How Home Decorating Improves Your Mental Health

By Mary Claire Schibelka, LPC

What do home decorating and mental health have in common? According to experts, a lot!  Most obviously, decorating is a form of self-expression.  Color and pieces of art can be used to express emotions or interests.  Pictures of friends and sentimental objects in a home reflect values and what is important to the person who lives there.

Interestingly, decor works the opposite way, too.  In addition to being an external projection of your unique inner world, the aesthetic of your home impacts your emotional and energetic state.  Different colors, textures, items, and layouts can inspire emotions such as calmness or playfulness while simultaneously reminding us of certain memories, goals, or ideals.

Historically, home was a place to rest, recharge, and spend time with loved ones.  Now, because of COVID-related office closures, it is also where many of us conduct business.  Creating a home that fosters peace, as well as energy and focus, is now more important than ever.

Space

The first rule of thumb when decorating is to account for space.  Studies show that clutter is associated with stress, higher cortisol levels, and decreased life satisfaction.  Our brains much prefer moderate visual complexity- seeing enough to stimulate the brain without overwhelming it.  Make sure each area you decorate allows for easy movement around the room, organization of your belongings, and enough negative space to allow the eyes and brain to rest.

One problem City residents often face is the size of their homes.  Studio apartments can be as snug as 200 square feet, providing barely enough room for a bed, dining table, and chairs, let alone decorative objects that evoke emotion.  Rather than trying to fit everything you own into your small space, look at tiny-living as an opportunity to simplify.  Sort through your belongings, keeping only what has sentimental value or inspires the kind of emotions you want to feel in your home.

Color

The next thing to take into account is color.  You can Google information about which colors create which mood, but the truth is, it’s different for everybody.  Red, for example, is a color that creates feelings of energy and power for some but might feel stressful or overstimulating to others.  This is because our associations between color and emotions are largely made up of our past experiences, including both happy times and traumas.  If your grandma had green couches, you might love green.  Someone else might associate it with the color of their orthodontist’s waiting room.

Choose colors that feel good to you.  Pull up Pinterest and notice the emotions and physical sensations (faster heartbeat, butterflies in stomach) that come up as you look at different home decor color schemes.  As much as you can, try to forget what you “should” be attracted to or what’s trendy at the moment.  Just notice how your body and mind react to different looks.

Texture

Texture is also very subjective.  Soft and fluffy can be comforting, warm, and even chic, but can also border on childish or elderly (grandma’s couch).  Sleek textures feel expensive and clean but might also seem a bit boring or sterile.  It’s all in the eye of the beholder.  Like with color, choose the textures that inspire positive memories and emotions in order to feel the most at peace in your home.  If you like soft, plush textures, experiment with fur, chunky blankets, and luxurious towels.  If you prefer sleek, try stainless steel appliances, glass surfaces, and metallics.  If you like both, mix the two.  There are no rules!

Personalization

This is where it gets fun- the individual items.  Furniture, pillows, lamps, plants, artwork...so many opportunities to play with elements like space, color, and texture.  This is where your place really becomes yours.

It’s important to decorate with pieces that speak to you.  When you’re shopping for decor, you’ll probably like a lot of what you’ll see.  Just wait.  Look for decor that reflects both who you are and how you want to feel inside your home.  Shop slowly, and before buying anything, ask yourself, “How will seeing this in my _______ (bedroom, living room, etc.) impact my emotional state?”  

When you do buy, always check the store’s return policy and hang on to your receipt.  After placing a new piece of decor in your home, you might realize it doesn’t help create the thoughts or feelings you thought it would.  That’s okay.  Return it, get the money back, and buy something else that feels amazing.

Try This

Recently, I discovered a podcast episode about the impact of home decor on mental health.  The podcast is called The Suga, and the episode, which features design guru Justina Blakeney, is called “Creating a Vibe in Your Home with Justina Blakeney.”  

In the show, Blakeney recommends identifying the emotions you want to feel when you’re inside your home.  Next, close your eyes and picture a time when you felt this way.  Notice the colors, textures, and objects you see in this memory, and incorporate them into your home decor as a way to replicate the emotional experience.

Home decorating is about much more than making your living space look good.  It’s about creating a home that both reflects and inspires you.  It’s fun, creative, and when done right, an act of self-care.  What’s your design style?  Tell me on Instagram: @therapywithmaryclaire