How do interiors affect us psychologically?

We’ve all been stuck in a place where we feel uncomfortable, and it should be obvious how it can impact our mood, but there are subtle ways that an interior can also influence how we feel. In fact, you may not even notice that an interior design element is having a negative impact on your emotions until you replace it.

Holly Beedon, a qualified integrative psychotherapist for Living Well UK, explains:
“The spaces we inhabit send constant signals to our brain. If a room feels chaotic or uncomfortable, it can trigger low-level stress responses, keeping us in a state of alertness that makes it hard to fully relax, and harder still to fall asleep.

On the other hand, calming environments with a sense of order, soft lighting, and personal touches can cue the body to unwind. Over time, this link between surroundings and psychological state shapes our overall mental wellbeing.” .

How different design elements change our mood

The environmental elements of a home’s design affect us mentally and physically much more than we may realise at first. For example, dim spaces with artificial lighting can impact our body’s circadian rhythms – the internal clock that keeps track of when we need to rest. In contrast, bright sources of natural light can help keep it in order, while also boosting our mood and improving our concentration.

Holly also says that noise is a major factor in the enjoyment of spaces. She says that background noise has the potential to “be energising in social spaces, but draining in rooms meant for rest”. It’s essential to make sure external distractions are blocked out in the designated quiet spaces of your home, such as your bedroom, when trying to get a good night’s sleep.

Layout and clutter can also play a role in our moods, as Holly claims they affect how ‘mentally spacious’ rooms around the home can feel. Open spaces with effective organisation can have a calming effect, compared to the stress of a cramped and messy space.

Colour psychology is another aspect of interior design that can impact our mood, according to Holly:
“Softer tones tend to soothe, while bolder colours might energise or overstimulate, depending on the room’s purpose. Even temperature has an impact: cool spaces can feel refreshing but might become emotionally cold, while warmer environments tend to promote feelings of safety and relaxation.”

How to set the perfect mood for each room in your house

No two rooms are created equal, and each part of your home should inspire different emotions. For example, while a dining room is a space for socialising over a nice meal, you wouldn’t want your bedroom to be just as busy while you’re trying to wind down.

We asked our survey participants how they want each room around their house to make them feel. Then, we spoke to Barker and Stonehouse’s Head of Product and Display, Magdalena Gierasinska, who offered a breakdown of all the design techniques you can use to design each room accordingly. Here is our advice for styling the perfect feel-good home, one room at a time:

Lounge/living room

A third of our survey respondents say they want their living room to make them feel ‘relaxed’, making it the most common emotion associated with lounges. The second most common, unsurprisingly, was ‘calm’, with almost a quarter of those we spoke to saying they wanted their living room to evoke this feeling.

Magdalena Gierasinska’s advice for styling a relaxing living room is to keep your space organised and grounded, but with some subtle added depth to make it warm and inviting. Your colours should be natural and neutral, with layers of subtle texture. Opt for comfy seating in similar shades, with an occasional bold statement piece to create visual interest, such as a corner sofa.

  When it comes to your room’s layout, you should aim for neatness and functionality. Create zones in your room, such as a seating area for watching TV and enjoying coffee breaks, or a cosy reading nook for a personal space to relax. Your storage should also be functional enough to keep clutter at bay, but stylish enough to blend into the rest of your design.

Lighting can help add the depth and warmth that your living room needs to thrive. Go for a layered look by combining ambient lighting (the lights that will brighten up the whole room), task lighting (for highlighting specific activities, e.g. side table lamps for re

Dining room

The most common feeling associated with a dining room was being ‘content’, with a quarter of our survey respondents saying it’s the emotion they look for when styling their space for meals. Similarly, 22% of those who answered wanted to feel ‘happy’ in their dining room.

Our advice for nailing your dining room’s ambience is to encourage conversation and make your space as welcoming as possible. Try pairing coastal pastel colours with bold accent shades and metallic embellishments, adding a happy sparkle to a palette that evokes feelings of calmness and happiness. You can add a touch of warmth by adding a statement pendant to your lighting setup, and layering the effect with smaller lamps.

The main attraction of any dining room is the dining table and chairs. Choose a classic wood dining table that’s appropriately sized for your room and encourages good circulation. If you’re struggling with space limitations, try adding an extending dinner table to fold out for special occasions.

You can pair your dining table with benches for versatile arrangements, fitting as many guests as possible, or put comfort first with upholstered seats. Faux leather dining chairs can give your design some class without having to splash out on genuine leather, while velvet dining chairs are perfect for a traditional, elegant look.

In terms of storage, stylish sideboards can help to keep your space tidy and welcoming, while display units will put your favourite items of décor on show without taking up too much floor space.

Bedroom

35% of our survey respondents prioritise feeling ‘relaxed’ in their bedroom, with a further 27% saying they want their room to feel ‘calm’. You can easily evoke these feelings through soft ambient lighting, giving your space a soft warmth that will help you unwind. Choose a colour palette that you find comforting for your design, and try blending with rustic wood touches, soft neutral shades, and cosy throws for a tactile twist.

For your seating, look for curved furniture with inviting textures like fabric or velvet. These are ideal for creating cosy corners and encouraging relaxation. The layout of the rest of your room should be as uncluttered as possible, with well-integrated or hidden storage solutions to keep loose items out of the way. Choose a well-proportioned bed, and use it as a central anchor to build the rest of your design around.

Kitchen

More than a quarter (26%) of people who replied to our survey said they wanted their kitchen to make them feel ‘creative’, while ‘inspired’ and ‘happy’ tied as the second most common emotions (16% each).

To start getting creative with your cooking, try pairing open and closed storage for a blend of solutions. This allows you to show off your favourite décor and important items for cooking, while keeping clutter out of view. You can also use a layered lighting setup with statement pendants to inspire focus and energise you while you cook.

Accent colours thrive in kitchen designs, especially when paired with soft neutrals and metallic elements. Try striking the perfect balance of your palette to draw attention to areas of visual interest, and to give your kitchen a sense of playfulness.

When it comes to layouts, a seamless workflow is crucial. Giving your kitchen a central island with good circulation can help you move around easily, while also allowing social cooking. Try adding a small banquette area for relaxation, or to encourage gathering while you cook.

Conclusion

As much as our guide aims to help craft the ultimate feel-good home for the average homeowner, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and you should aim to customise your design to suit your preferences. Holly Beedon’s final piece of advice for styling a feel-good home that will lift your mood is to understand your personality, and work around it accordingly:

“Introverts may be more sensitive to sensory input and prefer soft lighting, quiet zones, and cosy corners that offer privacy and peace. Extroverts, by contrast, often thrive in brighter, more stimulating spaces that encourage social interaction.

Understanding these personality differences can help households create spaces that reflect each person’s needs, or even balance them across shared areas.”

Methodology

Our “Designing The Perfect Feel-Good Home” report is the result of a comprehensive national survey conducted by Barker and Stonehouse. The survey involved 1,000 participants and was conducted in August 2025.