Habitat, working in collaboration with interior designers Athina Bluff and Amy Brandhorst from Topology Interiors have created a useful guide on balancing your mental wellbeing in the sanctuary of your home.
You can reshuffle your furniture, treat yourself to some new homeware, or spend time clearing out all those spaces you’ve been meaning to get to. Making these changes doesn’t have to be overwhelming; start small and use this six step approach to help you achieve a balanced living space that will lift your mood.
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1. CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLOUR PALETTE
The colours of each room in a home are a direct reflection of personality and can strongly influence mood and thoughts. Lighter colours are more reflective, making your space feel open and airy. Darker colours tend to look more sophisticated and warmer, making larger rooms feel more intimate.
2. INTRODUCE INDOOR PLANTS
Bringing natural materials into the home is aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also psychologically beneficial. Indoor plants – like aloe vera, peace lily and snake plants - purify the air and remove toxins in your space.
3. RECONNECT WITH NATURE
Bring natural elements into the home. Based on the concept of ‘biophilia’, people are significantly happier when surrounded by nature. You can benefit from the sensory variation that we experience in the natural environment by adding flowers and plants to your space, as well as choosing natural materials such as wood or stone.
4. INCLUDE OPTIMAL LIGHTING
Lighting can be a powerful tool when it comes to mental wellbeing. Warm lights can create a more welcoming and relaxing environment, so they’re ideal for communal areas. On the other hand, cooler lights can be quite stimulating, causing you to feel alert and focused. This makes them perfect for a home study or office, boosting your productivity when you’re working from home.
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5. ADD BALACE WITH ROUNDED SHAPES
Creating a sense of stability, calm and harmony in a home can be achieved by adding spherical shaped or rounded furniture and homeware. Something as simple as adding a round mirror to the bathroom or a round coffee table in the living room can help provide a sense of balance and serenity.
6. ELIMINATE CLUTTER
Research has found that clutter can affect your brain’s ability to concentrate and process information. A great place to start is by organising your clutter into piles for distribution – keep, donate and sell. Avoiding clutter by including furniture with added storage around your home is also a great way to stay organised.
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'At Topology, we encourage homeowners to embrace the environment they live as a sanctuary of space and encourage people to be open to making small changes that will improve their mental wellbeing and outlook for the longevity.
During this uncertain time where we’re stuck indoors, our home environments are one of the most important factors in our lives. The design of your home environment has the power to improve your mood, make your life easier and generally help you cope during this time.
It could be something as simple as decluttering your bedroom to alleviate stress or changing the layout of your living room to make it easier and more comfortable to move around. Colour is also very important – surrounding yourself with colours that help you to relax will make a huge difference.'
Habitat, habitat.co.uk
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