Believe it or not, the environment of our homes can have a major impact on our mental well-being, whether that brings positive or negative feelings.
Our homes should be our oasis. A place where we go to escape the reality of our world.
We spend probably over half of our lives in our homes, so why not make them a space that makes us feel good?
You are going to learn 5 ways your home affects your mental health and why they have such an impact on your daily life.
This post is all about how your home affects your mental health.
I have experienced this personally in my own home, and I work with clients on a daily basis who experience this same thing.
You want to feel AMAZING in your home. Calm, cool, and collected. And you deserve to!
Sometimes, you don’t even realize that the reason you are feeling anxious or uneasy in your home is because of the environment you are in. There are so many factors that play a major role in the way you feel and function on a daily basis in your home.
Here are 5 things that may be impacting those negative feelings in your home:
1. Natural Light
Not having enough natural light in your home is one of the biggest reasons you could be feeling down and dreary. Being in a dark home with no natural light is depressing. If you live in a state where you have all 4 seasons, you will understand how long and depressing the Fall and Winter months can be. Although we cannot control the weather, we can somewhat control how much natural light we bring into our home.
The more windows, the better, and having large windows is even more of a plus. Creating a setting where you can leave your windows open and not covered up by heavy window treatments is going to help you so much. Of course, you are going to want your privacy, but you can still achieve that with light-filtering window treatments.
Natural lighting can also have a direct correlation with the way you sleep and your overall mood. Think about it, whenever you can get outside on a beautiful sunny day, you most likely feel energized and refreshed because your body is naturally absorbing the Vitamin D from the sun, allowing you to reap all of the benefits it has to offer.
2. Indoor Lighting
Not only does natural lighting have a direct effect on our mental health, but so does indoor lighting.
Well-lit home environments are known to increase your mood, energy levels, and productivity. Bad lighting can cause a lot of visual discomfort and eye strain.
There are different types of artificial lighting options. These options include warm light, cool light, and natural light. If you can change out the light bulbs in your decorative lighting, task lighting, ceiling fans, recessed can lighting, etc., this could greatly impact your mood. Click here to read about how to update your old recessed can lighting.
Choosing the correct type of lighting hue can be tricky.
Warm light has more of a yellow undertone, which can promote relaxation. It is great to use in living rooms or bedrooms, which are two environments that typically imply a calming atmosphere.
Cool light can be described as bright white and can sometimes appear blue. This type of lighting creates more of an alertness and productive attitude. These are mainly used in commercial spaces such as hospitals.
Daylight light mimics natural lighting and can be used anywhere throughout your home. This type of lighting can create a cozy environment.
3. Colors
Choosing the right paint and material colors for your home can make a huge impact on the way you feel in your space.
When choosing paint colors and materials, keep in mind how you want to feel in each space of your home. Do you want to feel productive and energized? Or do you want to create more of a moody setting? It is so important that you take into consideration the type of room you are designing and what its main purpose is.
Also, if you live in a smaller home or your layout is more of an open concept plan, sometimes choosing a lighter color is going to be your best option, because all of the natural light is going to bounce off those lighter colors, making the room feel even brighter.
Of course, brighter and warmer colors are going to promote energy and happiness. Whereas cool colors are going to create a calming environment, and darker colors are going to make you feel more subdued.
Brighter and warmer colors are great for living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens, while cooler colors are great for places of relaxation like bedrooms and bathrooms.
Also, keep in mind that each color has different hues. There are many variations of whites, blues, yellows, greens, grays, etc. Be sure to bring in color samples to your home and tape them up on different walls in your home to see how the color hue reflects with the natural lighting throughout the day. It also helps to get an actual paint sample that you can paint directly on your walls and watch how it changes throughout the day. The same goes for material colors in your home.
4. Furniture Layout
The layout of your furniture can also greatly impact your mental well-being in your home. Having too much furniture can make any room feel cluttered and stuffy.
Or, having furniture that is too big for your space can also make your space feel off. Always measure your room and measure each piece of furniture you are choosing. I promise that having the correct-sized furniture pieces in your home are going to make a massive difference in the way your layout functions and feels.
5. Clutter and Disorganization
And last but not least, clutter and disorganization. Having too much “stuff” can cause feelings of anxiety. I know that sometimes it is hard to part ways with some of the items we have, and that is okay. If you do not have room for something, choose to put it in storage or find another spot for it in a different area of your home.
A clean environment makes a huge impact. I know it does not bother everyone, but I promise you that if you tidy up and clean a little bit everyday to maintain your home, you will instantly notice an impact on your productivity.
