Creating a Calmer Home
As life gets busier and stress becomes more common, it’s essential to consider how our homes can support our mental and emotional health. Our living spaces should be sanctuaries that help us unwind and recharge. By incorporating thoughtful design and architectural choices, we can create an environment that promotes peace and offers a real escape from the pressures of daily life.
The Power of Colour:
Colours are scientifically proven to impact mood and emotions. In interior spaces, the right colour palette can either help to soothe or energise, depending on the colours you choose.
Blues and Greens for Calm: Shades of blue and green are often associated with nature, and evoke feelings of calm, serenity, and stability.
Neutrals for Balance: Neutral tones such as beiges, soft greys, and earthy tones create a balanced, grounded atmosphere. These colours are versatile and less likely to cause visual strain, which can help make a room feel uncluttered and spacious. They’re a great base for layering in softer accent colours or natural materials that add warmth without overwhelming the senses.
Warm Shades for Comfort: Warm tones like light terracotta, sandy beige, and muted peach can add a touch of comfort and cosiness, particularly in living areas where relaxation is key. These colours can make large spaces feel more intimate, creating a sense of closeness that promotes relaxation and togetherness.
Lighting
Lighting is another powerful element in reducing stress and enhancing mood, yet it’s often overlooked. With thoughtful lighting design, you can support natural circadian rhythms, allowing your body to stay in sync with the day-to-night cycle.
Natural Light to Boost Mood: Exposure to natural light is proven to elevate mood and improve focus. Whenever possible, arrange furniture to maximise exposure to natural light during the day. Larger windows, skylights, and even reflective surfaces can amplify sunlight, creating a warm and inviting environment.
Soft, Warm Lighting for Evenings: Harsh, bright lights can increase stress in the evening hours, making it harder for our minds to wind down. Using lamps with dimmers or fixtures that offer warmer tones in the evening, create a cosier, more tranquil setting that encourages relaxation.
Layered Lighting for Flexibility: Incorporating different types of lighting - ambient, task, and accent lighting - gives you control over the space’s ambiance. For instance, adjustable task lighting in a reading nook or kitchen workspace allows you to adapt the brightness as needed. With the right lighting, each part of your home can serve a specific mood or function, whether for productivity or relaxation.
The Importance of Views
Our connection to the outside world plays a significant role in our mental health. Windows that offer views of nature can drastically improve mood and reduce stress. Even if your home doesn’t overlook a natural landscape, you can still create a similar effect
Frame Views as Focal Points: Arrange furniture to make the most of window views, turning natural landscapes or cityscapes into calming focal points. Large windows that frame outdoor greenery or scenes of the horizon create a soothing focal point and visually expand the space.
Indoor Greenery and Natural Materials: For homes without expansive views, adding indoor plants and using natural materials like wood, stone, and clay can provide the same calming effect. Plants not only bring a hint of the outdoors inside but also improve air quality, which can have a positive impact on stress levels and health.
Use Mirrors to Reflect Views: Strategic placement of mirrors can reflect and amplify views, bringing more of the outside in. Mirrors can also enhance natural light, helping to create a brighter and more open feel in the home.
At Grace and Morris we believe that homes should be sanctuaries that actively contribute to well-being. From the choice of colours and materials to lighting and views, every design decision can help create an environment that nurtures both mind and body.
Consider how you might make small changes to bring a little more peace and relaxation into your home, creating a space that helps you recharge and face each day with renewed calm and clarity.
Take a look at our portfolio of projects for more inspiration