We all love an Instagram-worthy room. Shades of pastels, reams of books and files, Polaroids hanging by the fairy lights and even office desks with whiteboard scribbles or brightly colored post-it notes on a pin board by the side. However, if your space is just designed to abide by the aesthetics and not functionality, it can wreak havoc on your peace of mind. Sure, a productive set-up is key. But too much emphasis of the design on productivity might be overwhelming. It is important to make sure your interior decor also facilitates relaxation and unwinding.
The correct use of available space has a tremendous impact on human psychology. Let us look at certain aspects of interior decor that can impact the way you unwind:
1. The color code
The psychology of color is not an unheard-of concept. Certain shades and colors are known to have a calming effect. Research[1] shows that blue is a soothing and calming color. It encourages reflection and aids concentration, especially when the color tones are softer.
It can also be a challenge when you consider interior decor in a smaller space. The challenge in smaller spaces is to add texture and color to the limited area without making it overwhelming. Use warm color palettes that are subtle and not too confrontational.
Green is another color that is widely considered emotionally calming, refreshing, harmonious. We equate green with equilibrium, and bringing green tinges to the interiors with succulents and plants is a good idea. In fact, both blue and green are considered relaxing due to their association with nature[2].
Yellow can be looked at as a stimulant for creativity. While it stands for all things cheerful, it is best to avoid bright tints as they can be too overpowering. Avoid reds – it is known to stand for aggression, ‘fight or flight’ responses and distraction. That can be truly detrimental to your pursuit of calmness.
2. Get the furniture right
Furniture forms the major chunk of any interior decor plan. There are 3 broad considerations you need to make here.
First and foremost, you need to choose the right furniture, ergonomically speaking. The right furniture can make all the difference between a spacious and cluttered space. Get spacious cabinets rather than the good-looking ones: you can always whip something up and make a bland design look great, but you cannot create space where there isn’t any. For offices, the selection of ergonomic furniture can translate into productivity. Such a selection can be tricky, so you can also get the expert planning inputs of project managers who can help maximize the space in use.
Furniture should also be fairly flexible and mobile, especially in spaces like the office, kitchen, bathrooms, where movement is important. Heavy furniture pieces can add weight to the room, which works in a living room setting to help you spend your leisurely time. In an office setting, lightweight, modern, playful furniture with light palettes will be a better choice for the sake of autonomy.
Furniture is also integral in the phenomenon of ‘Perception of Space’, which is an extensively used concept in interior decor. In order for the visual tricks to work, furniture has to be arranged in a particular manner and it has to interact in precise ways with the light, which brings us to the next consideration.
By now the Konmari Method of tidying up and decluttering has taken the world of home decor by storm. The Konmari principle suggests that you ask yourself if a certain thing ‘sparks joy’ for you. It is a rather ambiguous filter, but furniture needs to be very specifically chosen and this method can help you choose the best from the teeming array of choices.
3. What’s the view?
Light has a very important role to play in the vibe of the interior spaces. A dim light can send a gloomy vibe whereas a bright light is symbolic of high energy. A well-lit room also means a conducive area for quiet reflection and a spacious appearance. Nothing beats natural light in this context.
4. Hacks
Like space perception is created through visual tricks, you can use simple design hacks to make the ambiance a little more relaxing. Unread books can, for instance, trigger anxious thoughts. Simple tricks like turning your books’ spine inwards can make a massive difference in terms of the vibe it emits. Instead of all the unread titles, all that faces you instead are the whites and yellows of the pages.
And finally, minimalism is the greatest hack of all. If you can keep it minimal, even white is a strong contender for the wall colors. A cluttered environment can prove to be energy draining. It will also take you longer to find things and you will be under constant, unspoken stress of not knowing where things are. It is plain logic then, that if you want to relax, clutter is not going to help. Clutter also creates feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and frustration. Avoid clutter, get spacious filing cabinets and shelves and you are halfway there already!
5. Feng Shui
For those of us who believe in the power of healing and manifestation, Feng Shui will be yet another principle to follow and explore in their interior design elements. Feng Shui energy would mean you are required to use the right feng shui colors, feng shui materials, and feng shui images.
It also rests on the idea of clutter being at the root of a lot of stress. Even if you are not comfortable with the label of Feng Shui, there are certain action items that can help ensure a good energy. These include
- Keeping your entrance and gates clean and welcoming
- Arranging furniture to create space for the room’s doorway
- Decorating with natural elements like plants and flowers and stones
- Eliminating clutter entirely.
Interior decor is a very understated but critical component for your peace of mind. Make sure you take all the steps to minimize the distractions and clutter because doing so will help you create the ultimate relaxing and productive work space!
[1] Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244014525423#
[2] Source: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244014525423#
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