Is there a real link between interior design and mental health?

Research into our personal and collective health regularly makes the headlines, perhaps never so much as in the current climate. Modern life presents a magnitude of stresses reaching from financial through to emotional. As a generation, we are becoming more aware of the significant impact poor mental health can have on every aspect of our lives. And, equally, the ways in which we can improve this.

Exercising, eating healthily and the environment you surround yourself with all have an impact. Where once we may have discouraged the effect of colour on our own happiness, today we actively design around these concepts. If you have an interest in interior design, you'll likely not be a stranger to the term Hygge. This Danish term refers to a feeling of comfort and wellness that has not become a theme for many home designs. It circles around coziness and warmth, encouraging interested parties to bring in fires, candles and neutral colour schemes to eliminate stress.

At the same time Japanese consultant, Marie Kondo entered the scene telling us all the minimise clutter, keep only the items that bring us joy and make sure everything has a place. The KonMarie method has since been implemented all over the world with the goal of creating a serene and uninterrupted home environment. So as we continue to learn more about mental health, so do we continue to create homes that work alongside this.

In today's social environment, we need to look for the positives and drive as much enjoyment from our surroundings as possible. Over the next few weeks, we'll be discussing health and interior design in more detail, supporting you as you create the home of your dreams.