How to Design an Interior that Boosts Your Mood

Let in Lots of Natural Light

Letting plenty of natural light into your home is an important part of designing a space that will boost your mood. Getting enough natural light during the daytime can help you feel more awake, as well as enabling you to get a good night's sleep at the end of the day, which we all know is important for our mental health.

To maximize the amount of natural light in your home, think carefully about your window treatments. Many people don't measure properly when choosing and hanging curtains, which can result in part of the curtain blocking the edge of your window, allowing less light into the room. You can solve this problem by making sure your curtain pole or track is long enough to allow the curtains to be pulled fully back to the edge of the window, letting in as much light as possible.

Alternatively, you might want to consider using blinds or shutters that can be fully opened during the day to let in as much light as possible.

You can also increase the amount of natural light in your space by using mirrors. Mirrors will help to bounce and natural light from your windows around the room, helping to create a bright and airy space.

Choose Mood-Boosting Colors

Colour is a powerful tool for interior design, with the colors we choose having a direct impact on our moods. The way our brains process different colors evokes different feelings and emotions, making our color choices a vital part of creating any interior design scheme.

For bedrooms, it's a good idea to choose calming colors such as warm shades of white and pale shades of blue, green, or pink. A calming color scheme in your bedroom will help you to switch off at the end of the day and get a restful night's sleep, which in turn will boost your mood the next day.

For living areas painting your walls a shade of white will give you a blank canvas on which you can add color and personality with art, furnishings, and accessories. Using a light color on your walls will help to maximize the natural light in your space, enhancing that bright and airy feeling.

Soft shades of green are also a great choice for living rooms, as it brings a sense of nature into your home, and can help you to feel grounded. That being said, if there is another particular color that you adore, go for it!

Once you have chosen a color for your walls, you can add in more color with your furniture and accessories. Bright stimulating colors such as red, yellow, pink, and orange can add life and energy to your space - but use them sparingly, these colors can be overwhelming when used in large amounts.

Factor in Extra Storage for a Clean, Uncluttered Space

Living in a cluttered messy home can have some serious negative effects on your mental health. Several studies have found that living in a cluttered environment can increase stress levels, while on the other hand, people living in clean and organized spaces have lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) throughout the day.

A cluttered home can take its toll on your physical health too, causing trips and falls, and allowing dust to build up. Those with dust allergies will benefit greatly from having a clean and tidy home!

To stop your home from becoming messy, it's important to factor in plenty of storage when you are designing your space. When designing your kitchen, make sure you have enough cupboards or shelves for everything you need to store. Kitchen surfaces can become cluttered quickly if your kitchen items don't have a place to be put away when not in use. If you do find your kitchen surfaces are becoming cluttered, you might want to consider investing in a freestanding pantry cupboard. Pantry cupboards come in all shapes and sizes, so even if you don't have much space, you will be able to take advantage of some extra storage, keeping your kitchen counters pleasingly clutter-free.

Likewise with your bedroom, ensure you have plenty of storage for all of your clothes, shoes, and accessories. Think about the areas of your home that get messy - is it your entryway, office, living room, or bedroom. It's worth investing in some additional storage solutions for these areas.

Aside from having enough storage for the things you need in your home, it's also important to declutter and get rid of the things that you don't want or use. "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or perceive to be beautiful." - William Morris

Add Lots of Plants

There is no space that can't be made more cheerful with the addition of plants, and thankfully when it comes to houseplants there are lots to choose from!

The color green evokes feelings of peace, security, optimism, and motivation, so bringing this color into your home with house plants and trees is an excellent way to create an uplifting interior that will naturally boost your mood.

Of course, any houseplant will be beneficial, but here are some of the best houseplants to help boost your mood:

• Lavender - Has a naturally calming and stress-reducing scent making it ideal for bedrooms
• Peace Lily - Great for helping to remove mold spores from the air (not ideal for homes with pets who may eat plants due to low levels of toxicity)
• Snake Plant - Easy to keep alive for those who aren't green-fingered
• Aloe Vera - A naturally healing plant
• Spider Plant - Easy to maintain and great for cleaning and oxygenating the air
• Ficus - A great looking plant that can grow up to 10ft tall, perfect for living areas

It's not just about aesthetics - there's plenty of science behind why having plants in your home makes you feel good. Studies have shown that having plants in your home can reduce both psychological and physiological stress, while other studies have even suggested that being around flowers and plants can help you recover from illnesses, surgery, and other injuries more quickly. Last but not least, houseplants have been proven to improve the quality of indoor air, making your home a healthier place to live.

Choose Objects and Art That Delight and Inspire You

It's important to have items in your home that bring you joy, whether it's a work of art by your favorite artist, or an ornament lovingly sculpted by your child.

Never fill walls with art just for the sake of it. Instead, spend a little time finding pieces that you truly adore. Visit local art fairs, spend your evenings browsing your favorite online stores, visit local flea markets and vintage shops, and truly enjoy the process of finding those unique pieces that will make your home come alive.

Add Personal Touches

Including personal touches is one of the easiest ways to create a positive feeling in your home. Family photos can help instill a sense of belonging, particularly for children, which can help build their self-esteem and confidence.

Looking at photos of loved ones has a positive effect on our mood, and similarly, looking at photos taken from a fun holiday or experience can help us to reminisce and bring back those fond memories, boosting our mood in an instant. As well as photographs, you might also want to include items or artwork that you or your family members have made over the years.

Think About Ambient Lighting

We've spoken already about the importance of natural light, but what happens after the sun goes down? It's essential to have a variety of different lighting options in your home if you want to create a space that feels good.

Table lamps and floor lamps are a key part of any interior design scheme. They can be used on their own to create a cozy glow, or used in conjunction with other lighting options. Lamps can be placed in almost any area of your home (aside from the bathroom) and are the perfect way to brighten up a dark hallway or living room, bringing your space to life, even in the evenings.

Create Your Happy Space

If you haven't been feeling your best at home recently, it might be time to redesign your home to create a space that you love. All of the tips we've spoken about in this article can be done on a budget, and if a redesign seems overwhelming you don't need to do everything at once. Pick one step each week to gradually make the changes you need to create a space that you will love to come home to.