Designing Interior Spaces That Support Emotional Well-being

Designing Interior Spaces That Support Emotional Well-being

Our modern lives can feel like a never-ending whirlwind, filled with pressures attacking us from all angles. Whether navigating the demands of work or education or even managing our personal relationships, it can be easy to feel out of balance day to day.

When confronted with these challenges, having a peaceful place to retreat becomes more than just a “nice-to-have;” it’s a necessity. This is where having a personal healing space can be so important.

A healing space isn’t just an aesthetically pleasing, quiet room in your home or office – it is also designed to help support emotional restoration. By purposely blending various design principles with elements of human psychology, these spaces can be a great place to de-stress, recharge your batteries, and find more inner peace. Designing interior spaces that support emotional well-being.

What is the Concept of a Healing Space?

A healing space can be any designated area within a home or working space that is intentionally designed to provide a quiet retreat where someone can find release from their daily stressors. These spaces don’t have to fit a specific mould regarding their format and could be created as a cozy nook or dedicated room or even just a quiet corner in an office with the sole purpose of rest and relaxation.

Healing spaces can be designed to create a multi-sensory experience that promotes relaxation and mental clarity. This can be done by using calming colours and soft lighting choices, which have been shown to help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and lower anxiety levels.

You often see the concept of a healing space incorporated in professional therapeutic offices and used in couples therapy or life transition counseling settings. The type of ambiance that’s created opens the door for improved communication and emotional healing, creating a safe space for individuals to get through difficult conversations or address more complex feelings.

How Does Human Psychology Come Into Play When Designing a Healing Space? 

Although it may seem that creating a healing space is primarily about aesthetic choices, there is actually a lot more to the process. A range of psychological concepts are integrated into healing space design, each of which can evoke specific emotional reactions.

To create the optimal layout for healing spaces, designers need to understand the subtle interplay between an individual’s environment and how the brain can respond to its surroundings. Using this knowledge, they strategically incorporate various elements that help promote relaxation and improve overall well-being.

Here are some key considerations when creating a healing space:

• Colour Theory – Colour choices aren’t just a decorative preference – they can also have a major impact on our mood and emotional state. While lighter tones like blue or green can support feelings of tranquility, brighter hues like red or orange can help to stimulate more energy or focus throughout the day.

• Biophilic Design – Creating a biophilic design focuses on incorporating elements of nature into a space to create a more calming atmosphere. Having plants, water features, and natural light in various rooms has been linked to more stress reduction and improved cognitive function.

• Sensory Engagement – When designing a healing space, the room should appeal to all senses. To achieve this, you can utilize natural materials, incorporate calming scents like lavender or chamomile, and introduce soothing sounds like flowing water from a fountain or play gentle music to help create a more tranquil ambiance.

Important Elements When Designing a Healing Space

Creating the perfect healing space all starts with identifying your own specific needs and shaping them around that focus. Below are some practical strategies you can use to help you get started in the right direction:

Choosing the Optimal Location

The success of your healing space hinges on your ability to choose the optimal location for the setting. You should prioritize a quiet spot – whether a secluded area in the corner of a room or office or even a peaceful location outside.

The important thing is that you’re choosing a space where you’re not easily disturbed and can feel like you’re safe and protected.

Not Overwhelming The Space

Most people have heard the term “a cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind.” This is true when designing a healing space, and the concept applies to how you lay out and organise the area. 

To allow yourself to have more mental clarity when in your healing space while being able to regulate your emotions, you’ll want to adopt a more minimalist approach to interior design. This includes keeping all surfaces clear of junk and storing away any items that don’t serve any immediate purpose.

Incorporating Nature

Being able to see and hear different elements of nature can be significantly restorative in healing spaces. Because of this, it can be helpful to integrate natural elements into your design concepts to help create a sense of calm in your healing space.

You can achieve this by decorating the room with potted plants or flowers while also selecting furniture or different accents made from natural elements like wood or stone.

Picking the Right Lighting Solutions

Lighting plays a major role in setting the right mood for your healing space. Harsh artificial lighting can lead to headaches throughout the day and can impact your ability to relax. Instead of relying on this form of lighting, consider bringing more natural light to your space whenever possible.

If access to windows or glass doors is limited or impossible, start exploring different LED lighting options for that space that will allow you to adjust colour temperatures so that they mimic the warmth of candlelight or the softness of a sunset.

Maintaining a Focused Design Concept

Every element in your healing space should serve a specific purpose. You’ll want to avoid cluttering up the space with anything that’s unnecessary for the room’s intended function.

This doesn’t mean you need to avoid having personal items on display. However, you should carefully select objects that can still help you to relax or create inspiration. Some appropriate items could include meaningful artwork, comfortable furniture, or objects and souvenirs that have personal significance to you.

Create The Ideal Environment For Healing

By implementing the strategies discussed, you’ll have the perspective needed to start designing a healing space that can help to support your emotional balance and restoration. This will give you the energy and clarity needed to keep navigating life’s challenges with improved resilience. 

Featured photo by Baurzhan Kadylzhanov: fromn Pexels