Can Interior Design Make Your Home Healthier?

Can Interior Design Make your home healthier?

Most people will say that they want their home to be their “happy place”.   But what does that mean?   Believe it or not,  interior design can make you healthier.

 I always knew that I felt better when my house was clean, well organized, and looked good.  But after doing some research on the subject I’ve discovered that there are actually scientific studies to back up my feelings.  Crazy right?

This stuff was so fascinating to me that I had to share with my friends what I found.  Read on to find out how you too can have a home that is healthier and happier!

In my endeavor to help everyone I work with to have a home that they love, I have done a ton of research on the Interior Design principles that can make your home healthier.  

I want to make sure that I have all the facts that I need to do that.

There are so many components that go into having a well-designed home that people never take into consideration.

This is probably one of the biggest reasons so many people get frustrated when they try to decorate their homes themselves.

They feel like no matter what they put together; it just doesn’t look or feel right. And that is why I decided to do E-Design on my site.  

Now I can help others who are struggling with their home design to get the direction they need without spending a fortune.  

That way, they can do the majority of it themselves, and I just guide them along the way.

But designing a healthy and happy home is a journey, and the first step is understanding how it can affect you when you don’t plan your home with proper design principles.

So let me share with you what I found in my research.

The Psychology of Interior Design

Environmental or space psychology is the study of the interaction between people and the spaces they inhabit.

Scientists have now validated what many interior designers have known for years.  

That the color of your walls in your living room may be the reason you never feel warm in that room or that sitting around a table helps everyone feel more like communicating.

In fact, there are many aspects of design that can influence your moods and perceptions.  

Here are the main ones we need to dig deeper into.

• lighting
• color
• configuration
• scale/proportions
• materials

Let’s break down each one of these areas and get a better understanding of how they affect our home.

Can Lighting make your home healthier?

Lighting can create many different moods in your home.  

It can also make your space a more efficient workspace but can it make your home healthier?

You can’t deny the coziness you feel from stringing lights on your back porch or how much better you can see your work area when you have enough lighting.

Whether you need task lighting or ambient lighting you know that room feels better when you have the correct amount of light. 

Studies have shown that mood and energy levels are directly related to how much natural light we receive daily.  

Because of this, you should make sure this is one of your main considerations when designing a room.  

Natural Light

Make sure you evaluate the amount of natural light coming into your room and maximize it as much as possible.  

Using sheer translucent curtains that let light in instead of a darker curtain will ensure that your room is filled with glorious natural light.

Artificial Light

Not everyone is blessed with tons of natural light in their space.  

If this is the case, make sure to use the correct lightbulbs for the room you are working on.  

Use soft light in a bedroom and save the LED for task lighting.  

Most lightbulb companies now have the type of light each of their bulbs puts off.  

I noticed this the last time I bought bulbs at Lowes and it was a great help when trying to choose the correct bulb for my rooms. 

I have an eye disease called RP or night blindness that makes it really hard for me to do anything in a space without adequate lighting.  

Because of this, I have tons of recessed lights in my home.

But sometimes like when we are watching TV or reading these lights can be way too much.  

It can make the room look harsh.  

So I have installed dimmers so that I can get the level of light I need in each room.

Can Use of Color make your home healthier?

Color can affect your moods like nothing else.  It can make you feel relaxed and tranquil or full of anxiety.

Your feelings about color are often deeply personal and are affected by your experiences and culture.  The color white, for instance, is considered a sign of purity and innocence in some countries, but in others, it’s a symbol of mourning.

It’s essential to make sure that when you are choosing a paint color or a piece of furniture for a room that you think about how that room will be used and make sure that the color will set the appropriate mood or energy level.

Examples of how color can set the mood for a room.

Red – an emotional color – creates a sense of intimacy and warmth.  Uses red as an accent color to warm up a room.

Blue – creates tranquility and trust – is excellent for high traffic areas such as kitchens and bathrooms.

Green – promotes nature and growth – and is often thought of as calming and can help with concentration.  For this reason, it great to use green in offices and living rooms.

Orange – creates confidence, excitement, and enthusiasm – People either love it hate. Best to use orange in small doses as an accent color and balance it with calming neutral.

Black – gives a feeling of power and elegance – use in accessories to give each room a grounding effect.

White – Perfection – when using white on your walls make sure to add lots of texture so that it doesn’t seem sterile.  Accent with wood furniture and plants to give it life.

Purple – Wealth and Royalty –  A great choice for a formal living room or a master bedroom.  It gives the feel of luxurious sophistication.

Yellow – gives a feeling of happiness and creative energy – It works well in combination with a calming neutral and in rooms with lots of natural light to create a peaceful environment.

Grey – Maturity, intelligence, and relaxation – use grey in home offices and bathrooms.

Remember to choose colors for the mood you want your space to have.  If not, you won’t want to be in that room at all because it won’t feel the way you want it to.

What about the Configuration of your rooms?

How you configure the furniture and accessories in a room can change the feel and how comfortable you are in your rooms.

In the first photo above the furniture is configured in a u-shape which is conducive to conversation.  Everyone can make eye contact and be involved in the conversation.  

In the second photo the furniture in place in a straight line all the facing the TV or fireplace which is great for watching TV together or reading.  

As you can see, the placement of your furniture can completely change the functionality of the room.   

Does Scale/Proportions make a difference in how you feel?

Have you ever walked into a room and it echoed from the lack of furniture people etc.?   

When you are choosing the furniture for your home you want to make sure that the pieces that you choose are on the correct scale and proportion to the size of the room.  

This means that you wouldn’t want to buy really small scale pieces if your room is huge and has 12-foot ceilings.  Those pieces would be lost in this room.

Instead make sure your furniture, rugs, and art all take up a significant amount fo space in the room. There shouldn’t be huge open spaces that are void of furniture etc.  You also don’t want the furniture to dwarf your room or make your room clutter.  Make sure there is a balance to the room and the pieces you include in it.

Above I have two examples of scale and proportion.  In the first photo, the scale of the furniture, etc is perfect and the room is balanced.  Not too full or too empty.

The second photo the room only has a few pieces of furniture and the rest of the room is bare.  

Feng Shui – how your home feels

Another way to make your home feel good and have a positive vibe is to the use the ancient practice of Feng Shui.

Feng Shui uses energy forces from the surrounding environment to bring harmony to individuals.  Feng Shui has been practiced worldwide for over 3,000 years and participants believe that adhering to those principles can help attract good luck, success, love, and positive energy.

While following the entire practice may not be possible, you can still add small feng shui touches to improve the positive energy around you.

First, you need to make changes to the entrance of your home. It needs to be warm, welcoming, colorful, and clean.  You will need to arrange the furniture in a way that allows you to see the doorway clearly.  Also, make sure to add natural elements like flowers, plants, and stones around the entrance. 

Remember to keep your home clean and clutter-free.

Your Next Steps:

Thank you for joining me on the first step in your journey to having a home you love!

Hopefully, you have been able to pick up on some of the design principles that will make your home happier and healthier.

Now that you know why these things are necessary, it will be easier to incorporate them into your design plan.

I can’t tell you how good it’s going to feel when you put these principles to work in your own home.

• The next step in the journey is finding out what your design style is.  I’ve put together a blog post and quiz to guide you through this part of the journey as well.   Read about each of the design styles here and take the quiz at the end of that post.

Remember, if you have any questions at all about this information or your next step in your journey, please feel free to reach out.  

It is my mission to help everyone I come in contact with have the home they love.

If you would like more one on one help with the design process for your home, check out the E-Design Section of my site.  

I have several different plans to choose from, and if you don’t see what you are looking for, I’m happy to put together a custom plan for you.

We are in this together!

Have a blessed day!!

Christy