Pro Tips for Filling Your Home with Positive Energy
There’s no place like home. Until you’ve been cocooning in it for too long and the scene starts to feel stale and stagnant. And, come to think of it, so do you. Apparently, adopting your home’s vibe is a real thing since your surroundings and your mindset are intertwined, according to Sally Augustin, PhD, an environmental psychologist who uses scientific research to help people design and decorate spaces that enhance well-being and performance.
In fact, she promises that if your space is sapping your spirit, you can easily flip that situation with a few easy design moves. “Generating upbeat energy in your home starts with creating a calm, comforting atmosphere. Of course, that seems counterintuitive, but here’s why it’s not: A peaceful state gives your brain the freedom to be creative, focused, and productive. It’s also conducive to connecting with others without distraction, which feeds your soul,” she explains.
So how to set the scene? Augustin believes in a multi-pronged approach to upgrade your mind and mood. “Sensory input is cumulative,” she says. “We get information via a number of different channels—sight, sound, a feeling of safety—and many little positive hits add up to a powerfully impressionable environment.” Do one thing in your home to foster good energy and you’ll get a boost; do many, and you can create real impact. Begin here.
Color Your World
There are three dimensions of color to consider: hue (the shade), saturation (richness of pigment), and brightness (light or dark). For a sense of calm, surround yourself in colors that aren’t very saturated and are quite light, meaning there’s a lot of white mixed in, says Augustin. Paint your walls, add a throw to your couch, or add an area rug—there are many ways to incorporate color into your home. Augustin says these three colors are particularly good for certain areas of your home:
Go with Sage Green in Your Workspace
“Green has been proven to inspire creativity, and the low saturation and lightness make the color relaxing, which is what’s required to allow your brain to perform at its full potential,” she says. “It’s also nice for a living space because it gives off a warmth that puts people at ease socially and sets a tone of friendliness.”
Pick Soft Blue for the Bedroom
“It’s linked to restfulness in studies,” says Augustin, “which makes it ideal for your bedroom.”
Consider Red in Your Workout Space
Here’s one caveat to the general make-it-calm rule. The same way light, soft colors are relaxing, dark, deeply saturated shades will rev you up. So crimson is one color you’ll want in sight when you exercise. “Research has shown that when you see the color red, even briefly, your analytical performance is degraded,” says Augustin. “So, get rid of red in your workspace. But if you work out at home, red is your power boost. Seeing it will give you a burst of strength.”
Look to the Light
Natural sunlight is absolutely magic for your mood. It improves your performance, creativity, and overall health, to list just a few of the many benefits, says Augustin. Let it in wherever you can. That said, natural is not always available, especially during the dark days of winter.
When it comes to necessary indoor lighting, pay attention to warm and cool bulbs (most packages are labeled). “We feel more socially connected under warm light, but we’re better able to concentrate under cool,” she says. “Humans are used to seeing warm light emitted from lower sources, so our brains make sense of that. Think of campfires or even candles. We associate that glow with happy moments. So put warm bulbs into lower lamps and use them when chilling out or gathering with friends. Cool bulbs are great for overhead lighting; switch those on when you need to feel driven and be productive.”
Embrace Some Minimalism
Personal items (photos, art, keepsakes, etc) displayed on tabletops or walls signal the things you value, and those reminders are vital to producing positive energy, says Augustin. But be careful of creating too much visual noise. “Our survival instincts have us constantly surveying our environment for threats,” she says. “Our eyes are scanning and observing always, and when there’re too many stimuli to take in, it causes distress, which drains your energy.”
Pare down your decor and you’ll immediately feel more focused. At the same time, it’s important to inject a feeling of newness into your space to create a sense of the now. “You want to acknowledge the passage of time so you’re not living in a stagnant museum, which has no flow,” says Augustin. Pick times (holidays or different seasons) to tuck away your current objects and bring out some fresh eye candy.
Incorporate Nature
“As humans, we have a desire to exist with nature,” says Augustin. “It’s our inherent setting, so it brings a sense of calm, mental clarity, and a better outlook.” Simply having some green leafy plants in your home will net you those upticks in well-being.
Get two to four plants that are a couple of feet tall so you can see them and place them in different rooms. For an even bigger impact, surround yourself with items made from natural materials, like wood and stone. And hang a mobile so it sways gently in the breeze coming through an open window or the air movement caused from walking by.
“Essentially you’re creating the conditions of a beautiful natural landscape that register in your subconscious and can prompt stress release and bring joy,” says Augustin. Then add to that a soothing soundscape played just under the sensory radar so it’s barely perceptible. “Soft nature sounds, like burbling brooks, rustling leaves, and singing birds are proven to keep you mentally at ease and refreshed,” she says.
You Might Also Like
