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Common Home Interior Design Mistakes That Cause Anxiety and Mood Problems

Common Home Interior Design Mistakes That Cause Anxiety and Mood Problems

Your home should be a safe haven – a place that makes you feel happy, relaxed and peaceful. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for everyone. Do you experience anxiety or a sense of uneasiness at home? Do you have troubles pinpointing where such negative emotions stem from?

If the answers to both of these questions are yes, you could be making some common home décor mistakes that impact mood in a negative way. Check the list below for some typical issues and the best ways to address those in order to bring harmony home.

Clutter

According to Psychology Today, clutter causes anxiety and stress in more than one way.

Having too many items around the house will “bombard” the mind with visual stimuli instead of creating a peaceful, balanced environment. All senses work in overdrive, which isn’t something you need when you already lead a hectic life.

In addition, clutter creates feelings of guilt and shame (making you believe you’re a failure because you’re not organised or tidy), it keeps you from relaxing fully and it signals to your brain that you need to do something about it.

The good news is that you can do something about it fairly easily. Clever storage is easy to introduce even in the smallest Singapore flat, especially if you utilise vertical space or the spaces that don’t really have a purpose (corners, the area above a door, the top of a closet, etc.).

Keeping Sharp Edges in the Design

Jagged edges, especially if they overpower the design, can create anxiety.

A study published in 2017 shows that the vast majority of people feels better and more relaxed in rooms where curves rather than edges are dominant.

Here’s the psychological explanation behind this phenomenon – too many sharp edges create an angular, somewhat aggressive design. It’s not as welcoming as a room that features curves and rounded objects.

Obviously, you can’t create design without some straight, sharp lines. These, however, can be balanced trough the presence of ergonomic furniture, rounded vases and containers (like flower pots, for example) and even rounded light fixtures.

Even visually, curves have the power to soften the design. Undoubtedly, that softness will be translated by the brain as cosy and welcoming.

No Art

Some people decide not to feature any art at home because they simply don’t know how to pick the right painting or sculpture.

Art, however, plays a very important role in home décor. It isn’t just visual. Artwork provokes emotional responses and various interesting studies suggest just how powerful it can be.

Viewing art recreates the same emotions as being in love, a University College London study suggests. Artwork that you enjoy causes a surge of feel-good hormones, reducing anxiety and stress. In fact, the power of art is immense – when used in hospital settings, it can decrease pain responses and contribute to faster recovery.

The type of art itself isn’t that important as long as it makes you feel good by just looking at it. Explore different genres – modern, abstract, sketches, creative photography, posters, impressionist, surrealist – it’s really up to you to explore and discover the style you’re drawn to. In fact, you don’t have to stick to one style. Eclectic design can be even more fun and such diversity can easily be achieved by featuring different kinds of art that complement each other.

Very Little Natural Light

A dark, poorly lit room will instantly make you feel gloomy, won’t it? The same applies to rainy days and grey skies – the absence of sunlight has the power to instantly ruin your mood.

There’s a scientific explanation that pinpoints the importance of light for proper brain function.

Exposure to sunlight increases the production of serotonin – a hormone that improves mood and helps for calmness. In the absence of natural light, serotonin levels go down and this phenomenon is linked to increased risk of seasonal mood disorders and even major depression.

The importance of sunlight has once again been demonstrated in a study carried out in hospital settings. Researchers found out that patients in sunny rooms recovered from depression faster than those in rooms having less light.

Even if you don’t have large windows at home, there are ways to make rooms feel brighter and more cheerful.

There are light bulbs meant to replicate the colour and temperature of sunlight. Full-spectrum light bulbs are the ones that come closest to what the sun gives us.

In addition, you can make rooms brighter by featuring light colours, mirrors and glossy surfaces. All of those maximise available light and improve its presence throughout the flat.

These are some of the obvious issues that can impact mood, anxiety and overall wellbeing. But there are some subtler mistakes leading to issues with your home environment. Did you know that something as simple as cramming too many family photos in a small space can make you feel stressed out? The same applies to ignoring the importance of texture, featuring too many electronics in your relaxation spaces and even keeping lots of books you no longer enjoy.

Interior designers know how these subtle choices can have a negative impact. Hence, working with a professional is the easy way to bring happiness and balance to your home.

At Home Guide, we believe in the ability of every single design element to impact your psychological wellbeing. From colour to arrangements – we make these choices intentionally to match your needs. Contact us now if you want a home that will help you relax and find happiness amid everyday business and stress.

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