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How Our Living Spaces Affect Our Well-Being

There are a number of ways in which living spaces affect us psychologically and our homes play a significant role in our ongoing well-being. This relationship, between space and mind, is an important one to consider. Many will begin to feel stressed or find themselves in a low mood, all without realising that the environments they are occupying are not conducive to happiness.

As mental health becomes a more pertinent topic, it is crucial that residents recognise the ways in which their living spaces. To support the ubiquity of interior designs and home layouts that better support positivity, we are discussing some of the ways in which living spaces affect well-being and how they can be optimised.

Size

Size is perhaps the most recognised element, with smaller living spaces being associated with feelings of anxiety and stress, while large, especially open-plan designs, are said to create a sense of freedom and relaxation.

Those living in small spaces can also feel restricted, unable to create the home they desire within the limitations of their property. In such circumstances, it can be useful to begin focusing on space creation, prioritising emptiness of belongings and decoration, expanding windows to allow more natural light, building extensions, and even finding log cabins for sale so as to expand living spaces into a garden.

Colour

Colours are not only indicative of our personalities and preferences but they also actively influence them. Rooms that are designed around warm reds and oranges, for example, are more likely to promote a sense of cosiness and warmth over bright whites. Similarly, bold colours are known to feel energetic, while pastels are known for their understatement and serenity.

With this in mind, it can benefit homeowners to think about the utility of a room when it comes to choosing its colour. Office spaces will benefit from confident and bold colours, impressing their energy onto productivity. Whereas bedrooms and bathrooms tend to be better regarded with relaxing colours, those that help individuals to wind down. If colours are misplaced, they can lead to frustration.

Belongings

Those that are familiar with Marie Kondo will be all too familiar with the concept of minimalism. The idea that our belongings must spark joy for them to be worth keeping is now common knowledge. While this is a good thing, especially for mental health, it can also be taken too literally. A home need not be stripped bare before it is considered to be tidy or optimum. In fact, a number of maximalist interior designers would argue quite the opposite.

While being constantly cautious of messiness, a home should not limit designs to those that would be considered understated. There are many vibrant and busy designs that promote positive well-being, with a number of modern interior designers making use of tactile fabrics and textured surfaces.

Your Space

What’s most important is that a living space reflects the preferences and interests of those occupying it. If this fails to happen, individuals are inclined to feel alienated from the very home they are trying to connect with, leading to dissociation and potential mental ill-health.

So, if your space doesn’t currently represent your personality, then it may be time to renovate!