Happy Place The key design ingredients that make for a harmonious home.
Good design opens the door to the little pleasures that ensure contentment resides in your home, writes Elizabeth Wilson.
Making a happy home is a universal aspiration. Personal relationships are pivotal to this, of course, but our homes themselves – the way they feel, smell, sound and interact with the elements – also contribute to that happiness.
Think about the simple things in your home that give you pause. It might be the way sunlight beams through a certain window, the satisfying flow of cross-breezes, or the garden views you take in while eating your muesli in the morning.
These everyday, heart-warming moments of contentment are important to your wellbeing, according to health and design experts. They all help make your home a haven of wellbeing.
Sydney architect Joe Snell says five design fundamentals – space, light, airflow, sound and view – play a huge role in the life of a home. “If you walk into a house and its fundamentals are right, you’ll enjoy being in that home, regardless of whether the style is to your taste,” says Joe. “Conversely, a home
might be styled to perfection but it won’t feel comfortable if it’s too stuffy, the flow is awkward, the spatial planning is off, or there’s minimal natural light.”
Psychologist and founder of The Happiness Institute Dr Timothy Sharp says there are many roll-on benefits from nurturing the good vibes in our homes. “Happiness feels good – and also increases our chances of success in life, good health, quality relationships and even longevity,” says Dr Sharp. “We spend a significant proportion of our lives at home, so what happens there – and how we feel there – plays a massive role in how we feel generally.”
To create calm and enhance contentment Dr Sharp recommends surrounding ourselves with objects and reminders of happy times. “Arrange zones within the home where family members can interact and, therefore, build positive relationships.”
There is no right or wrong way to boost your home’s happy levels. “We’re all different and what works for one person won’t work for another,” says Dr Sharp. “The key is to be really clear about what makes you happy and what creates positive emotions for you. Once you’re clear on this, then do all you can to bring it to life, and make it a priority.”
Colour is the happiness trigger for Sydney artist and designer Rachel Castle. Well-known for her sunny palette and playful graphics, Rachel attests to the power of colour to lift her mood. “I love a LOT of colour: the more I can surround myself with it, the happier I am. Colour helps me relax: I feel like I blend in better, so I feel a little freer.” But she knows colour isn’t for everyone. “I have friends who loathe colour. Some like white because it makes them feel cleaner, less anxious, and more under control. Others prefer dark tones because these colours make them feel cocooned, like they’re living in a hotel. It’s personal preference. Whichever colours you choose, you do so because of the way they affect your mood.”
Melbourne interior designer Caecilia Potter begins the design process by asking her clients what inspires and uplifts them – what makes them smile. “The specifics are different for everyone,” she says. “But for most people it is always about making their homes feel welcoming for family and friends. It’s not so much about objects per se.”
The specifics of Caecilia’s clients’ wish lists vary, but many of the sentiments are similar, such as requests for ‘a space that feels friendly’, ‘a feeling of garden in every room’ or ‘a space for teenagers to be themselves’. “Our homes should be places where we’re free to express ourselves. They need to be places where we can refresh our senses and indulge our interests – then we feel complete,” says Caecilia. “A happy home is one you want to share. And your guests will love the experience of visiting because of the authenticity and intimacy your household exudes.”
Caecilia believes a connection with nature is all-important in creating a happy home. “A home that is designed to harmonise with nature is a home that nurtures the residents,” she says. “Passive-solar and green design are critical elements of making a home truly functional, as they harness the elements to create a more liveable, pleasant climate year-round.”
Brisbane designer Druce Davey, founder of environmentally friendly design company Greener, says using natural, ‘real’ materials in our homes has a psychological as well as aesthetic value. “Being discerning about the materials and finishes we use undoubtedly
“WE’ RE ALL BORN WITH AN AFFINITY FOR NATURE. CHOOSING MATERIALS AND
TEXTURES FOR YOUR HOME THAT HARMONISE WITH THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT CREATE SAN INHERENTLY CAL MING MOOD AND LIFTS THE SPIRITS .” Caecilia Potter
contributes to a happier home, and world,” he says. “Materials that take on a patina – such as recycled timber – collect memories and tell stories, creating emotional and sensory attachments that contribute to a happy home. They also have a sense of history, resilience and permanence that is reassuring.”
A happy home is one in which you can be truly yourself, says Druce. The key is to create a place where your emotional and physical needs are prioritised and even your little daily rituals are nurtured. “I encourage clients to think about their daily patterns and routines. Then we design rooms that honour those rituals, and make everyday things feel special.” For example, in his own kitchen, Druce has designed a bespoke coffee station with a recycled-blackbutt bench and soft lighting. “Walking to it brings me joy every single morning.”
The aim, he says, is to create daily touchstones and experiences in the home that make ordinary actions feel supported, a bit special and elevated: “It’s about inviting happiness into the everyday, by design.”