Every Friday on the Very Well Mind Podcast, host Minaa B., a licensed social worker, mental health educator, and author of Owning Our Struggles, speaks with experts, wellness advocates, community care and We interview individuals with lived experience of its effects on the psyche. health.
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As you read this article, look around your home, office, or wherever you are currently standing. What do you notice? Does your area feel cramped or does it have space to breathe? Really look at the colors around you. Are your walls sky blue or vanilla white? Maybe you have pets, children, or a lot of people around you. Let everything soak for a few minutes. We'll be expecting you.
*Cue Jeopardy! Theme song*
Welcome back! I am now able to exist with my feet firmly planted on the ground. How do you feel? Are you feeling stressed? Do you feel like a caged animal or do you feel quite cold?
This exercise is intended to help you understand how your environment affects your mood. We may not think about this much, but believe us. Our physical space definitely influences our emotions.
Still not convinced? Here's what therapist-turned-interior designer Anita Yokota, also known as your “go-to home therapist,” told Very Well Mind Podcast host Minaa B.
“As a psychology intern, I made many home visits. One of the first things I learned was to observe the emotional atmosphere of a home,” Yokota says. By visiting clients' homes from Compton all the way to Malibu, she discovers “how the home environment actually affects our mood (and) how it affects the human beings we live in (in the home). “I learned a lot about how it affects relationships,” he added.
Yokota's experience as a therapist led her to fall in love with interior design, and she now works to help people design their homes in ways that promote mental health and well-being.
She's a big proponent that interior design can be used as a therapeutic tool, and was kind enough to share some simple tips you can use to make your home mental health friendly.
At a glance
One way to improve your mood is to keep your home very zen and mental health friendly. You can do this by being strategic about your home's color palette, décor, and lighting fixtures. And keeping your home clutter-free can lower your stress levels.
Interior design and architecture influences our mood 24/7 — seriously
Considering that we are always in some space, we are always influenced by our surroundings.
To explain in more detail, people living in the United States spend about 90% of their time in man-made spaces. That's a lot.
Our internal space is very important and architects consider interior design to be one of the most important parts of architectural design. Since you can't see the outside of your home from your bedroom, you should focus your attention firmly on your indoor spaces.
People living in the United States spend approximately 90% of their time in man-made spaces.
Research even shows that our physical environment can cause or alleviate symptoms of various mental health conditions.
Cozy interior design elements
Let's understand important aspects of interior design to understand the relationship between environment and mood.
Our home environment can have a big impact on our mood, (and) it can also affect our relationships (within the home). ”
— Anita Yokota, therapist turned interior designer
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The three important elements of interior design are:
Color: All shades/tones in a space. Decor: This includes things like art and decorations. Lighting: This includes lamps, light from the ceiling, and the amount of natural sunlight the room receives.
If you want to feel more relaxed, choose blue.
Think back to when you were young and choosing the paint color for your room. Or maybe you remember the interior of a friend's house or your favorite TV character. Maybe the color you were drawn to at that time was bright pink.
But maybe your tastes have changed and you're no longer interested in an all-pink room (by the way, we can't tell if your room is still pink). Of course, pink is an exciting color, but if you're looking for a more peaceful environment, pink may not work for you.
For example, if you are in a spa, you are unlikely to find pink walls. Instead, you'll see shades of blue and gray that are reminiscent of Zen.
Most people are attracted to rooms with cool tones
Remember that spa? There's a reason why people find solace in hot springs. Apart from the extravagant luxury, the entire spa environment feels “very” cold, and the cool colors help create that feeling.
To back this up, a study in which participants viewed two digitally created images of living rooms found that warmer interior colors were perceived as more exciting and stimulating. . Cool-toned interiors have been shown to evoke feelings of peace and convey a more spacious atmosphere.
Another study states that people generally prefer cooler colors such as cyan, green, and blue over warmer colors such as red, yellow, and orange.
White and beige are perfect for small spaces
It is clear that colors have a great influence on our mood. “Paint colors such as white paint, cream, and beige are a great way to absorb light and reflect it into a small room,” says Yokota.
Add greenery to your home to increase productivity
Green is often associated with positive emotions. We think of trees and grass as symbols of life.
Anita Yokota turns from therapist to interior designer
It's great to have a small plant by your desk. It's like a subconscious mind that increases your productivity without you even realizing it.
— Anita Yokota, therapist turned interior designer
What's great is that there are so many shades of green. You can have a jade sofa, emerald accent pillows, and a seafoam-colored throw blanket all in the same room.
Yokota also says adding green plants to your living space can be helpful.
“Studies have shown that greenery and plants improve memory, concentration, and concentration,” Yokota explains. “That's why having a little plant next to your desk is such a great thing. It's like a subconscious thing that makes you more productive without even realizing it!”
let the light in
Think about how you feel on a bright, sunny day and how you feel on a cold, gloomy, rainy day. Quite a big difference, right?
Direct sunlight feels great because the light from the big yellow star in the sky actually reduces anxiety. Even indirect sunlight shining through a window can help reduce depression.
Natural light and bright spaces instantly lift our mood. Therefore, lighting in your home is very important.
To make your home space more conducive to work, Yokota recommends “adequate lighting.” And if your workspace doesn't have windows, you can add “happy or uplifting light.”
There's no messy house here
Clutter and clutter can make a room feel smaller than it actually is. And having too much stuff around you can increase stress and make you feel dissatisfied with life. So let's clean!
Mr. Yokota emphasizes the importance of organization, stating that organization is the key to success. she says: “Studies show that organization lowers stress levels of cortisol, which is what keeps us high. We want to get high on serotonin and dopamine (and)…cortisol levels. I want to lower it as much as possible.”
Organization tips and tricks
Here are some easy ways to organize your home.
Use baskets and trays to store all your mail Install hooks to hang your keys Put a bin under your bed to store sheets, comforters, and blankets Use drawer dividers to store toiletries (hair/beard care, Clothes hung on hangers that classify skin care products, sanitary products, cosmetics (you can organize them by type of clothing or season)
“(Things like baskets and tray liners) automatically calm you down,” Yokota says. Having a designated space for everything makes it easier to find what you need when you need it. No more running around the house like a madman looking for the perfect hair tie.
what this means for you
One of the best things about interior design is the ability to personalize your space. Now is the perfect time to be selfish. If you want to feel good, your home should look the way you want it to look.