Reap Emotional, Psychological & Even Health Benefits
I use this line almost every time the subject of home decorating arises.
“We used to have a couch,” I’ll say to whomever listens. “Now we have a pillow display.”
My fashion-conscious beauty obsessed bride abhors a barren sofa. She has a collection of decorative pillows for all seasons. And they pretty much blanket the couch from end to end, staggered and overlapped two rows deep along much of the expanse.
“Just move one if you want to sit down,” she chides so innocently.
When I arrive with a sandwich in one hand and a soft drink in the other, I haven’t a hand left to clear the square footage my posterior requires.
Such is a household where function battles beauty. I’m king of a mancave and the garage. She reigns over the rest of the home, and insists I keep the door closed to my mancave portal. Apparently, the décor violates her standards.
Not sure of the marriage counselor who first proclaimed it, but for most males – not all, perhaps but most – home is a place to rest, free from the annoyance of pillows where you desire to sit.
But for many – probably most – woman, it’s part of who they are; homemaking is a key component of self image.
When a very close friend lost her husband during the COVID crisis, the widow’s reflex was to relocate.
“This was our home,” she explained. “I need my home.”
From a Ph.D. Perspective
Michael Ungar, Ph.D., is a family therapist, university researcher, and author. Perhaps I should be spending time on his couch, but for now, I’ll be content with reading his articles in Psychology Today.
“While building a home is still a luxury for most, anything that we do to create a more accommodating space to live in is bound to have a positive impact on how we feel,” Dr. Ungar wrote in July 2021. “With the surge in people looking for new homes even during the pandemic, it makes good sense to not just look inwards for relief from stress, but also look at one’s surroundings. A nice home can be a great catalyst for sustained feelings of happiness.”
It’s time to build – doctor’s orders!
“Your physical environment shapes your psychological health,” Dr. Ungar stated in the same article.
“It’s little wonder that HGTV is able to captivate audiences with home renovation shows. We all, it seems, want to experience the magic of a new start where who we are is reflected in the spaces that we occupy.”
Personality Showcase
A psychologist and research scientist in the UK, Dr. Linda Papadopoulos, wrote some years ago that, “In effect, our homes allow us to showcase our personalities. And what we showcase differs not only because of our personalities, but also because of the life stage we’re in.”
The doctor is inferrring that cream-colored carpet should probably be on hold until the nest is empty, at which time some bedrooms can also be repurposed.
Dr. Papadopoulos pointed out that “Psychologists call the subconscious way in which we develop our living spaces ‘behavioral residue’, reflecting our behaviors, values and choices over time.
“With this in mind,” the doctor added, “it’s no surprise that the home holds such emotional significance for us. It’s a place of comfort, of security, but also one where we can explore and develop our identities and let the rest of the world know that ‘this is who we are.’
Let’s Build Your Masterpiece
Our modern dwellings are designed with an abundance of windows, including clerestory windows (those near the roof line) to bathe the home in natural light as well as provide views out into nature. Most people realize intuitively that naturl light is healthful. This may be because light affects our circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep.
A safeguard against claustrophobia, we build balconies and terraces off bedrooms to provide a sense of openness. Since our interiors have no load-bearing walls (an attractive byproduct of post-and-beam construction) we have the option of partitioning off spaces instead of building floor-to-ceiling walls – more openness.
Our designs typically feature patios, decks, courtyards, and atriums for the enrichment of luxurious outdoor living space.
As a custom build, you can choose finishes such as pull-out pantry and cabinet shelves or install smart lighting and other technology that puts basic functions at your fingertips. Advanced security systems are an option for ultimate peace of mind.
We’re keenly aware that we design and build in accord with personal taste and preference but ultimately to enhance emotional wellbeing.
“Simple changes to the design of our homes can have a very real impact on our mental health and wellbeing.”
That’s an assertion from Ben Channon, an architect and author of Happy by Design: A Guide to Architecture and Mental Wellbeing (RIBA Publishing, 2019).
“I hope that, over time, architects and the wider public gain a genuine understanding of how buildings and spaces affect us psychologically, and learn that the design of them can be tailored toward making people happier and healthier in numerous ways – not all of them cost-prohibitive,” Channon said in an interview.
There’s no denying that home design and décor are integral to our emotional and physical wellbeing – even if some couch pillows are a nuisance.