Emotional Interior Design
Neurointeriorism
Emotional design theory is the idea that our home environment can affect how we feel emotionally, physically, and mentally.
If you're looking to create a home that promotes positive feelings and well-being, emotional interior design could be the answer. Emotional design is a growing concept, with research showing that our home environment can have a direct effect on our happiness and overall wellbeing. Let’s explore how interior design can affect your emotions and well-being, what emotional design theory is all about, how to use neurointeriorism to create an emotionally positive space.
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Neurointeriorism – How Interior Design Impacts Your Mood
The psychology of interior design is based on the idea that certain elements within our home can influence our emotions and behaviour. Emotional design theory looks at how colours, textures, lighting, furniture placement and other elements of interior design all have an impact on a person’s emotional state and overall wellbeing. The goal of emotional design theory is to create positive spaces that foster feelings of safety, comfort, and relaxation.
Neurointeriorism is a relatively new concept that looks at how interior design can impact our emotions and brain activity. It focuses on creating interiors that are specifically designed to evoke certain emotions, such as happiness or relaxation. It also examines how a space can be designed to make people feel more connected and comfortable with the environment they are in. Creating an emotionally positive space requires thoughtful consideration of all elements of interior design. Pay attention to the colours and textures in your space, as well as the lighting. Here are some examples:
Lighting has been found to affect moods as well as productivity levels – warm, yellow lighting can create a feeling of comfort and relaxation, while cooler, bluer tones may lead to increased alertness.
Warm colours such as orange and yellow can evoke feelings of happiness while cooler tones like blue and purple can create a more peaceful atmosphere.
Strategically placed mirrors can help to make a room appear larger than it actually is, creating an open and airy environment that encourages relaxation.
Research has also found that exposure to natural light can help to promote positive emotions and behaviours.
Adding plants to a room can have a calming effect on the mind as well as providing air purification benefits.
There are many ways to promote good mental health through your interior. Utilising emotional interior design can be a great way to ensure that your space is an emotionally uplifting and calming space. Read on for some tips on how to create an emotional design…
Colours
Back in the 1800s, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe published Theory of Colours. We often associate certain colours with specific moods or feelings without even thinking about it. A hue’s saturation and brightness are significant components in their emotional powers. This is known as mood boosting colour psychology. The colours used in interior design can greatly affect how people feel when they are inside a space. Colours evoke certain emotions that can be manipulated to create certain atmospheres. For example, using the colour red can be used to create an exciting, energetic atmosphere whereas using the colour blue and green can evoke a tranquil, calming feeling. Colours are also often associated with certain mental states such as happiness or sadness which makes it important to consider when creating an interior design.
SPACIAL PERCEPTION
People have a strong emotional response to feeling closed in and feeling isolated which is why interior design should focus on creating open and inviting spaces that inspire joy, comfort, and relaxation. Clever lighting, symmetry and balance, cohesion and flow, colour, furnishings and materiality, and strategically placed furniture are just a few of the factors contributing to the spatial perception and the weight of a room. Every space should be designed to create a sense of balance where people can feel inspired, comfortable, and connected with the world around them.
Feng-Shui
The concept centres around the idea that humans are in harmony with the physical world when one’s environment promotes balance between yin (the inner, darker energies) and yang (the outer, brighter energies). Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice of arranging the environment in a manner that brings balance and harmony.
BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Biophilic design makes us feel more connected to the present moment in a way that mimics meditative practices such as mindfulness. It uses principles to create a human-environment-centered approach to well-being with nature being the very essence which affects our psychological well-being.
LIGHT
The right light can create a dramatically different atmosphere in any space and will help to highlight the features of a room. Lighting can also set the mood for an interior design project – too much light can make people feel overwhelmed and stressed, while too little light could make it difficult to focus or concentrate. There are many studies how the lack of natural or sunlight can trigger sadness or even enhance anxiety. Sunlight is a mood-lifter, let it in!
DE-CLUTTER
De-cluttering your space creates a sense of composed living that can boast emotional calm. When life gets busy, it often creates a level of stress or discomfort. The same applies to a home, a busy and cluttered space can feel overwhelming.
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The power of emotional interior design is clear – it can be used to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also promote positive emotions in the people who inhabit them. By understanding how psychological elements such as colour psychology and neuroscience affect our feelings when we enter a room, you can make use of interior design to create inviting and stimulating atmospheres that evoke positive emotions. With a better understanding of the psychology of interior design, designers will be able to create inviting and comfortable spaces that inspire joy, comfort, relaxation.
(Note: This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace advice from qualified health professionals.)
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