NEUROAESTHETICS AND INTERIOR DESIGN: How the beauty of your home impacts your wellbeing

I've always been interested in the link between the environments we live in (both indoor and outdoor) and our mental wellbeing. In fact, it was a driving factor for me getting into interior design; it plays a vital role in our daily life and emotions, and therefore, our longer term health. One of my guiding stars when designing is feeling. How you feel in a space is so much more important than how a space looks in a photograph (note: many rooms look beautiful online, but not all of them feel beautiful in reality).

Of course, we all know that being in nature is great for our mental health and mood: organic materials and natural colours have been scientifically proven to create a sense of calm. Perhaps (like me) you may get stressed by excess visual clutter in the home; again, research confirms that physical clutter increases the stress hormone cortisol, particularly in women. Clever storage solutions are a must to combat this. Built-in storage is a game-changer, cleverly designed to maximise even the smallest of spaces. A simpler solution is to get yourself plenty of baskets and trays as it's an inexpensive way of being able to quickly clear the mess.

Natural baskets made from jute, seagrass and willow can be found on the high street. My favourite places to shop for all shapes, sizes and styles (from left to right) are Dunelm, Homesense, Cotswold Company and H&M.

With all this in mind, I started researching further and began learning about neuroaesthetics. Neuroaesthetics, simply put, is an area of neuroscience that studies and examines how the brain processes aesthetic experiences such as art, music and design. It includes the study of a viewer's response and how the brain reacts to colour, form and symmetry. Although the term has been used since the late 90's, there seems to be a renewed focus on it. Goldsmiths, University of London, offers the world's first MSc in the field.

Neuroaesthetics shows that when we experience something beautiful, it stimulates specific areas of the brain associated with reward and pleasure, which explains why something we perceive as beautiful or aesthetically pleasing makes us feel good.

So, what does this mean for interior design? Well, there are some main categories to consider to help us create spaces that positively impact our brain and emotions.

Shown here, a calming blue and green, from a Japanese dictionary of colour combinations, originally published in 1933 -1934 by Sanzo Wada, who was at the forefront of contemporary colour research.

Colour: each colour evokes a different feeling. For example, blues and greens are calming and reds and oranges stimulate. Colour psychology is a fascinating and complex field so I won't go in to detail here; however, it is important to remember that we do not all have the same emotional responses to colour. If that was the case, we'd all find the same things beautiful and what a boring world it would be! Whilst maximalism and bold colours energise some, for others it can leave them feeling overstimulated and stressed. Similarly, spaces that are too neutral tend to sap my energy. What gets your reward centre buzzing may be different to the next person.

Biophilic Design: incorporating natural elements, such as sunlight, plants, water and organic materials boosts productivity and reduces stress. Rather than an after-thought (I'll chuck a plant on the windowsill), this approach begins with the architects, before the house is even built.

A beautiful entrance hall by Sims Hilditch is a masterclass in symmetry, balance, texture and variation.

Symmetry and balance: our brains look for symmetry and harmony to help us feel relaxed; it creates a sense of balance and ease. Asymmetry, though, certainly has its place in keeping design fun and interesting; too much symmetry can become stale.

Texture and variation: we all need depth and interest. This one sounds simple, but layering and varying textures and materials within a home is a bit of an art and something a designer can help you with. Many of my consultations begin with a client feeling their room is 'off', 'flat' or 'missing something'. If you're feeling that, a lack of texture and variation is a likely culprit.

Form and rhythm: consider the impact of soft curves versus harsher corners. A space with only rectangular furniture and boxy elements will feel off. Softness can be added through shape, not just texture. Our brains also like repetition which can be found in most fabric and wallpaper designs.

From top left:  Monty fabric in blue and brown by Jessica Osborne | Edith fabric in Mulberry by Sophia Frances Studio | Oakham wallpaper by Scion | Flower Buds wallpaper by Borastapeter

Prospect and refuge: In other words, we need a view but we need to feel safe and protected at the same time. Although not as important in 2026 as it was for our ancestors, this is still hardwired in to us. Being able to both see out and remain hidden from potential threats is something we instinctively want. Window seats are a great example of this: see Goodwood cottage project! Choosing suitable window dressings is also important for this.

By following some of these design principles, not only will homes look good, they will actually trigger responses in the brain that make us feel good too. As you can see, interior design is so much more than choosing a few colours and some nice furniture: it's science!