The impact of interior design on mental health
Illustration by Gabriella Marsh
by Hazra Khatoon
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Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt calm and relaxed? Maybe the room is filled with sunlight and lots of plants, each with bright green leaves. Or perhaps it's a simple, clutter-free space that makes you feel immediately at peace. We've all experienced places like these, the ones that seem to say, "Come in, take a deep breath, and find comfort." These places remind us that interior design isn't only about furniture or wall decor, it's about spaces that help our mental health.
This could indicate our surroundings matter a lot in determining how we feel. In urban societies, people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors. Because of this, it's crucial that we design interiors while conscious of their impact and with an understanding of how to make that impact a positive one.
Mental health and interior design have a strong overlap. “While people traditionally think of mental health as working on internal thoughts and feelings, a lot of what shapes how people navigate the day is their exterior world,” says Michal Matlon, a place and architecture psychologist who co-creates Venetian Letter, a mental health and design newsletter. “These external factors include peer interactions, social media, and the weather. One of the largest external factors — often overlooked — is the environment in which people exist.” How people organize their homes and workplaces plays a large role in their overall mental health throughout the day. Therefore, properly shaping the environment can profoundly influence a person’s mood and mind.
Gabriella Marsh
Connection between interior design and psychology
The human brain and body have evolved over millions of years. As time has gone on, we have become heavily focused on industry and many of us have flocked toward urban centers. In the process, we have created man-made environments that further separate us from nature. These places are tough for our brains to understand and lack the natural signs that show safety and well-being, sometimes leading to stress for some.
Scientists are studying this area on a broad level and offering captivating conclusions. Research in psychology and neuroscience shows that the environment we live in affects the way we think, feel, and behave. According to Dr. Joel Frank, a licensed clinical psychologist, and neuropsychologist at Duality Psychological Services, “a well-designed environment can help us relax and restore, but it can also sharpen our minds, enhance our creativity, and put us in a good mood. Even things as basic as not having enough daylight and fresh air can affect our mood and energy levels in the short term and our health in the long term.”
Gabriella Marsh
Interior design elements that influence our mental health
Our environment is an extension of our mind. It is the medium in which we experience and perform all our thoughts, actions, and emotions. Research has shown that interior design can impact mental health and more. While it's necessary to understand the individual elements involved in interior design, it's ultimately about how they add up to create the final effect.
Light temperature, color, and spaciousness
“The three most powerful interior design elements affecting mental health are color choice, light temperature, and space plan,” Dr. Frank says. “A proper balance between these three can significantly influence a person’s mood and thoughts. We can use natural colors to signal a thriving, natural environment.”
Choosing cool colors (like blue, green, and lavender) and the right lighting can help a room feel calm. On the other hand, choosing other colors (red, orange, yellow) with warm lighting can stimulate feelings of excitement and creativity. Making a room feel big and open is important for making us cheerful. One study found that high ceilings can inspire creativity.
Sunlight
Daylight can be a powerful factor when managing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Research on seasonal depression has been linked to lack of sun exposure as a primary driver. For this reason, it is important to be mindful of natural light elements within a space and introduce as much natural light as possible in your space.
“For example, we know that during the day we need enough sunlight and sunlight-simulating light, However, in the evening we can relax better with dim, warm light below eye level,” Matlon explains.
Function and clutter
When crafting living spaces for an aging population that may manage the effects of dementia or general age-related decline in visual and cognitive abilities, the function of the space becomes another essential interior design consideration. An adequately space-planned room that is functionally efficient and with appropriately sized furniture can make the room feel “just right.” If a room is cluttered with poor flow and balance, feelings of chaos, anxiety, and frustration can be influenced. “While the person may not be consciously aware these feelings are being presented by their environment, those feelings can then go on to shape their mood and functioning throughout the day,” explains Malton.
Balance and consistency
Aside from color and function, balance and proportion of furniture and fixtures have greater impacts than consistency and spaciousness when planning a living space to promote mental health. “A design can be made of eclectic items, but it can still feel right if balanced and appropriately sized,” Dr. Frank says. “if the items in the room are too cramped though or there is clutter, anxiety, frustration, and feelings of chaos can be promoted.”
Shapes
When we look at different shapes, they trigger a variety of psychological responses associated with unique emotions, thoughts, and perceptions. These responses resonate within our brains and influence our overall experiences. Matlon recommends using “curved shapes instead of sharp and angled ones to create a more pleasant, less threatening feeling of space.” He further adds, “We can bring in plants in a variety of forms, but we can also use nature-inspired geometry, including symmetry, curves, and fractal patterns when selecting art, decorations, or textures for textiles.”
Plants, flowers, natural elements, and nature-inspired design
There is a reason so many of us love having houseplants. When we're surrounded by green plants, it makes us feel like we're in a rich, abundant place. “This is the kind of place where our ancestors would have gone to find food. Feeling like you're in a place where you can find food makes you feel calm,” Matlon explains. “We don't live with the same needs that our ancestors did — it's far easier for us to get enough nutrition. But the mechanisms that helped them stay fed still exist in us.” Perhaps this also speaks to why many of us are drawn to big, brightly colored paintings or other elements in design that might be traced back to more primal times.
“Flowers, natural elements, and nature-inspired designs can remind a person of life and growth and influence mental flexibility,” Dr. Frank adds. Many studies have also explored the relationship between mental well-being and connections to nature. Having flowers and other plants in living spaces can simulate this relationship with nature and its benefits.
So what do we do with all of this information? Take what works, of course! Let it inspire you to view your home through the lens of wellness. If certain textures, colors, or other elements of home design bring you joy, lean into them. And if you find yourself deep in a color-changing and rearranging spring clean soon, enjoy! You’re going to notice the difference.