10 Tips for Creating Mental Health Spaces in Your Home

Discover 10 genius tips on how to create soothing and supportive mental health spaces in your home. From calming colors to proper lighting, this blog post provides insights and inspiration for crafting a peaceful environment that promotes mental well-being.

In today's fast-paced world, making time for self-care and mental health can be a challenge. However, there are small changes you can make in your home environment that can have an impact on your overall well being.

Furniture and décor choices play an important role in creating a space that promotes relaxation and restores your mind and spirit. Follow these 10 tips to incorporate mental health furniture and accents into your home.

Tips for Creating Mental Health Spaces:

Choose Comfortable, Ergonomic Furniture

Replace hard, uncomfortable furniture with pieces designed to cradle and support your body. Invest in upholstered furniture with soft, supple cushions and supportive frames that contour to your shape. Chaises and recliners that allow you to stretch out and adjust positions are excellent options. 

Pillow-top mattresses that adapt to your curves while aligning your spine also promote relaxation. Customize each space with ergonomic seating and bedding options tailored for comfort. Creating furniture configurations that allow you to fully decompress can help melt away tension and stress.

You can browse a range of mental health furniture at Knightsbridge to find the perfect items for your home.

Incorporate Nature Through Live Plants and Natural Textures

Research shows nature has measurable benefits for mental health. Fill your living spaces with live, thriving plants to help purify the air and inject organic tranquillity. Strategically place low-maintenance greens like succulents, ferns and palms to maximum effect. 

Add accents with natural textures like woven wool throws, rattan furnishings, and rustic wood tables. The organic shapes and tactile sensations create a soothing vibe. Layering in plants, materials from nature, and earthy hues brings the outdoors inside, which can help you feel cradled and calm.

Use Calming, Muted Colour Palettes

Bright, saturated colours tend to feel energizing and stimulating which isn't ideal for relaxation. Instead, opt for muted, subtle colour palettes in soft sage greens, powder blues and dove greys. Paint your walls in these serene, gentle hues or use them in textiles. 

Accent with neutral-toned furniture and decor in warm wood, black or white for harmony. The muted colour combinations create a cocoon-like feel that can help your mind power down. Surrounding yourself in restful greens, blues, and greys can be a great help when it's time to unwind.

Let In Abundant Natural Light

Studies confirm sunlight boosts serotonin production which elevates mood and eases anxiety. Maximise windows throughout your home to let in ample natural light, especially in spaces where you relax. 

Open blinds fully during the day and place sofas, chairs and beds directly across from or adjacent to windows. Create an enclosed patio or garden room to immerse yourself in sunlight, fresh air and revitalising views of nature. Positioning furniture to optimise sun exposure and create light-filled spaces will lift your spirits.

Design Cozy Spaces for Alone Time

We all need alone time to decompress, but finding privacy at home can be tricky. Carve out small, cosy nooks just big enough for you to enjoy solo activities. Tuck an oversized armchair into an alcove with a side table for a reading retreat. 

Section off a corner of your bedroom for a low-lit meditation zone with plush pillows. Build out an enclosed bench space with soft seating and dimmable lights for journaling before bed. Look for unused spaces to transform into tiny havens for self-reflection. Creating these intimate spaces allows your mind to switch off and focus inward.

Choose Textures and Fabrics That Please the Senses

Incorporate tactile elements that you find soothing and grounding. For some, cashmere and wool lend a soft, enveloping feel to throws and blankets to curl up in. For others, velvet and microsuede pillows offer soothing textures for resting hands. Natural materials like linen, silk and cotton feel cool against skin, which can help with relaxation.

Consider textures that appeal to your senses and avoid scratchy or overly slick materials. Surrounding yourself with pleasing tactile accents you can touch and feel balances your mind while delighting your senses.

Minimise Visual Clutter

When spaces become cluttered, it can feel mentally draining. An overabundance of furnishings, accessories, and clutter compete for attention, creating visual chaos. Minimise possessions and carefully curate only those items that spark joy or inspire you. Streamline surfaces by reducing knick-knacks and clearing tabletops and consoles. 

Organize shelving using baskets, bins, and dividers to neatly contain necessities. Follow the mantra "less is more" - the cleaner the look, the greater chance you have of feeling calm. An uncluttered home provides a blank slate for relaxation and reflection.

Use Aromatherapy and Candles

Scent is powerfully connected to emotions and memory. If it works for you, harness aromatherapy to help set a serene mood in your home. Diffuse essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or sandalwood, as some research suggests aromatherapy offers stress-relieving properties. Place discreet oil diffusers in bedrooms, bathrooms, and relaxation zones. 

Alternatively, fill your home with flickering candlelight and soothing scents. Light soy or beeswax candles with fragrances like jasmine, rose, and cedar.

Add a Water Feature for Tranquility

The soothing sounds of moving water create instant zen. Place a small tabletop fountain in a corner or along a windowsill and let the gentle bubbling lull you into relaxation. For outdoors, install a simple recirculating pond or rock waterfall feature on a patio or in your garden space. 

Close your eyes and breathe deeply, allowing the repetitive water sounds to calm racing thoughts. Moving water promotes mindfulness, washing intrusive worries away and leaving you focused on the present.

Personalise with Meaningful Accessories

Make your space distinctly yours by displaying special items imbued with happy memories. Photographs of loved ones and favorite travel moments provide comforting reminders of meaningful relationships and times. Fill bookshelves with cherished books and collections that feed your soul. Select uplifting art and wall decor that energizes you. 

Display sentimental objects like seashells, stones, or plants from places attached to fond memories. Surrounding yourself with nostalgic accessories personalizes your home into your own energizing haven.

With some creativity and focus on wellbeing, it's easy to create mental health spaces in your home. Pay attention to furniture and accents that soothe your senses and design havens where you can restore inner balance. Use these mental health tips to make your home a source of comfort and revitalization. With small changes, you can create an environment that nurtures you from the inside out.