by Lina Martinez

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence now that the home has a huge impact on our mental health and well-being. So many factors need to be taken into account when measuring the effects on our mood and happiness. Such as how the sensory information in the home can affect the way we think, which ultimately affects our mood. Some housing designers and architects are so interested in this that they are now creating homes with the effects of well-being in mind. The term neuroarchitecture has been coined for how the design of a building affects the central nervous system of the mind. The new wave of building design incorporates the fundamentals of this. However, it is not necessary to go back to square one and rebuild your home to make the changes needed for a better quality of life. Everyone has the ability to make their current home more conducive to promoting the quality of their mental health. Sometimes all it takes are a few simple changes here and there. In other cases, it may be difficult to break cycles of behavior which results in the home not being the best place to feel that Zen kind of peace of mind. But, if you are determined and want your home to make you happier, anyone and everyone is capable of performing the improvements that are necessary. When you look at your home, perhaps you should begin by how things look, then move on to show it smells, the texture of things, etc. Okay, so below are some ideas on how you can improve your home and enhance your sense of well-being.

Image from Pixabay

Start with Decluttering

When you start with the process of upgrading your home, it is best you are honest. Is your home a bit of a mess? If it is, it is worth knowing that an untidy home actually stimulates the body into releases cortisol, the stress hormone. So, that means that a messy home actually makes you mentally and physically stresses out. When you come home from a hard day, the last thing you want is to feel more stressed out. Also, a messy home offers up a whole range of other issues too, like making it easier to lose things, allows bacteria, microbes, mold, and other nasties to grow. It can simply make it difficult to move about. When we are thinking of making a home more Zen, you need to think of minimalism, with space and movement. Think about the flow of air and freshness. The last thing you want is an overly cramped space, where the air grows stale for lack of movement. Unfortunately, some people may find it hard to part with the things they have taken years to build up, but you need to remember that this is negatively affecting your mental health, and when it comes o mold, etc., it may actually be affecting your physical health too. If this process is hard for you, then take it slow, but start by the most things that are obviously rubbish, like out-of-date newspapers or magazines, old moisturizers that have gone hard. Then move on to broken things that will never get repaired. Empty drawers and throw or give away anything that you no longer use or need. Then think about larger items, like unused chairs, or tables, if you have any. If you can do ten minutes a day over the space of a few days or weeks, you will find that you are making more space. Once you have the final cut of furniture and things, then you can get to work on the next phases of your home transformation. 

Increase the Light Flow

If your home is a little on the dark side, this may be affecting your circadian rhythm. This means that your levels of melatonin will be decreased, which affects your health. Darkness also has other negative effects on your mental health, such as reducing your serotonin levels, the happy hormone. So on a chemical level, you are feeling less happy. Therefore you should try and find ways to increase the levels of light in your house. There are many ways you can do this, from moving large objects away from the windows, as you want to avoid blocking out the light. You may need to have your windows replaced if they are quite steamed up, etc. If you are able to, a skylight is a great idea, Alternatively mirrors on the walls, strategically placed, will help rebound and reflect the light that comes in. If your walls are painted dark colors, then paint them light colors to make them a more reflective surface. By thinking about the way light appears in your home, you are on the way to making your home appear more elegant and chic.

A Calm Refuge

When you are thinking about your well-being, then you need to create space in your home that is a place of calm refuge. Perhaps this could be an area where you can reflect and contemplate the day's events, or maybe plan your next step. Whatever you need a calm refuge for, it is important you have one. So, think about a room, or the corner of a room, that can be for quiet reflection or the family. It should be free from distractions, which means no digital media, where phones, TV, tablets are banned. Maybe it could be a snug where you can meditate or start a hobby. Maybe you could convert the cupboard under the stairs! Or have a cordoned-off area in the bedroom or living room. Some people can even find space in a large hallway. It does not matter how you find the space or how large it is, as long as it allows you to relax and let the stresses and strains of the world at large melt away.

Sounds Matters

For a truly calming house, you need to think about sound. If you live next to a busy road, for example, you may need to have your windows replaced, to thicker glass, with triples glazing, you may even want heavy sound-absorbing curtains to help minimize sound at night. If you have a decent-sized front garden, why not plant some sound-absorbing bushes or trees. The same goes for the back garden if the problem is from that side. If you lie in a flat or terraced house, how about having acoustic paneling put up to help stop noise traveling between houses. This could also aid with stopping nose traveling between rooms. Reducing sound pollution will drastically improve your well-being in your home, and you should benefit from a better night’s sleep, and we all could do with more sleep. Also, thinking of acoustics, perhaps a wind chime or some other calming sound could be of benefit. 

The Natural World

Bringing a bit of the outside inside is a great idea. Plants have a hugely positive effect on mental health and well-being. They have a natural calming effect on people, which is great for everyone. They are also great air purifiers. This could be especially important if you live in a small apartment in the middle of a big city. If you have a balcony, then a few potted plants or hanging baskets could spruce up that city living space. To enhance the sense of openness and make your balcony feel larger and more connected to the outside, frameless glass balustrades are a perfect addition. These sleek, minimalist railings provide safety while maintaining an uninterrupted view of your surroundings, seamlessly blending indoor and outdoor spaces. If you have a garden, make the most of this natural space. Plants, bushes, and a little water feature could go a long way. The sound of water trickling serenely has a calming effect just as much as the plants do. It does not matter how large your garden space is, you could make a little secret garden, like a space of meditation away from the hustle and bustle. If you are clever with garden trellises and arches, you could make this a place that is completely hidden away, just for you. You could even have sculptures made in a design that fits your personality or have some kind of ornamental railing set up. All you need for this is a Complete On-Site & In House Welding Services. They could even help you build something structural outside or inside. The choice is yours.

Think Colors

Did you know that colors have an effect on our perceptions and thought patterns? They can make you more productive or calm, for example. Color psychology is the science behind this phenomenon, and when you are looking to upgrade your home, it is definitely worth checking it out. Blue is a calming color that is said to help fix ailments and soothe pain. How color is applied in a house needs to be given a awful lot of thought. If you are a naturally depressive person, the last thing you should be doing is slapping loads of dark colors on the walls that actually make you dwell in misery even more. If you want to feel warm and cozy, and protected in your home, think about warm, wholesome colors. If you want a place that is going t make you feel calm, then blues and greens are a must. Be creative but be wise, as you are going to have to live there, and no one really wanted to be unhappy, do they?