From Neon to Nature: Maximise your Mood by Transforming your Living Space
Article by Isabella Ross- Skinner
Decorating your living space can be a daunting and sometimes expensive task but it is nonetheless crucial for your wellbeing. Aesthetics play an incredibly important role in our everyday lives from the clothes we wear, the lock-screen of our phones and where we like to sit in a restaurant. As a result, the psychology of aesthetics and colour can greatly affect our minds and our bodies as well as our moods and routines. So why not take matters into your own hands to create the ideal aesthetic and atmosphere for yourself?
In these uncertain times a new and unfamiliar way of life burdens us all, so we must try to look after ourselves in every way that we can. Whatever your housing situation, these three interior design themes will help you build upon your style and suggest some tips and tricks for a happier house.
Colour-burst
If colours can influence our happiness, why not use all of them at once? Contrasting colours are core to this first theme as they combine two opposing sides of the colour wheel to both clash and complement each other. For example, having red (which is warm and exciting) and blue (which is cool and calming) next to each other can be very pleasing to the eye as their respective warmth and coolness actually counteract each other. Yellow with purple and orange with blue also strongly contrast, but any combination of colours that simultaneously contradict and complement each other would work well. If that’s not for you then a splattering of warm, bright colours such as pink, orange, yellow and green will positively lift a room. Bright and bold wall art also adds spontaneity to this mix so look for bold block colours when choosing what to hang on your walls. In a living room or bedroom setting, scatter a few different coloured cushions and/or a patterned rug to add life to a dull-looking room. If you do opt for a rug, make sure it’s nice and large so that it extends under the furniture: this leads the eye wider and creates an optical illusion to make the room look bigger. Finally, for those with an eclectic style, check out neon lights. Not the LED strips from Amazon but real neon lights. While these are pricier than their Amazon counterpart, they are much better quality and do much more for the room. Plus, you can customise your own if you’re not feeling a lightning bolt or motivational quote.
Nature-lover
Even if you have a tendency to kill greenery (like me), I still thoroughly suggest you buy a plant or two for multiple reasons. Sure, you can buy very realistic fake plants (which also look good, don’t get me wrong), but the benefits of real plants in your room outweigh those of their faux counterparts. They can hang, they can sit, they can even stack and they add an instant boost of life (literally) to any room. The Alice Greenfingers among you probably already have a herd of “plant babies” to look after, so I’ll suggest another way of bringing more of the outdoors in: if you enjoy a cheeky candle whilst your landlord isn’t looking, try placing some fresh moss from the garden at the base of a glass candle holder (look at charity shops) and there you have it, an elegant yet cheap addition to a windowsill or dining table. For that home-y countryside feel look for earthy, warm colours like sage green, pastel pink, sandy browns and bright yellows when choosing décor. Wood as a material also works wonders for that au natural atmosphere, so perhaps consider using wicker laundry baskets, wooden tableware or wooden wall shelves to do so. Similarly, a collection of your favourite shells and pebbles from the beach serves as a calming, eco-friendly and inexpensive addition to a lonely surface (and if you’re feeling artistic get painting!).
Modern Minimalist
If you are not a big fan of kaleidoscopic colours or a forest in your bedroom, then check out this Modern Minimalism mood board. The combination of monochrome, metal and a splash of colour is contemporary, stylish and easy to get right. For an industrial feel, leave wooden beams and brick walls exposed if you have them, or to create a warmer space start with an aesthetic base of white, cream and greys and add a pop of vibrancy. For example, if you already have white walls and a grey sofa, add a circular mirror, a funky vase or table lamp and a few contemporary art prints to add that city chic. Geometric patterns and simplistic line drawings are also very popular at the moment and can be added in the form of wall art, a rug or bedsheets as shown above.
While I’ve suggested specific colours and décor ideas for these themes, you can easily mix all three to achieve your desired aesthetic. For example, colourful bedsheets, an array of shells and crystals and contemporary art on your walls would be another awesome combo – it’s whatever makes you happy! It’s also important to note that ALL the décor suggested in this article can be found at charity, vintage and sustainably orientated shops, and that by shopping second-hand we can both reduce our carbon footprint and find unique objects that can’t be found anywhere else. Enjoy re-decorating!
Like these ideas? Click this link for some more inspiration!
