Human mind is complicated. Even though we debunked the myth of us using only 10 percent of our brains, we are still not aware of every single little thing that affects them. For example, even though we know that objects in our surrounding affect us, we are still unsure about the cause or the nature of this connection. One thing, however, can be said with certain dose of certainty, interior design truly affects your wellbeing. Here are few examples.
Psychology of Colors
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Amongst the first things everyone notices when they start exploring this topic is the phenomenon called the psychology of colors. According to it, our mind responds differently to different colors and this reaction can sometimes be so severe that it can swing our mood one way or the other. For example, red evokes passion, so it is a perfect color to heighten your senses and keep you awake. On the other hand, yellow is there to add a hint of optimism and evoke the feeling of happiness. It is perfect for your living room since it is known to promote communication, but also for a home office since it can spark creativity.
Order and Organization
Well-organized interior can make its inhabitants better organized, as well. For example, it is known that it is harder to focus when there is a mess everywhere, which means that neatness greatly influences our psyche. Next, specific furniture can affect the way we perceive the room and, thus, overall wellbeing. We can see this best in the idea of home offices.
More and more people work from home every day and, while some may believe this means they can work from their kitchen or living room, it doesn’t work that way.These rooms are made for rest and relaxation, which makes it nearly impossible for one to get in the mood for work. However, getting just few pieces of used office furniture can make all the difference. In this way, you can even trick yourself into being in the real office. Some even go so far as to install a water-cooler they don’t need, just so they can recreate the office vibe.
The Importance of Natural Light
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Another thing that can affect mental health of all the inhabitants is the influx of natural light. Just think about it this way. The countries in the polar circle have significantly higher suicide rates exactly because their citizens are forced to spend half of the year in darkness. Humans are creatures of light and how much of it you let in may determine the mood of everyone present. Sure, you don’t want sun rays to interfere with your screen while you are watching a movie, but as soon as you are over, make sure to raise the blinds.
Sense of Personal Space
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There is a great difference between the words house and home. Namely, the first one is a building you own, while the second evokes a feeling of a safe place where you are always welcome. In the words of Robert Frost: Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. If you are to transform your house into a true home, you need to personalize it. The easiest way to do so is to fill it up with personal memorabilia like items from your childhood and family photos. Still, this doesn’t include only decades-old Christmas presents. Anything you find on a garage sale, flea market or even make yourself can fit this purpose just fine.
From all of this, it is more than clear that interior design does impact the way we feel, which, in the long term, may have some serious consequences on your mindset. Most people spend at least half of their waking hours at home, which means that any sense of discomfort may have far more resounding results. Luckily, by paying attention to your home design efforts, you can turn this knowledge to your favor and influence your wellbeing.