Greenock Telegraph

Create tranquil interiors to boost your physical & mental wellbeing

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YOUR home can have a fundamenta­l effect on your mental health. Your personal space is your refuge, a place where you can feel safe and relaxed when life gets tough.

The personal spaces in our home set the stage for many moments in our lives, so it’s crucial that your home provides comfort, support, and positive emotional energy.

Creating a calming interior has the power to improve sleep, relationsh­ips and productivi­ty whilst reducing stress, anxiety and depression. The human mind and body are interconne­cted and can be affected by many things, including the environmen­t we live in. A peaceful and visually appealing home can create a greater sense of wellbeing. Even the colour of your walls and furnishing­s can affect your mental health.

If you’re looking to create a space that helps you to feel calm and grounded then using neutral colours is a good place to start. Neutral colours and shades often provide feelings of serenity and connectedn­ess.

We’ve put together five ways interiors can be used to combat anxiety and create a calming environmen­t.

A neutral colour scheme

Colours have the ability to boost our mood and reduce stress levels. From the shade of the paint on the walls to the colour of your soft

furnishing­s, they have the power to transform how you feel.

Using subtle, muted neutral tones such as beige offer the perfect solution according to colour psychology. Rooted in nature, brown and beige tones bring with them a sense of energy, strength and calmness that works wonders in the home.

White is associated with pureness and clarity. Many homes use white to evoke feelings of newness and cleanlines­s. Although some may not consider white to be a colour and instead more of a shade, white is still powerful for lifting spirits when we’re feeling down.

Green tones are known to represent natural environmen­ts, harmony and peace. Green is also considered one of the most restful and relaxing colours to the human eye, making it key to creating a tranquil environmen­t in the home.

Light

Exposure to natural light is integral to mental and physical wellbeing, proven to boost vitamin D, improve sleep quality and enhance productivi­ty and focus. Introducin­g natural light into the home can be as simple as introducin­g reflective surfaces such as coffee tables or mirrors or removing internal window coverings. Additional­ly, those looking to maximise natural light in a single room can replace dark furniture and features with lighter objects, wall colours and ceiling colours to ensure more light passes through the room, creating a brighter, warmer environmen­t.

Plants

Bringing nature into the home elevates moods, and one of the most effective ways to do this is through the use of house plants and flowers. Studies show that the presence of plants and flowers improves concentrat­ion, memory retention and reduces stress.

Positive images

Surround yourself with images that make you happy, content and relaxed. For you, these images might be of family members or friends. There might be a

particular landscape that you find calming, or a holiday location that makes you remember happy times in your life.

Declutter

Declutteri­ng your space can make a massive difference to overwhelm and by giving away items that are not used or loved you’ll create a calm space that creates joy.

 ?? ?? Hambledon candlestic­k short, £18, tall, £20; Ravello bottle vase, charcoal, £14, rest of items from a selection, Garden Trading
Hambledon candlestic­k short, £18, tall, £20; Ravello bottle vase, charcoal, £14, rest of items from a selection, Garden Trading
 ?? ?? Sea Mist grey linen duvet cover set, from £192 (double with standard pillowcase­s), Chalk Pink Linen Co
Sea Mist grey linen duvet cover set, from £192 (double with standard pillowcase­s), Chalk Pink Linen Co
 ?? ?? Elements Alva bar height stool, Warm Sand Boucle, £119.20 (was £149), Dunelm
Elements Alva bar height stool, Warm Sand Boucle, £119.20 (was £149), Dunelm
 ?? ?? Calm Art gallery wall: 10 posters, 10 frames, £382.80 (was £475), Desenio
Calm Art gallery wall: 10 posters, 10 frames, £382.80 (was £475), Desenio
 ?? ?? Stoneware vase, white, £22.99; twopack wine glasses, £9.99, H&M
Stoneware vase, white, £22.99; twopack wine glasses, £9.99, H&M
 ?? ?? Roberts Rambler BT Stereo, dusky pink, £149.99, Roberts Radio
Roberts Rambler BT Stereo, dusky pink, £149.99, Roberts Radio
 ?? ?? Beige & black cushion tranquil palms (50cm x 50cm), £95, Click Style
Beige & black cushion tranquil palms (50cm x 50cm), £95, Click Style
 ?? ?? WoodWick Coastal Sunset, from £10.99 to £32.99
WoodWick Coastal Sunset, from £10.99 to £32.99
 ?? ?? George cream boucle chair, £150, Direct.asda
George cream boucle chair, £150, Direct.asda
 ?? ?? Brabantia Bo touch bin, £187
Brabantia Bo touch bin, £187

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