Do you have a favourite cafe where you not only feel relaxed, but also comfortable enough to work well? Or maybe you get your best thinking done in a hair salon, or while getting your nails done? This is known as environmental psychology and is something architects and designers have been doing for years in public spaces to make us feel so comfortable that we are happy to spend time there.

Now there is a move to take these skills into our private spaces to create homes that are not only relaxing spaces, but that can also make use feel more ‘at home’ and improve our mental well-being.

From clear, open spaces and furniture that doesn’t intrude, to natural textures and colours that bring the outdoors and nature inside, there are a number of ways we can incorporate environmental psychology into our homes.

Discover some of the ways you can create an interior design scheme that is not only relaxing, but can also contribute to better mental well-being at home.

A Clear and Open Space

An open plan living space with lots of natural light creates an environment that reflects an equally clear and open mind, one that allows you to feel unconstrained and restful. This G Maisonette interior design, uses a restrained palette of neutral colours and streamlined furniture to create a clear and open space.

For a softer version of a clear and open space, this interior design scheme has added sheer curtains and neutral toned soft furnishings to create a space that is still full of light, but not too bright.

Combining an open floor plan with natural materials creates a warm and harmonious living space in this Sumang Walk apartment.

Featured Furniture

Furniture that recedes, not taking up too much visual - and actual - space also helps to create a clear, open environment. Here the thin metal legs on the couch and tables almost disappear allowing the eyes to move easily around the room.

Choosing comfortable, light-coloured furniture covered in natural materials like the cotton used in this Matilda Court apartment, adds a calmness and coolness to an interior design scheme.

The clear and open plan of this Helsinki Loft apartment is highlighted by the use of simple furniture in natural materials that creates a cool and open vibe.

Low-set furniture adds to the calm vibe of this Havelock Road apartment, allowing the open walls and wide windows to let in more natural light.

A Touch of Nature

It almost goes without saying that bringing touches of nature into your home is sure to add to a more serene and calm vibe. Creating something as impactful as a Green Wall like this one, will ensure that you will also get the health benefits of nature on a larger scale - extra oxygen, and other proven calming properties from plants.

If you don’t have the time to look after a major plant installation, a more streamlined option is to use smaller plants to create a decorative feature like this one for the G Maisonette interior design.

Using a variety of plant sizes and shapes, like in this Havelock Road home office space, adds texture and a jungle vibe to your interior space.

Lighting to Chill Out With

Add meaningful quotes in neon to your living spaces to create personalised areas. Choose quotes that mean something to you and attach to your walls like this Robertson Edge bedroom.

The interior design of this Punggol Bayview @ Sumang Walk apartment features lots of Chinese style, and the neon character adds more personal meaning.

Bright colours can add interest and energy to your home too, this Eunos Crescent apartment has used colour in a clever way to create a home that is interesting and inspiring to live in, just like the quote on the wall.

Use lighting to change the mood and vibe of your home. This Brownstone apartment has multi-coloured programmable lighting throughout the home that can be easily switched to match your mood.

Dare to Declutter

A cluttered environment can drain you of energy and negatively impact on your mood, so it is important to use storage and organisational furniture to keep all your clutter at bay. This Boon Lay Avenue apartment has great storage built-in to the living space to control all the clutter.

This Bartley Road apartment has another clever option to hide and organise your clutter. The built-in storage can be used to hide away the access to the bedrooms, or to be used to display special items.

Organisation doesn’t have to be built-in; this Stirling Road apartment has used off-the-shelf furniture pieces to control the family’s clutter.

The home office space in this Fernvale Street apartment is organised, and clutter free.

Create a Home Spa

Add spa-like elements to your home to truly create a relaxing and calming space. This One Robin apartment by Mr Shopper Studio uses decorative blinds and natural textures to create a space that feels like you are visiting a spa.

Create the feeling of journeying away from your busy daily life with a pebbled walkway in your home, like the one in this Maplewoods apartment..

One of the easiest ways to create a holiday or luxury spa vibe is to add a big bathtub like the one in this Sembawang Hill apartment.

A walk-in wet area with rainforest showers and a huge bathtub really create a luxe spa vibe in this Bishopgate home.

Consider a Place for Peace and Contemplation

To really create a sense of mental well-being in your home, create an area that you use simply for mediation, reading, or relaxing in, like the unique seating area in this Cascadia Condo.

A space designed just to enjoy drinking tea is also one way to create a spot for contemplation in your home, like the one in this Ang Mo Kio apartment.

This Matilda Court apartment also has a space dedicated to drinking tea and thinking about life.

If reading is more your thing, a comfortable reading area surrounded by natural light and plants could work for your home. The reading nook in this Telok Blangah Drive apartment also offers storage and calming colours.

Looking for more interior design tips on how to create a calm and soothing home?

Read our story about how to create a Zen style home; discover how to base your interior design style on your sofa; and learn how to create the perfect home office.

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