Designing a Home That Supports Emotional Wellness

Want to create a living space that positively impacts mental health?

We spend so much time focusing on how our homes look but so little time on how they make us feel.

Would you believe that the EPA estimates we spend nearly 90% of our lives indoors?

Yeah… it's true.

The reality is that your environment has a huge impact on your mental well-being. But don't worry, there's good news.

Your living space doesn't have to suffer because of mental health challenges. In fact, simple design changes can alleviate the burden...

These design updates:

• Cost little to no money

• Can be done instantly

• Have you feeling better almost immediately

What you're going to learn:

• Why your home environment impacts mental health

• How home design affects crisis intervention psychiatry

• 5 home design updates that improve emotional wellness

• How to upkeep a mentally healthy home

Why Your Home Environment Impacts Mental Health

Your home should be your sanctuary. A place to feel safe, calm down and recover.

When your home environment is stressful, chaotic or cluttered... it can take a serious toll on your mental wellbeing.

Did you know that people living in cluttered homes have higher levels of cortisol (stress hormone)? Think of how relaxing a minimalist home looks and feels compared to one that's filled with mess.

Your home should be a place that welcomes you to relax, not stress.

But here's the thing. We spend so much time worrying about how our homes look on the outside we forget to design them with how we're feeling on the inside.

Home design should prioritize the mind as much as it does aesthetics. Mental health conditions are more common than you think.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimates that over 60 million adults in the U.S. experienced mental illness in 2024. 1 in every 5 people you see could be struggling.

And many of them are trying to heal in less than ideal home environments.

While caring for our mental health may look different for everyone... when it comes to at-home recovery there are certain design factors that should be consistent.

Home design and crisis intervention psychiatry go hand in hand. Mental health professionals like those providing comprehensive telepsychiatry services know that recovery doesn't just happen when you step out of your house.

If you want to create a space that loves you back…

You have to love every corner of it.

How Home Design Impacts Emotional Health

So, how does home design actually improve mental health?

Consider this…

Your brain is always looking for visual queues to let it know if an environment is safe or not.

It analyses light, color, tone, clutter and more. Everything your eyes take in ends up affecting you... emotionally.

Think about how you feel when your house is a mess vs. when everything is clean and organized.

When your brain notices:

• Natural lighting: Dark spaces make you feel more anxious and depressed. Natural lighting increases serotonin.

• Clutter: Mess = chaos. Your brain can't think when there's too much stuff.

• color: Cool colors calm you down. Warm colors make you feel at-home.

• Natural elements: Plants and natural resources help lower cortisol.

Your brain and body take in everything your eyes see. So, if you want to work towards improving your mental health at home, it all starts with your design element choices.

5 Home Design Elements That Improve Emotional Wellness

Okay! Let's get into the stuff you actually came here for.

You might be thinking…

"Hold on… there's no money or knowledge to completely redesign a home."

Fear not. These changes can be done instantly and won't break the bank.

Let's dive in.

Maximise Natural Lighting

Raise your hand if natural lighting was the first thing that popped into your head when you read the intro...

Natural lighting should be number one on your list. If you want to design a home that improves emotional wellness, maximising natural sunlight should be your first step.

Sunlight helps keep your body's circadian rhythm in check. Regulating that beautiful little thing means better sleep, more energy, and improved mood.

Want to know the best part?

It's super easy to do!

• Open up those curtains and let the sun shine in!

• Rearrange your furniture so that it doesn't block window light.

• If you must use curtains, pick light colors that let some sunlight through.

Declutter EVERYTHING

Seriously.

Once you've maximised sunlight, go through your home and declutter like your life depends on it.

• Start with one room or corner at a time.

• Donate or throw away things that no longer bring you joy.

• Leave ROOM TO BREATHE.

Cluttered homes = cluttered minds. There's a reason why so many movies show psychologists offices as clean and organised.

When your home feels like a waste-basket, your brain feels like a waste-basket.

Bonus points if you can turn one area in your home into a declutter-free zone.

Designate a "Calm" Zone

Every home needs a place to calm down.

It can be as simple as a comfy chair next to a window. Or as fun as designing a space just for YOU.

Either way…

This calm space should be:

• Screen free

• Work free

• Distraction free.

Your brain associates certain areas with different tasks. When you give it a place that only allows for calm… your body begins to unwind when it's there.

Simple science right there.

Add Natural Elements Inside Your Home

Throw out that fake greenery. Instead, pick up some real plants to keep inside your home.

Not only do plants reduce stress, but they help improve air quality and mood.

If you're not a fan of plants or don't have a green thumb go for bamboo, wooden accents, stones, and other natural materials.

Everything you bring into your home should make you feel calm and connected to the outdoors.

Be Mindful of color

Colors play a huge role in our homes. But when you're trying to heal and feel better, it's best to stick to soft cool tones.

Think:

• Soft blue

• Green

• White

• Warm neutrals

Your bedroom and main living area should be a space you feel comfortable lounging in. Rough or crazy colors are okay but save them for rooms that won't be used to relax.

Home office, workout room, bathrooms and more.

These areas are okay to have bolder colors because you're mentally stimulated when you're working or cleaning.

You should never have to feel stressed in your home.

Keeping Your Home Mentally Healthy

Designing your home for emotional wellness is wonderful… but it doesn't stop there.

In order to keep your home a safe place for you and your mental health, you have to put in some work.

• Set a declutter schedule. Take 15 minutes a week to tidy up one room or section of your home.

• Rearrange décor and/or furniture every season.

• Open your windows as often as possible. Fresh air = happier mind.

• Get dark? Invest in some lamps with warm lighting. As seasons change, so should your lighting.

Just like your home, you deserve consistency. Consistently putting small amounts of time and effort into your home will be more beneficial than a complete overhaul once a year.

Our homes are our safe spaces.

They should be where we go to feel safe, calm down, and recover.

If you're suffering from mental health challenges, creating a peaceful environment for you to heal is essential.

You don't have to spend money or redo your entire space to start designing with your emotional wellbeing in mind.

Just remember…

• Natural lighting

• Declutter

• Calm zone

• Add natural elements

• Be mindful of your color choices

And most importantly, stick with it!

The connection between your home and mental health is real.

Designing your home with intention and your mental wellbeing in mind can help improve emotional wellness for anyone.

Continue to be gentle with yourself and your home will do the rest.

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