The Role Your Home Environment Plays on Your Mental State

By Taylor Mcknight

You might not realize how much your home environment is impacting your mental well-being. Your living environment includes everything that exists and takes place in your home. The climate, lighting, air quality and your possessions all work together to create an environment that ranges from relaxing to extremely stressful. Taking a look at how certain elements of your home environment influence your mental state gives you a starting point for making positive changes.

Remove Unnecessary Clutter

Having an excess of objects in your home can contribute to feelings of anxiety. You might feel overwhelmed when you look at a pile of papers on your kitchen counter. You may also feel sad when you look at gifts people have given you in the past, especially if they are no longer in your life. Whether you have piles of clothes you don’t wear anymore or outdated items from an old hobby, clearing out the clutter sends signals to your brain that this is a fresh start. Instead of ruminating on the past, you’ll have more room to focus on the present moments that bring you joy.

Choose Calming Color Schemes

Everyone has certain colors that they find soothing, and it’s well-known that the color scheme in your home impacts your mood. Typically, bright colors such as red are energizing. Meanwhile, blues and purples tend to be more calming. Take a look around your home and try to notice how the current colors impact your emotional state. If you notice that you tend to feel overwhelmed in a room with too many bold colors, then it might be time to switch to more muted tones. Alternatively, you might need to brighten up your home office to encourage you to feel more motivated.

Create a Soothing Bedroom

If there’s one place in your home where you should be able to relax, it’s your bedroom. Unfortunately, bedrooms sometimes become workspaces. If possible, choose a different part of your home to use as a remote office. You’ll also find that it helps to move electronic devices out of your room. Adding soft lighting for the evening can help your body recognize that it’s time to get ready for bed, and you’ll notice that your sleep quality begins to improve.

Improve the Air Quality In Your Home

The air that you breathe might not be very noticeable, yet this is one area of your home that can have a tremendous impact on your physical and mental well-being. Over time, dust, pet dander and other allergens can build up in your home’s air system. Poor air quality can cause respiratory issues that impact your ability to get a good night’s sleep and complete your normal daily activities. Arranging for professional duct cleaning helps to improve the quality of the air that you breathe. Getting more oxygen to your brain gives you a mental boost that includes feeling more alert and well-rested.

Bring In More Sunlight

Everyone needs sunlight to help their body produce vitamin D, and opening up the curtains can help to regulate your body’s circadian rhythms. If you tend to fall prey to seasonal depression, then getting enough sunshine on your skin can help to regulate your mood. During times when you can’t get outside, make sure to open up the windows. Allowing more sunlight into your home can also emphasize how beautiful the interior looks as you begin to declutter and decorate.

Add Touches of Comfort

The final step to improving your home environment is adding little touches that bring you joy. You might add a soft blanket to snuggle with on the couch. Having artwork can enhance bare walls and bring out the color scheme. Candles, photos of your loved ones and soft rugs are a few more cozy touches you can add to make yourself feel happier each day.

As you work on changing your home environment, remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. Delegating tasks that are best left to the professionals helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed by a never-ending chore list. While you work on decluttering and adding cozy touches throughout your house, arrange for a professional to handle tasks such as improving the air quality and handling common repairs. Soon, you’ll feel the mental stress lift as you begin to enjoy walking into your home at the end of a long day.

Author Bio

Taylor McKnight is a Digital PR Specialist and author for Duct Doctor USA.

About The Author