaning towards cool, calming colours is your best bet.

Decades of colour theory research confirms that each colour has associated psychological effects. For example, green tends to be a quiet and restful colour that is soothing and can invite harmony and diffuse anxiety. Blue is a highly peaceful colour that can be especially helpful for stress management because it encourages a powerful sense of calm. In many cultures, shades of violet represent strength, wisdom and peace, and invoke a tranquil feeling that helps to reduce anxiety.

Drawing on the natural properties of these colours can help to promote an overall sense of good mental health and wellbeing within a space.

3. Let the Light Shine In

Studies have shown that mood and energy levels are directly related to how much natural sunlight we receive daily. In addition to boosting our mood, getting lots of natural light can help to improve our quality of sleep, increase levels of Vitamin D, strengthen our bones and lower blood pressure. Letting more natural light into your interior design project is a great way to also boost your mental health.

Even if most of your house has good light, getting natural light into a dark room can be tough to do. Depending on the scope of your project, adding additional windows is the most effective way to increase the amount of light a room receives but it isn’t always feasible.

Here are a few helpful ways you can bring some extra light into any interior design project to improve mental health:

• Use mirrors: A strategically placed mirror is a great way to bounce some natural light into the darkest corners of any room.

• Choose a door with a window: Doors take up prime real estate in any entryway and often lead to an interior hallway that simply doesn’t get enough light. Choosing a door with a window is a quick, easy and beautiful way to brighten the space.

• Keep your colours light: Choose light coloured walls, furniture, flooring, and accents. Obviously, the darker the finishes, the darker the room.

• Skip the blinds: If privacy allows, opt for sheer curtains or no curtains at all! The open window will allow that much more light into the room.

4. Lean On Nature-Inspired Design

By now, we all know that spending time in nature is beneficial to our overall health and well-being, a fact backed by a large amount of scientific evidence. Spending time in nature decreases levels of stress hormones, which can help relieve high blood pressure, heart conditions, skin conditions and asthma. If you live in Canada, your doctor can even prescribe a hike through a National Park via the National Nature Prescription Program.  It’s clear that plants, trees and the natural world play an important role in our health and wellbeing – and those concepts can easily be integrated into interior spaces.

With the rise of trends like Forest Bathing, we are also seeing the rising trend in biophilic interior design. Drawing on what we already know about the power of nature to influence our mood, this emerging focus on designing with nature in mind integrates these principles as a means of guiding interior design that is functionally beautiful and good for your mental health.

Plants can completely transform the mood of a living space – from stark and lifeless to lush and inviting. They improve air quality, reduce stress and anxiety and can boost your mood overall. Plants lend colour, interest and charm and are remarkably easy to integrate. Start with simple hanging baskets or an herb garden in your kitchen. If you’re looking for a more immersive experience, opt for a dramatic built-in green wall.

Using naturally occurring elements, like wood, cotton, leather and stone are also excellent ways to express your connection to the earth through design.

Interested in learning more about how to infuse a space with the natural elements you love? We dug into this topic in our recent blog post, How to Add Greenery to Your Home: Your Guide to Nature Inspired Interior Design.

5. Don’t Forget to Find Joy

One of the most important things you can do to improve your mental health through interior design is to create a space that you love. Think about your home as an extension of who you are and make design decisions that fill you with joy.

If the walls feel empty, consider investing in some artwork that inspires you and lifts your mood. Or hang photographs of loved ones and friends in the spaces where you spend the most amount of time.

In his recent book, Authentic Happiness, Martin Seligman says, “Experiences that induce positive emotion cause negative emotion to dissipate rapidly,” and convincing research continues to emerge that supports this sentiment. Think about every aspect of your space as an opportunity to create a positive interaction or experience. Your mental health will thank you!

Final Thoughts

While there is no one-size-fits all approach to improving mental health through interior design, an experienced designer will know the right questions to ask to find out what will make YOU the happiest in your home. What works for one person might not work for everyone, and that’s ok! That’s what makes us all unique, and what makes the challenge of designing a new space so rewarding.

Mood-Boosting Interior Design by Sansa Interiors.

Looking for an Interior Designer in Toronto?

Are you looking to improve your space with some mood-boosting design upgrades? We can help! Our team serves Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area. Contact us via our website to book a consultation and find out more about how interior design can help to improve your mental health.