How to decorate and organize to boost mental well-being
We get it. After several weeks of workdays that have run into work nights, it’s been difficult to find time to work on your home to make it a relaxing space that creates a sense of peace. But a little goes a long way. If you can carve out a few hours over a few weekends and follow our top tips, courtesy of several expert designers and organizers, you can make your home the mindful sanctuary it’s meant to be.
The advice your parents gave you wasn’t for nothing. The key to taking joy in this chore is to think of it as a mindful, moving meditation. This is an opportunity to slow down, live in the moment, and create a sense of cleanliness and order in your room.
This perfectly made bed and bedroom setup from Hygge & Cwtch Design Studio project pure zen. Owner Annie Golledge believes the routine of making your bed creates a nourishing home environment and a clean, inviting bedroom to come home to at night.
One of the first steps to creating a mindful home that stays mindful is to ditch all the extra stuff you don’t need. This process should be therapeutic. Not only will you discover how much more space your home has after getting rid of that old acoustic guitar or last year’s tennis shoes that have been sitting around collecting dust, but you can donate the items to a local charity (or give them away on your neighborhood Buy Nothing Project group, which allows you to share unwanted items with your neighbors), ensuring that someone who really does need them gets them and puts them to use.
Caroline Dilbeck of Organize Nashville notes there’s weight to every item—physical and mental. Decluttering and donating un- or under-used goods take a weight off our homes and minds. She also advises breaking up the decluttering process into 20-minute blocks so you never feel too overwhelmed.
There’s a reason why Marie Kondo and her KonMari Method of organizing became so popular. It feels good to pare down what you own to the essentials. Imposing an order on all of your items—from your collection of vintage scarves to your winter boots—can save you energy and frustration.
Professional organizer Gennifer Arantes of Genni Organizer ensures everything is visible with clear dividers so it’s always easy to find your favorite shirt. She believes an organized room can be life-changing, creating a stress-free home environment that reduces irritability and impatience, which can then make you happier. She notes the task of organizing a house for the first time can take a fair amount of effort, but after that initial process, you’ll save lots of time not having to dig around and find items in your closet.
Architect and interior stylist Joy Tan designed this petite but perfectly sized workspace for herself and was very intentional in her choice of a white desk to give her eyes and brain a restful, calm surface to create. She recommends taking some time to declutter your workspace at the end of the day to give yourself a fresh start every morning. Plus, the addition of a live plant will recharge your momentum.
Consider styling spaces in neutral, calming colors, as seen here in this room by linen textile maker Ieva Šidlauskė, founder of April Notes. She believes these tones reflect the natural world, offering a sense of serenity and breathability. The linen pillowcases on the settee are in different shades of brown with a punch of mauve, which keeps things mellow without losing visual interest. The raffia wall art also draws from organic elements, a reminder to stay grounded.
Try lighting a candle to illuminate reading time instead of relying on overhead lighting, as seen here, stylized by Light Provisions. According to a study in Translational Psychiatry, the candles will tell your brain and body to relax and enter a more meditative state. And according to Counselling Directory, a British nonprofit that helps promote mental well-being, some studies have shown that certain scents from a candle—lavender and sandalwood, for instance—can reduce anxiety.
Plant-mania struck hard in 2020 and 2021, as people found themselves stuck in their homes and looking for ways to create more relaxing interiors. According to a study in Public Health Reports, research has shown that the addition of houseplants can have health benefits, such as lowering stress levels. It also reminds us to slow down and—literally—stop and smell the roses.
Kali Gordon of Project Full believes meditation is the foundation of mindful living in all aspects, allowing you to focus on the “inner space” to reflect in our “outer space.” Consider creating a meditation area of your own, complete with a plush pillow and little to no distractions so you can take time for yourself, whether it’s for 1 minute or 60.
This sleek kitchen design by Scenario Architecture is soothing to the mind and senses, thanks to the spotless surfaces and organized feel. We love the cubby above the countertop to create more storage for items you need to grab often but don’t want to hide away behind closed doors. The pendant lights offer an elegant solution to illuminate your kitchen workstation without being overwhelmingly or distractingly bright.
