our home, your interior (your daily surroundings) has an enormous impact on the way you behave and feel. It means that the space you live or work in, influences your sense of well - being. Well organised and tailored to your personality interior can improve your quality of live.

Interiors are spaces that we all live, work and play in - whether it’s your home, office or favourite restaurant. From designing a productive and collaborative working environment to a relaxing and peaceful home, these interior environments can impact our daily lives and influence our behaviour. If Interior design embraces a decorative approach, it is centred around the styling of spaces using a selection of furniture, products, accessories and backdrops. The styling of these interior ‘scenes’ can be strong on atmosphere and alter our first impressions of an interior space.  An interior space is typically composed of three main elements. Firstly the ‘physical’ interior setting which is the backdrop or scenery - in essence, the quality and finish of the walls, floor and ceiling. Interior ‘props’ are then incorporated, ranging from furniture to accessories that are typically used to style and enhance the overall ambience of the space. Finally, the interior atmosphere is developed through the introduction of ‘psychological’ elements - think of the impact that light and shadow, colour, scale, composition, even special effects can have on how we perceive a space. Tailored design in your apartment, house or office leads to other positive changes such as career opportunities… effects productivity, inspires confidence, empathy, pride, creativity, security and energy.  Evokes happiness and soothes the soul.

The environment around us affects our mood, productivity, energy and attitude. Creating a beautiful space to call home is not just about impressing your guests and surrounding yourself with pretty items. It is about creating a space where you feel relaxed, comfortable, organised and at peace. I had that pleasure to often receive feedback from my clients, they feel relaxed, peaceful, happy and harmonious in their new space.

“Architectural cues can provide reinforcement to the desired behaviors that we would like to see enacted in specific place types,” – environmental psychologist and interior designer Migette Kaup.

Emotions of warmth, safety, creating a positive environment in the area can have a lot of impact on how the user acts or feels; therefore, creative measures need to be considered according to the needs of the occupants. Interior space has big implications, and it is the architect and interior designer’s responsibility to shape solutions for users of the area and structure the desired ideas. Design principles like balance, symmetry, proportion, ease of movement, and rhythm can introduce harmony in the space and evoke feelings of comfort. There is always the right color for the desired mood in the room. Abundant natural light stimulates production and recovery; dim light suggests a gloomy environment and bright light defines a bigger, cheerful and serene atmosphere. Whenever a designer is creating some aesthetic, it is essential to use colors that fit with the mood that one is attempting to create. A room may feel big, small, vibrant, gloomy, etc., depending on the color palette chosen and make the desired psychological effect in a given space. Every design choice made in that space should also promote a feeling of safety, comfort and belonging.

According to the Mental Health Foundation, anxiety and depression are the most common mental health complaints. However, many interior design techniques and approaches have been shown to reduce stress and depression. While making the connection between home design and emotional stability is not new, recent studies have fortified the validity of these claims. In the healthcare industry, the links are well-documented. Creating spaces for being together and being apart can increase mental health.

The business world also pays attention to the psychological effects of interior design. Corporate designers use color, lighting, layouts, textures, and artwork to create motivating, uplifting spaces that will promote efficiency, creativity, happiness, trust, or even intimidation. Business designers spend as much time considering mindset as they do aesthetics.The business world also pays attention to the psychological effects of interior design. Corporate designers use color, lighting, layouts, textures, and artwork to create motivating, uplifting spaces that will promote efficiency, creativity, happiness, trust, or even intimidation. Business designers spend as much time considering mindset as they do aesthetics.

Design is a complex process, and interior designers are trying to understand more about how to improve the psychological and emotional impacts of the space. Some techniques used like stimulating the natural environment- bringing in elements of nature to create an atmosphere of health and relaxation, spatial perception and design principles are some factors that help improve the psychological impact of living spaces. 

You do not need to rebuild your house, demolish walls and totally reconstruct your interior to achieve required changes and it’s not about whether the walls are painted in the latest colors, but rather whether the space evokes the desired emotions in you

Does your place entice, stimulate, relax, entertain, embrace, fascinate?