How the Living Room Setting Can Affect your Psychological State

Ask yourself, where do you spend most of your time? The answer is obviously at home. especially after Covid-19 hit and we were all forced to spend all of our time at home. that being said, our homes are our havens. When you’ve spent a long day at work, and you need to relax, the best place to do that is from the comfort of your own home. therefore, your home should be able to provide you with that sense of safety and mental stability that you need. Imagine sitting in your living room after a long day and have it be perfectly how you prefer it. Not only does it reflect your personal aesthetic but it also affects your mood. Research has shown that there is a direct correlation between your interior design and your mental health. And luckily there are a few simple methods you can implement in order to ensure that your living room is mirroring your personality and providing you with a safe, calming place where you can truly relax and enjoy a stress-free environment. 

 Rid yourself of clutter

A messy space is exactly what you don’t need. Mess and clutter are associated with anxiety and depression. And the longer you allow clutter to pile up the worse your mental health can be. This might be the toughest step if you are just starting out and you have already accumulated a significant amount of clutter. Luckily though, someone has already figured out a great method that can help anyone in this situation. Marie Kondo is a Japanese organization consultant who’s books and hit Netflix series “Tiding up with Marie Kondo”, have helped millions of people organize their homes using the KonMari method. The trick is to let go of anything that doesn’t spark joy in you. By doing so, you can easily rid your home of useless clutter that your brain is trying to convince you that you might need one day. Once you’ve successfully organized your home you can move on to design and other elements.

Your layout matters

Now that you’ve got a clean fresh space to work with you need to think about your layout. Your goal should always be to make the area appear as spacious as possible. The more space you have the better your mental health is going to be. Crammed and over crowded living areas are the enemy. But fear not, luckily, you don’t need a large living room to achieve this. No matter how small your area is there is always a way to make it appear larger than it is. Use space saving furniture, items that have more than one function to allow you to limit the number of furniture items you need to use, make sure never to have your furniture cover any windows and let go of the notion that you need a full living room set. Instead, pick and choose the furniture items according to your needs and the size of your space. That way, you will not over crowd your living room and the living room you create will have the illusion if spaciousness which is bound to affect your mood and general mental health in a positive way.

Let there be light

Natural light is your best friend. Natural light affects our mental health the most. Research shows that the more natural light your home has the happier you are. Make sure not to have your curtains and windows closed all the time. Instead, make it a habit to open all your windows in the morning to let in the fresh air and sunlight and watch how uplifted you feel afterwards. Dark and gloomy living rooms are bound to increase your anxiety and depression. Leave the darkness to night time when you want to lay back and watch some Netflix. But in the morning, let the light fill your home and allow it to improve your mental health and naturally increase your productivity. Human beings are not nocturnal creatures; therefore, we’re biologically programmed to be more productive and have more energy during the day and natural sunlight is how you activate that part of your brain. If you feel like you don’t have sufficient amount of light, a good trick is to add a large mirror or other reflective surfaces to your living room for light to bounce off of and increase the amount of natural light in your room.

Invite nature in

Plants and flowers are wildly beneficial to mental health. They provide natural filtration of the air in your home and they add a beautiful pop of color that’s always uplifting to look at. And even though it’s tempting to purchase artificial plants so you wouldn’t have to go through the hassle of caring for them, the benefits of having live plants in your home is a hundred percent worth it. If you’re an infamous plant killer, do some research beforehand and find easy-care plants to start off with. Plants that can survive with minimal care and sunlight. Once you get the hang of it and you feel more confident in your plant parenting skills, go ahead and add all that your heart desires. You will find that caring for these plants and watching them thrive will reflect on your mental health drastically and give you the boost of confidence you need that only comes from successfully helping and caring for a living being.

Choose Color

When it comes to color there is no right or wrong answer. Of course, there are some color theory rules and a simple google search will show you which colors evoke which emotion but it still really is up to you and the colors that bring you joy. The rules are only there to guide you but at the end of the day, listen to your heart and think about the color you want to see the second you walk into your living room. Make sure your color scheme matches and if something doesn’t fit or stands you, don’t be afraid to change it. Experiment with different themes and accent colors if that’s what you choose or keep it simple and minimal for a cleaner look. An excellent trick to switch things up from time to time and enjoy a fresh look is seasonal customization. You can change curtains and décor and throw pillows to match the current season. That way you can enjoy a change that suits the weather and the general mood which can help with your mental health.

Don’t Forget art

Last but certainly not least, is art. They say eyes are the windows to the soul but the truth is, it’s art. It’s a perfect way for you to add your soul into your space. And the best thing about art is that it’s whatever you think it is. It’s completely subjective and can be truly yours. You can make your own if you’ve been blessed with the talent. And even if you’re not, whatever you make will have a piece if you inside it. And what better way to maintain your mental health than to create pieces that carry bits of your soul and display them in your own home. art brings a touch of spirituality and wonderment into any home and is never the wrong move. Empty walls and shelves can make your home feel cold and depressing. So hang paintings that spark joy in you or a sculpture or two on your shelves or night stand. Pick out beautiful vases for your plants and flowers and just fill your home with art that speaks to you and reflect your personality.