We spend a large portion of our time at home so it’s important that our houses are places that make us happy. According to a report, The psychology of home environments – A call for research on residential space, which was published in the scientific journal Perspectives on Psychological Science, our homes have a major impact on the way we feel each day. From the use of colour and plants to where you put your furniture, each element of a room can be designed to optimise your home for happiness.
Below are infographics from CashNet USA showing the best tips and techniques based on psychology that will help you design a home that will keep you rested, inspired and healthy.
Living Room
The living room is traditionally a gathering place for the family to come together to talk and watch TV. Inspire happy memories by displaying family photos and incorporate wood elements to create a calming atmosphere.
Kitchen
Kitchens should be social spaces so provide a focal point, such as a breakfast bar or island, where people can get together.
Dining Room
Dining rooms are popular spaces for entertaining guests so you want to encourage conversation and appetite here. The colour red is associated with both increasing appetite and stimulating conversation, making it a great paint colour choice in this space.
Bathroom
Bathrooms that have the feeling of being open and airy not only appear bigger but also more relaxing. To create more space think about hiding the toilet from plain sight and use plants that help clean the air to freshen up the space.
Bedroom
Sleeping is of course the primary focus of the bedroom so it’s important to include elements that will create a dark peaceful place to sleep at night. During the day organisation is key, including making the bed each morning, as research suggests an organised environment positively impacts on our mental state.
Closet
Who doesn’t love a well-ordered walk-in closet? But did you know that being able to see and access all your clothes, rather just some of them, not only gives you more choice but also reduces frustration when getting dressed. Keep things simple and hassle-free by using see-through bins, glass-fronted drawers and belt and tie racks.
Office
Just like in a work environment, organisation is important in home offices to create a functional and pleasing space. A Princeton study found clutter negatively affect’s our brain’s ability to focus so invest in storage solutions to keep clutter at bay. If you regularly work from home a standing desk might be a good investment to give your energy and health a boost.
Basement
As house sizes shrink, basements are becoming more than just storage area, with an increasing number of people turning the space into a playroom for kids or a home gym. Regardless of what you turn your basement into ensure you brighten the space with colourful tiles or rugs to prevent the gloomy feeling often associated with a lack of natural light.
