Focusing on Interior design and your mental health in this blog, as it is a hugely overlooked topic that really deserves a lot more attention given how much time we spend in our homes.
When designing a home, everyone should first ask themselves how does a room make you feel? Many objects and elements can have a huge impact on your mood. Using the psychology of interior design when choosing things like colour, textures and lighting can help create a positive and comfortable space for you, your family and friends.
Colours are usually the first thing that we base our room design decisions on. They can influence our thinking, inspire our creativity, and impact our moods. Decide what the main purpose of each room will be, then you can start to decide which colours might give you the desired effect in each area, if you are struggling with this, it is worth considering consulting an interior designer in Northern Ireland to assist you and give you advice on the interior of your home.
Hallway
This is one of the most used spaces in the house, so it is important that it’s inviting and clutter free. Neutral tones are ideal for a hallway, this can help encourage a sense of connection and a desire to stay and talk (not that we need any more encouragement for the Irish long goodbye).
I particularly love using white in a hallway accompanied by earthy coloured textures and plants like the image below, it gives the impression of a larger space. I would recommend using an eggshell or satin paint as these reflect light and are easier to clean.
The Living Room
One of the most important rooms in the house and it should 100% suit your personality! In my house we use this room for cosy nights by the fire, watching movies, reading, and munching takeout food (yummy). Comfort needs to be a priority in here.
By using textures and adding plenty of cushions, rugs, and throws you will create that cosy feel. The ambience also needs to be exactly right, and by using lamps and candles you can achieve this perfectly (no big light on in here please!).
Blue is the perfect colour for lounging and relaxing in, it is calming colour that can make you feel rested and secure. Pastel blues can sometimes feel cold so I would recommend warmer blues in a living room. Golds and shades of brown can be used to balance it all out.
I also love to add some green to a blue room, a few plants along with accent colours to make it feel like you are bringing the outside in. This also adds to that calm feeling.
Dining
The Dining room suits a warm neutral colour, mainly since it evokes a desire to stay and talk, perfect for when you are having dinner parties.
Neutral colours are a great blank canvas and allow for great additions such as plants and fresh flowers. This alongside natural wood can give the space that earthy, organic feel and really brings the outside in (there I go again with the bringing the outside in…..are you starting to see a theme?)
Why not add some fancy art? Especially if it’s by a local artist, as this can be a great conversation starter when entertaining guests and is a great way to add a pop of colour. Another way to do this is to add coloured chairs. You may or may not like the colour orange but another fun fact with colour is that this one stimulates your appetite. (Interesting huh!)
Kitchen
The heart of the home. A space that should be both practical and designed to your taste. It needs to be clutter free, easy to clean, user friendly and have plenty of storage. (tip – fit your wall cupboards right to the ceiling to maximise storage space and make your room feel bigger)
Yellow is the best colour to use in a kitchen, it is a colour that naturally brightens your mood and increases your energy, the perfect accompaniment to your morning coffee. This does not mean you have to have yellow cupboards or walls, a few accessories will do the same job.
I found this image on Pinterest and I fell in love straight away, I would be happy walking into this kitchen every morning.
Home Office
A room we are using a lot more these days! Green is a great colour for your home office, it symbolises prosperity and can help reduce anxiety. We all know the outdoors has a way of clearing our minds so why not give your home office the natural feel. Wooden elements are linked to health and personal growth so why not get a desk made from local wood, click here to see how.
The image below is designed by @beataheuman, be sure to give her a follow on Instagram, her style is sure to cheer anyone up!
Bathroom
This is the room that we go to feel clean and pure, that’s why white tiles and walls are my favourite option for bathrooms and en-suites. Again, this is a perfect room for natural elements especially lots and lots of plants! Check out my blog on plants to find out the best types for each room.
Bedroom
Blue is the colour of calm and restfulness, so it’s no wonder it is a great option for a bedroom. When teamed with white it can give that feeling of protection and freshness. There is an accent of pink in this bedroom, because there is such a thing called the Pink Effect. This is when exposure to pink can has a calming effect on the nerves and helps represents feelings of happiness, love, and peace.
‘I want my bedroom to feel like a boutique hotel room’ is the brief I get almost every time I’m asked to design one and this is exactly what we did here with this four poster bed to give the client that feeling of luxury.
Interior design and your mental health are so important, so make sure that they aligned for the perfect and most enjoyable interiors.