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Have you thought about why Feng Shui is so powerful? Why so many people are getting into crystals and cleansing their spaces? What you put in your space directly influences how interior design affects your mood. Everything is made of energy, right? So what energy or feeling does your space have? This isn’t a hard question, and you probably already know the answer.
Do you have a room in your home that just feels off? We all do. You can change that once you understand how interior design affects your mood. You will be surprised to know that there can be a big difference between what you pin on Pinterest and what you want to live with in real life. Today, I’ll take you through 6 ways you can improve how your home is making you feel.
How Interior Design Affects Your Mood
1. Color
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Are you familiar with color psychology? Color psychology is basically how our brains perceive and respond to color. This plays a very important role in influencing how we feel. That is why color psychology is so important in marketing because color can influence our decision making. Interesting, right?
For example, if you are wanting to convey a serene and calm feel, would you use red or blue? You would use blue because that color will cause your brain to respond calmly, whereas red would promote energy. Personally, I find red to be too aggressive of a color and I avoid using it in my home. But someone else might love it and it could bring them a sense of warmth. Color is a very personal experience, so really get to know your own preferences.
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I recently redesigned my entire living room because its color palette was bringing my mood down. A few years ago, when I initially designed the space, I wanted it to be a mix of moody vintage and modern pieces. There were a lot of grays and deep tones that made the space feel really cool and editorial-like. It was fine for my lifestyle because I was away at work 11+ hours a day. However, 1.5 years ago, I left my job and started a home-based business. Suddenly, the abundance of dark colors was just depressing. I felt like I was trapped in a dark box.
The color palette no longer fit my lifestyle and I needed a bright, airy space to work. So, I changed my space, adding more texture and less color. I added more natural elements like pale wood and woven baskets and rugs and now I couldn’t be happier. How interior design affects your mood can change as your life evolves, so don’t be afraid to change with it. What worked last year might not work this year, and that’s ok.
2. Minimalism vs. Maximalism
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Now, this is different for everyone, but the amount of “stuff” in a space definitely influences how interior design affects your mood. For some people, like Tory Burch, maximalism makes them feel cozy and warm. Tory’s Hampton’s home is peppered with pattern, texture, and small details at every turn. That’s what works for her. But, it would make me feel like I was living with the Mad Hatter. Different strokes for different folks.
Super famous designer, Miles Redd, is also known for his maximalist aesthetic. He too is all about mixing loud colors and patterns with unexpected details. I, however, prefer a more minimal approach. Too much “stuff” doesn’t allow the eye to rest, and for me, this causes stress in a space. Other people feel the opposite, and actually a mixture of patterns bring about a sense of nostalgia, a reminder of their grandmother’s home. It’s important to know which side of the spectrum you’re on. If you feel stressed, try paring down your space.
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I used to enjoy the maximalist approach, but now, in my early 30s, I prefer a calmer palette and a casual California vibe. Mind you, I’m still me, so I’m always going to have too much art and decorative objects, but I’ve definitely toned it down as I’ve gotten older. It’s really funny how your tastes change with your age and lifestyle.
The best way to determine your style, is to think of spaces that make you calm, versus spaces you can’t wait to exit. Is there someone’s home that gives you a weird feeling? Alternately, is there a space where you feel most at peace? What does that room look like? What are the color schemes? How filled is it? These are all questions to ask yourself when determining how interior design affects your mood. Decide how you want to feel in your space, and work backwards from there.
3. Natural Elements
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This is probably one of the most important things to talk about how interior design affects your mood. Natural elements are crucial to bringing you a sense of calm. As humans, we are meant to be outdoors; why do you think we get depressed in the winter? We need that vitamin D from the sun. Some people crave “vitamin SEA”, and adding coastal elements to their space would bring them joy. We need to find ways to bring the outdoors into our spaces in order to truly feel at home. We are biologically wired to do so!
Some ways to add natural elements include plants, woven baskets, wood accents, and the addition of decor items in the color palettes found in nature (greens, blues, etc). Even candles help because biologically, it reminds us of campfire.
Two of my favorite designers who are master of using natural elements are Amber Interiors and JDP Interiors. Both Amber and Joyce know the importance of peppering in natural elements like wood, wovens, and plants. Every single one of their designs, especially living rooms, evoke a sense of being outdoors.
4. Natural Light
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At this point, you might be like, “Natural light? How is that interior design? And short of tearing down a wall, there’s not much I can do about it.” I hear you, but allow me to elaborate.
Natural light is super important when it comes to interiors. I’ve mentioned the importance of lighting in my post about designing a calming bathroom. If you don’t have an abundance of natural light, there are ways to use what you have and fake what you don’t. Fake it til you make it, right?
A great tip if you have a space lacking natural light, would be to give the illusion of more light. You do this by painting the walls white, installing white curtains, and even white hardware. Since there will be no color distinction between the window and the wall, your mind will observe it as one, making the window appear bigger and the space brighter. This is how you cheat the look of having more natural light.
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Along with installing white curtains, you could use roman or woven bamboo shades. During the day, just make sure all of your window treatments are pulled up or tied back. You want to expose as much natural light as possible, while still allowing for privacy at night when it gets dark. My preference would be a white roman shade (it could even have a fun pattern), but I also find that bamboo gives the illusion of a “beachy” and well lit setting because it is a natural element. Remember above when I mentioned the importance of natural elements?
5. Texture
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Texture is super important when it comes to how interior design affects your mood. Texture is what gives the room depth, and depth=comfort and familiarity. The more texture you add, the cozier and more “homey” your space will feel. Texture is what gives the room a lived-in feel. If you don’t want your room to feel cold, add textural elements.
You have many opportunities to add texture in a space. Rugs, pillows, blankets, woven baskets, table cloths, poufs, and even rattan seating are all great options. Decorative accessories such as wall hangings, or even a woven wallpaper such as grasscloth will also add texture. When choosing different textures, just ask yourself if you want to touch it. That’s all you have to do. You’re encouraging interaction with the space through your textiles. Interaction with the space is what makes your house a warm home with life and character.
PS: lack of texture is what makes modern homes feel cold and asylum-esque. The abundance of smooth surfaces (chrome, stainless steel, glass) in simple geometric shapes are the opposite of homey. These finishes translate to cold and unfriendly, so you need to add texture to balance this effect.
6. Nostalgia
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This might be surprising to you, but it’s an important element of design. Why do you think realtors showing a home will bake cookies in the oven right before the open house? The scent of a kitchen reminds most of us of our childhood homes, giving us a sense of warmth and comfort. Nostalgia is such an important factor in how your space feels, but unfortunately, it is often overlooked. After all, how do you express an intangible feeling through design?
By hinting at memories of the past, that’s how! This is why vintage furnishings have a cult following. There’s something inexplicably comforting about elements of the past. Remember the episode of Grace and Frankie where Frankie had her art gallery show? A woman bought Frankie’s painting because it reminded her of a painting her mother had and it took her back to her childhood. Decide what your happiest memories are and find things to fill your space that will remind you of those times. Design is just as much about adding feeling as it is about adding “stuff”.
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The best examples of spaces evoking a sense of nostalgia are found in Nancy Meyers movies. Chances are, you’ve seen them. Meryl Streep’s home in It’s Complicated is a personal favorite of mine.
The homes in Nancy Meyers movies are storybook good. They are warm, brimming with texture, comfort, and nostalgia. People are obsessed with the “Nancy Meyers aesthetic” because these spaces give you ALL THE FEELS. These homes actually feel like home.
In summary, it is really important to understand how interior design affects your mood, so that you can better design your space and thrive in your home. You can explore your psyche and discover the design style that brings you the most happiness and peace. I hope this post inspires you to tweak your space to better emulate how you want to feel. How you live and feel in a space is directly influenced by how interior designer affects your mood. And that’s the beauty of it.
-Kristen
