The blog article: is republished from the blog of Devoleigh Homes

After a bad day, going home to unwind is good therapy. Afterall, what is more comforting and relaxing then comfy clothes and sinking into a favourite chair?  For some, unwinding at home is impossible and can cause an already ‘bad’ mood to worsen. Why?

Multiple factors affect our mood, including our living environments. Neuro-architecture is a concept which studies how the brain responds to built environments. Neuro-architecture is commonly used when constructing hospitals and businesses in the hopes of improving how we respond to the environments around us. It reigns true, if given some thought.

The concept of your environment affecting your mood is as simple as thinking about your favourite restaurant; the atmosphere of a restaurant plays a huge factor in your mood. If you eat at a restaurant with a poor environment (ie. too noisy or too busy), your mood potentially changes. We have a tendency to avoid negative environments, so why should your home be an exception?

Studies suggest that there are five areas of brain activity to consider when creating a space to improve mood are:

• Sensation and Perception

• Learning and Memory

• Decision-Making

• Emotion

• Movement

While neuro-architecture sounds complicated and intimidating, there are actually very simple ways to improve your living environment:

Lighting

You can enhance your sensation and perception by altering the lighting in your home. Incorporating natural lighting, lights with dimmers and removing harsh lighting are ways to improve your mood.

 

 

Furniture

Who would have thought that the shape of your furniture affects your mood? Studies conducted from the University of California suggest that rounded furniture improves memory and cognitive ability.

Keep it simple

The average person is bombarded with decision-making in any given day. The pressure of making a decision has the potential to be the storm clouds that roll in before a bad mood sinks in. Keeping things organized, accessible, and eliminating clutter in your home reduces the chance of decision-fatigue (and added stress).

Plants

Bring more plants into your home or rooms you frequent more often as they improve emotional and concentration.

 

 

Change it up

While it may be comforting to see the same setting every day, it’s important to rearrange and reorganize your room every so often, as a change in the environment improves mood.

We hope that the next time you come home to unwind from the day’s stress, your home brings you comfort and brightens your mood!

from Devonleigh Homes http://ift.tt/1sSoMVk