10 Surprising Ways Design Can Help You Live Better

Sure, nutritious food and regular exercise can make you feel great. But design has a role to play, too, in our mood and contentment. Find out how to use design to live better.

By: Leesa Morales, MScN

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Photo By: Leesa Morales

Change Your Surroundings, Change Your Mind

Use your environment to help lighten your mood, increase your productivity and bring moments of joy to your everyday life. Take a look at these 10 approachable, expert-approved and research-backed home and office-friendly tips for inspiration on how to get started.

Reminisce To Reduce Stress

Thinking about happy memories may make you more resilient to stress, according to recent research in the scientific journal Natural Human Behavior. The positive mood associated with reminiscing over joyful times shows a decrease in the effect of cortisol and an improvement in decision making and overall wellbeing. Interior designer Victoria Ninette recommends showcasing your most treasured moments in your space to initiate these happy feelings on a regular basis. “Display family heirlooms, collections from your travels, a favorite photograph or meaningful trinkets that are special to you to serve as a daily reminder of a person you love or a happy time in your life. Plus, curious items will spark great conversation with guests.”

Use Color To Shift Your Energy

Color may have a stronger effect on your mood and energy than you might realize. In a recent study, participants rated a room with warm colors as highly stimulating and exciting, whereas a room with cooler tones was associated with being more spacious and restful. Utilize this thinking to help shift your energy throughout the day. In the bedroom, use soft blue, gray and lavender tones to help you unwind, and use brighter, warmer hues for an energetic lift in the spaces where you need to be most productive.

Learn More: 10 Easy Ways to Sleep Better

Use Lighting to Signal Time of Day

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, light has a powerful effect on the wake-sleep cycle, otherwise referred to as your circadian rhythm. Bright overhead lights may increase alertness and productivity, and reduce fatigue, whereas dim, indirect lights promote a sense of calm. In the evening, use lamps or overhead lights on a low setting for at least two hours before you want to fall asleep to support melatonin production and a good night’s rest. During the day, use bright overhead lights or pull back the curtains from windows to create a productive, energized space.

Learn More: How I Learned to Sleep Better, Naturally

Reduce Clutter to Clear Your Mind

“Having a home that we self-identify with, that makes us feel safe and secure, and that provides solitude from the external world is crucial for our subjective well-being,” says researchers Joseph Ferrari and Helena Swanson of DePaul University in Chicago. Clutter, as it turns out, is a significant component of our environment that may negatively affect our psychological well-being. Spending time in an unorganized environment can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed. Work to actively de-clutter your space on a routine basis, and create organizational systems that complement your homelife and workflow.

Learn More: Organizational Goals: 14 Spaces That Will Inspire You to Declutter

Categorize the Pantry to Enourage Health and Limit Indecision

The key to a helpful — and healthy — pantry is organization. Dedicate a shelf to weeknight dinner-starters, and keep flavorful broths, ready-to-eat soup, canned beans, dried pasta and jarred sauces well stocked. Store healthier snacks and treats at the front and eye-level, and keep the more indulgent options toward the back and out of sight so they’re the less obvious choice when grazing. Use tiered, spinning and/or labeled bins as organizers to help keep the pantry a chaos-free zone, which will reduce stress on a daily basis.

How to Successfully Organize Your Pantry and Keep It Neat All Year

Make a Fresh Bouquet of Flowers to Increase Happiness

Apart from looking beautiful, fresh flowers may have a beneficial effect on mood, blood pressure, anxiety and fatigue, according to research from the American Society of Horticultural Science. Whether buying a premade bouquet or arranging flowers yourself, follow these tips from Victoria Ninette for a joyful centerpiece: “To keep it simple, use just one kind of flower, but buy three or four bunches. This helps the arrangement look full and abundant, regardless of variety. Alternatively, set aside some time to make your own masterpiece with a variety of colors, shapes and heights. No matter how much technique you want to involve here, adding flowers to the home is a mindfulness practice that can create a lovely little pocket of joy, especially in the darker winter months when it’s drab outside.”

Learn More: 10 Designer Tips for Creating Mindfulness in Your Home

Create A Space of Your Own

According to Sarah Barnard Design, “a home that reflects who we truly are contributes to an environment of comfort, support and peace that promotes joy and wellness in everyday life.” Make your space an oasis for your true self to shine by incorporating your favorite colors, textures and patterns into the design, and feature your hobbies and interests in a clever way, such as through art, photographs or curated displays.

Narrow Your Options in Food Choices for Better Physical and Mental Health

All day long, we are faced with choices. Decision fatigue is the end result, a state of mental overload where the brain areas associated with reasoning and decision making are less active, according to research by Trends in Cognitive Sciences. If making healthy choices is an area of struggle when you’re feeling exhausted, set yourself up for success by making nourishing options the easy, obvious answer. Design the kitchen in a way that keeps healthy snacks within eyesight and arm’s reach. Prep fruits and veggies when you’re feeling energized and store them at the front of the refrigerator, with treats stored in the back for later. Start a hearty slow-cooker recipe in the morning to be more likely to skip the drive-through after work.

Invest in Pieces That Bring You Joy

If you're looking to add a new piece to your home, especially when it comes to larger furniture like a dining table or a media console, Victoria Ninette recommends getting the best version of what you can. “Save up for the piece you really want. It's always worth the wait knowing that you spent your time and money on something you love and are excited about.” For me, this looks like a disco ball in my office that makes me happy every single time I see it. For you, whether it's a piece of furniture or artwork, place your special items where you will see them on a regular basis to boost your mood and help your space feel unique.

When In Doubt, Just Add Plants

Bringing the outdoors in can transform a space from fine to fantastic. A recent review of psychological literature describes how biophilic design, or the process of using elements from the natural world to create a restorative environment, can provide a much-needed connection to nature and may actively help people recover from stress and mental fatigue. Even 15-20 minutes in a room with a few house plants may be significant enough to make us feel more at peace, happier and more satisfied, according to research by the Department of Landscape Architecture. Victoria Ninette recommends starting small with your houseplant collection. “Begin by selecting a plant that catches your eye, and research how to take care of it. There’s no need to cause too much pressure and accumulate more than you can handle upfront. Slowly grow your indoor garden based on what’s working, and be mindful of how much light, airflow and humidity your space offers.”

Learn More: Top 10 Houseplants