3 WAYS TO DECORATE YOUR HOME TO BRING PEACE 

Our Environment Affects Our Life 

Everything in our environment causes our brains and nervous system to react. Science has shown through the study of neuroaesthetics that our person responds subconsciously to our surroundings. So before you even have a thought, your brain and nervous system has taken inventory of this space and is directing you towards your response.

With this science backed evidence in hand, my job as an interior designer is to create spaces that serve my clients in their ultimate goals. I find out what do they want to do in that space, and then tailor that space to evoke the feelings that will propel them towards achieving those goals. My experience has shown me that the rooms I create impact health, finances, and relationships.

As an interior designer, my two main goals are to create atmospheres that give my clients the feeling of strength and motivation, and, two, a sense of peace and refuge.  It is important that each room brings a healthy balance of both. When you can find your serenity, you can find your strength.  So, let’s first break down how to create this feeling of rest and rejuvenation. 

Here are three ways to decorate that will instantly give you a feeling of peace in your home. 

# 1:  BIOPHILIA - When viewing nature, the brain quiets down

There’s a term called Biophilia that has gained a lot of attention these days. It’s a Greek word that means the love of living things.  Having nature, and things that remind us of nature, in your space causes a positive physical reaction in our bodies. It goes back to a time where certain landscapes meant survival. What you saw, heard, and smelled innately brought feelings of safety and well-being.  Scientists have discovered that this reaction is ingrained in our DNA and our brains still respond the same way they did thousands of years ago.

So, what does this look like in your home?  

Looking at plants and flowers, photos of mountains, a tree canopy, and water all trigger our brains to release feel good-hormones and lower blood pressure. This is why views are so valuable in real estate. It takes about 40 seconds of looking at nature for the brain to restore from feeling mentally drained to re-establishing attention control. 40 seconds of experiencing nature is all it takes to improve our ability to complete tasks.  Think of it like a reset button.

If you love plants, add them. If you’re not good with plants, framed photographs work well.  Realistic photos of flowers and plants (ferns especially), a mountainside, a lake, waves rolling onto the beach, whatever natural element you respond to. Incorporate these images to center yourself and connect with the earth.  But also know that biophilia doesn't only mean having or seeing plants around. We have an article dedicated to Biophilia alone. There's about 15 different ways you can incorporate biophilia into your surroundings.

The sense of smell is a powerful way to relax.   An easy way to instantly rejuvenate is with a scented candle, natural is better. Oils like oud and amber are an aromatic refreshment.  While calming your mind, they act as a great stimulant for mental strength and stability. Oakmoss, known as an antiseptic, soothes the body and cleans the air. Cloves help manage anxious energy and enhance concentration. The elegance of the rose essential oil is most often used for mental health, relieving stress and providing anti-depressive effects.  The formula for my private label candle, called Walking Through Flowers,  includes all of these essential oils in a candle. It's a beautiful fragrance that pleases the senses of all ages and all genders, it also cleanses the energy in a space. Try it out.

# 2:  LIGHT = ENERGY 

Lighting is THE hardest working element in the room. Lighting is life and sets the tone for your perception of a space and objects (and people) in that space. Good lighting is key in making you feel a certain way in a space.

This month, I contributed to an article in House Beautiful, How to Achieve "Room Serenity" According to Professional Therapists and Designers.

Natural light, specifically, is important because it releases hormones that regulate our circadian rhythm, our internal clock that releases hormones to regulate energy and help us sleep over a 24 hour time frame.

When the sunlight (which is a blue light) arrives in the morning, it triggers the production of cortisol, the on-alert hormone, and a rise in blood pressure. At the same time, it tells your body to stop producing melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. Blue light keeps working throughout the day to increase focus and elevate your mood. By sunset, you’re slowing down not only because you’re tired, but also because that energizing blue light is slowly fading away, becoming warmer and losing intensity. 

We want to make the most of natural light with unobstructed windows.  Don’t put any furniture that will block the view and if possible try to keep them clean.  One of my go-to tools is to double the natural light in the room by adding a mirror on the opposite wall of a window.

When the sun sets, we need to manage our “unnatural light”. The type of lightbulbs you use also have an effect on your mood.  Raise your hand if you’ve ever stood in the lightbulb aisle and were completely confused by which one to buy.  Here’s a good overview of how to pick a lightbulb:

Kelvins is color and Lumens is brightness.

The higher the Kelvin rating, the bluer the light will be.  On the low scale (2700K to 3000K) the light is warmer and yellow, which cues relaxation and a friendly environment - stay in this range for your home. 3500K to 4000K is usually in offices and stores. You’ll find 5000K in hospitals. 6500K and 7000K is the temperature of a bright blue sky (sunglasses required).

Here’s lumens.

A good rule of thumb is to have between 10-20 lumens per square foot in relaxing rooms, and roughly 50 lumens per square foot in task oriented rooms like the kitchen.  Tally up all the lightbulbs in the room which will give your total lumens. Divide that by your square footage to see if your room has the right amount of light.

Include dimmers wherever possible to keep control over brightness throughout the evening, and first thing in the morning. There's something called a "warm dim" now in dimmable lamps. LED light sources now have the ability to change color to a warm 2700K color.

# 3: Fabrics for the feel and feelings

Fabrics are one of the easiest ways to bring peace to your home. By appealing to our memories and preferences, they help us create a “sense of place”. There's something in our brain that's called our Default Mode Network. This is the neural pathway that defines for each person what they know to be true.  The meaning of colors, memories of certain textiles, what different shapes remind you of, this is the filter by which your decisions are made in creating your space.

Throw blankets, pillows, upholstery and bedding all create this physical sense of comfort.  They also give you an opportunity to bring your personality into the environment. Perhaps your culture celebrates a particular textile like alpaca or silk.  Maybe a soft corduroy reminds you of a favorite relative, or a circular pattern brings you back to that incredible hotel you stayed.  Think about fabrics that resonate with your sense of self.  The easiest way to bring them into your space is by adding throw pillows to your sofa, favorite chair, or on your bed.

Fabric also hold a big role in creating a feeling of safety and comfort with their tactile benefits. One of the most comforting aspects is its ability to provide warmth. Touching fabric has been found to reduce stress and anxiety. The feeling of being enveloped by a soft blanket or fluffy towel instantly sends signals to soothe the soul.

Invest in a nice set of plush cotton towels for your bathroom. One of my clients told me that the highlight of his morning was stepping out of the shower onto his new fancy bath mat.  Mission accomplished! Even the smallest indulgence can make a big impact on your outlook for the day.

Drapery is a little more of an investment but still movable money.  They function the same way for a room in that they create a feeling of security. Drapery also works double duty to enhance your experience in that space. Taller and thicker the better. I recommend having lined drapes to add fullness. To bring a heightened sense of cohesion and a designer's polish, coordinate the drapery with one or two of the pillows. 

We shared our standard operating procedure on drapery with Homes & Gardens in their article, How to reduce echo in your home – 5 tricks designers use for a homey space.

If you come away with anything from this time with me, please know how important your environment is to your health, wealth, and happiness. Enjoy a connection to nature, make clear decisions about your lighting, and enhance the use of fabrics. These three ways to decorate will bring a feeling of peace in your home. 

In its basic form, your home protects you from the outside world.  But when you make intentional decisions about what you want your surroundings to look like and how your spaces need to function for you, decorating takes on a whole new level of value.  Your home can actually help you get better sleep, connect with your people, clear your mind, regulate your nervous system, beef up your bank account, heal faster, and feel incredible.

Curious? Schedule a Room Reading Consultation to get started.

Eryn Oruncak, founder of Elan Design | Interior Design & Fine Art, is known for her presentation of fine art paintings and evocative spaces. Eryn believes that the home is the foundation for your life, your work, and your family. One of the first in the design industry to achieve the SIDC Certification, Oruncak applies neuroaesthetic and biophilic principles to her well-crafted rooms and original artwork. 

The customized residences and offices she designs for her clients result in their enhanced performance and optimized health.  As a go-to expert, Oruncak is a frequent speaker to designers, architects, and trade professionals on the subject of neuroaesthetics.  Her work and expertise have been featured in several publications and media outlets.

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