How does home decor impacts your well-being?

It is important to remember that we spend the majority of our lives in our homes, which is why it’s essential to make them the best possible places to live. A poorly arranged space or decor that doesn’t appeal to us can have an impact on our mood and affect our well-being. So, could interior decoration be considered a therapeutic tool? Let us investigate a bit more …

Deco-psychology

Credits : Andi Juhasz

In psychoanalysis, decoration is seen as our third envelope — after the skin and clothing — which is why it should not be neglected, and even more so, it should be nurtured. But how can we enhance it to create that perfect harmony between the ‘self’ and the ‘home’?"

Each person is unique and will therefore have their own way of feeling at ease at home and creating an interior that reflects who they are. There are no strict rules, as long as our living space supports our personal growth rather than hindering it. This balance can be disrupted when the layout isn’t optimal. Similarly, when our space is cluttered, our thoughts tend to become scattered as well, reflecting the disorder around us and making life feel less structured.

One important way to avoid feeling the negative effects of a poor layout is to make sure you can move freely through your space, trying to keep pathways clear and unobstructed. This helps create a sense of harmony between our physical surroundings and our inner state of mind. That’s why working with an interior designer can be a great solution — they can help bring your ideas to life and shape a space that matches your style, allowing you to feel truly at home in an environment that reflects who you are.

Credit: Pinterest

We can also stimulate our senses by playing with touch and smell, for example. Using soft or pleasant materials that we enjoy coming into contact with can help us relax. The same goes for scents — having a diffuser or essential oils at home can create a soothing and uplifting atmosphere.

Some natural materials, like wood, even release relaxing scents. That’s why choosing the type of wood for your furniture isn’t just about color or technical qualities — its scent can also be an important factor to consider.

To learn more, feel free to check out our article: « How to Choose the Right Wood».

Feng-shui

How can we talk about well-being at home without mentioning Feng Shui? This ancient Chinese practice aims to improve the flow of "Chi" — a universal positive energy found in our surroundings, including our living spaces. Feng Shui teaches us how to arrange our interiors in a way that promotes greater peace and well-being.

Everyone is unique and will have their own way of feeling comfortable at home and creating a space that reflects who they are. There aren’t any strict rules, as long as our living environment supports our personal growth and doesn’t hold it back. Sometimes, this balance is disrupted when the layout isn’t ideal — for example, when two sofas face each other, it can subconsciously suggest tension or duality. Or when our home is messy, our thoughts tend to get cluttered too, making our life feel less organized.

One important way to avoid the negative effects of a poor layout is to be able to move freely within the space, ensuring that nothing blocks the flow. This helps create harmony between our physical environment and our inner state of mind. That’s why consulting an interior designer can be a great solution — they can help bring your ideas to life and create a space that matches your style, allowing you to have a home that truly feels like yours and where you feel comfortable.

This practice aims to help us feel as good as possible in our living spaces by getting rid of negative energies and transforming our homes into calm, peaceful places where well-being is the focus. The ultimate goal is to achieve physical and mental balance, thereby improving our quality of life. To do this, it’s important to ensure the smooth flow of positive energy, or “Chi,” throughout our rooms. When our spaces are too cluttered, this energy cannot circulate properly and may create a negative atmosphere. That’s why it’s always important to declutter and get rid of what weighs us down.

Credits : Ellei Home

Harmonizing the decor is key to allowing positive energy to flow, with materials, shapes, and colors playing a major role. It’s best to choose furniture with soft, gentle lines that don’t feel harsh, and to include green plants or flowers that bring freshness, rather than cacti, which can give off sharp or aggressive vibes. Naturally, maximizing natural light is important to energize the room, and placing mirrors helps reflect that light into every corner.

To achieve perfect balance within our home, we must not overlook the use of colors. They relate to the concept of Yin and Yang and should complement each other to create perfect harmony. Yin, which encourages relaxation and creativity, is represented by soft, cool tones like blue and green, while Yang, which stimulates and energizes, is symbolized by brighter colors such as red, pink, and yellow. That’s why it’s important to first define the purpose of a room and understand the atmosphere you want to create before choosing specific colors, all while blending shades carefully to maintain overall balance.

In short, Feng Shui uses energy to improve our quality of life by determining the orientation, color, and arrangement of our rooms, while creating overall harmony between all these elements.

Neuro-architecture

Credits : Lulu and Georgia

Well-being within our homes has also been studied in a more scientific way through the field of neuro-architecture, which combines neuroscience and architecture. The goal of this science is to design interiors that promote well-being and, consequently, happiness by focusing on how the brain functions and the different reactions it can have in specific environments.

Many factors can influence our emotions, often on an unconscious level. For example, elements with curved lines tend to elicit positive responses from the brain, while sharp angles may increase feelings of stress. It’s also important to create clearly defined spaces according to their function — small, quiet areas without digital distractions encourage reflection and relaxation, while larger, warmer spaces invite conversation and socializing. Of course, colors play a significant role in our pursuit of well-being, and this science has proven it: for instance, green tones help relieve stress, while red tones are more stimulating. Colors influence our moods and mindset, and consequently, our behavior.

But the golden rule is to create an interior where we truly thrive, based on our own preferences. For this, neuro-architecture advises us to look inward to understand what kind of personality we have and, therefore, what type of space makes us feel most comfortable. For example, an introverted person may not feel at ease in a large open space, while an extroverted person is more likely to thrive there.

Although this article focuses mainly on the interior part of our living space, we should not overlook the importance of outdoor areas and nature for the proper functioning of the brain and all the benefits they bring. In fact, as interior it is known that spending just one hour in nature is a powerful stress reliever. So why not bring as much nature as possible directly into our interiors? Wood, stone, natural materials…

Credits : Simone Bossi

In conclusion, well-being in our living space mainly comes down to using decoration as a therapeutic tool — creating an interior that reflects who we are and with which we feel aligned. There are no fixed rules, and the perception of a pleasant interior depends on each individual. Although Feng Shui offers guidance to help positive energy flow, especially by decluttering and consciously choosing colors based on their qualities.

And if you’re constantly searching for an interior that truly suits you, don’t hesitate to seek advice from a professional who will listen to your needs and guide you in choosing the right atmosphere and furniture!