1 of 10
No matter where you live, careful design can turn your space into a sanctuary. Elements like room layout, sounds from the street, and even the color of your throw pillows come together to determine the character of your home. And good design is about more than aesthetics—it influences your mental and physical health in surprising ways.
With that in mind, here are nine simple ways to both make over your home and improve your outlook.
Sources: United States Environmental Protection A... + 19
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. Indoor Air Quality. Updated September 7, 2021.
- Rojas-Rueda D, Nieuwenhuijsen M, et al. Green spaces and mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies. The Lancet. 2019; 3:469-477.
- Bratman G, Hamilton P, et al. Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. PNAS. 2015; 112: 8567-8572.
- Park MY, Chai CG, et al. The Effects of Natural Daylight on Length of Hospital Stay. Environmental Health Insights.2018; 12.
- Stern M, Broja M, et al. Blue light exposure decreases systolic blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and improves endothelial function in humans. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. 2018; 25: 1875–1883. 2016; 41:195-205.
- AL-Ayash A, Kane R, et al. The influence of color on student emotion, heart rate, and performance in learning environments. Color Research and Application.
- Tofle RB, Schwarz B, et al. Color In Healthcare Environments – A Research Report. Coalition for Health Environments Research. July 2004.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency. Clean Air Act Title IV - Noise Pollution. Updated August 11, 2022.
- National Cancer Institute. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Updated August 16, 2022.
- NIH: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Healthy. Aromatherapy. Last updated January 2020.
- Main Line Health. What essential oil is best for anxiety? January 23, 2020.
- Sánchez-Vidaña DI, Ngai SP, et al. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy for Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2017;2017:5869315.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? Accessed November 11, 2022.
- Barati F, Nasiri A, et al. The Effect of Aromatherapy on Anxiety in Patients. Nephrourol Mon. 2016 Jul 31;8(5):e38347.
- Mayo Clinic. Home Remedies: What are the benefits of aromatherapy? May 8, 2019.
- Cancer Research UK. Aromatherapy. Last reviewed May 31 2022.
- Cleveland Clinic. 3 Reasons Adult Coloring Can Actually Relax Your Brain. May 27, 2020.
- Mayo Clinic Health System. Coloring is good for your health. August 15, 2022.
- Utah State University Mental Health Extension. The Mental Benefits of Decluttering. July 1, 2022.
- Mayo Clinic. How decluttering your space could make you healthier and happier. May 20, 2021.
