Neuroaesthetic Homes: Where Psychology Meets Interior Design
Making its rounds in the world of interior design is the idea of neuroaesthetics, which is the science of how the brain responds to beauty. Forget style over substance, neuroaesthetic homes are about how colours, shapes, materials, and even layouts affect mood, stress, and cognitive function. It’s about building a space that feels right on a neurological level, going beyond creating a space that just looks nice
What Is Neuroaesthetics?
At its core, neuroaesthetics explores how our brains process visual stimuli and how they impact our emotions and behaviour. In home design, this means examining how different environments affect our emotions and feelings. Consider how a cluttered, dimly lit room can be draining and overwhelming, while a sunny, open space with warm colours can improve your mood. That’s neuroaesthetics at work. It blends psychology, neuroscience, and art theory to decode how you can design an interior to feel calming or energising, while helping you understand why some spaces make you feel exhausted.
Why It’s Gaining Popularity
With the rise of prioritising mental health and self-care, people are creating more intentional spaces. Since the pandemic, homes have become more than just a place to sleep. They’re workspaces, sanctuaries, gyms, and social hubs. And when a space serves so many different functions, it’s important to design it while thinking about mental wellness so the space doesn’t become overwhelming.
Despite the flaws and pressures that come from social media trends, platforms like TikTok and Instagram have helped spread this idea of creating sensory homes. Going beyond styles like minimalism or maximalism, there’s a focus on how a room feels instead of how it looks.
How to Feel Good at Home
Colour: The right colour palette can subtly influence your mood and focus, as it triggers psychological responses. Blues and greens are generally calming, while yellows can feel optimistic and energetic. At home, soft, earthy tones work well in living areas as they promote a sense of grounding, while cool blues are great for bedrooms.
Natural Light: Sunlight is crucial for feeling good as it regulates circadian rhythms, boosts serotonin, and reduces depression. Swapping heavy curtains for sheer ones, using mirrors to bounce light, and even considering smart lighting to mimic natural daylight are great tactics for maximising natural light and avoiding dark, poorly lit spaces that disturb sleep and lead to sluggishness.
Texture and Touch: Tactile sensations influence how comfortable or safe a space feels. Whether it’s smooth woods, soft fabrics, or textured walls, they all ground the nervous system. Harsh, cold surfaces, however, leave spaces feeling sterile and unwelcoming. Use natural materials like wood, linen, and wool for a sense of comfort and familiarity. Layer rugs over warm, brushed and oiled parquet flooring and soft throws over cosy plush sofas.
Shape and Form: Harsh lines and rigid symmetry make spaces feel clinical and cold, but our brains respond positively to curved, organic forms. Introduce curved furniture, arched doorways, circular tables, or even round mirrors to break up visual rigidity and make your home feel more inviting.
Space and Layout: Open spaces naturally feel more freeing than tight, cluttered layouts, which can cause your stress to spike. It’s also important to think about how easy it is to move through your space. Think about creating zones with rugs or furniture placement, while keeping walkways clear to improve functionality.
How to Incorporate Neuroaesthetics at Home
Start by asking yourself how you want the space to feel and go from there. Don’t focus on how you want it to look. From there, invest in items that feel good, prioritising comfort over style. In the long run, a comfy sofa is more important than an uncomfortable but aesthetically pleasing one, just as durable vinyl flooring matters more than the latest trending floor.
Bringing biophilic design principles into your home, such as plants and natural lighting, creates a sense of harmony. Overlapping perfectly with neuroaesthetic thinking. Intentionally decluttering leads to cognitive ease as well. That’s not to say you need to go through your belongings with a minimalistic mindset. Instead, focus on being organised and creating visually calming environments that reduce anxiety.
Is It Worth It?
Unlike fleeting design trends, neuroaesthetic design is grounded in real science. It offers a way to create interiors that work with your needs, and not against them. In a world that’s loud and demanding, coming home to a space that calms the nervous system and lifts your spirit is powerful and important. So, yes, neuroaesthetics is worth it.
Author Bio:
Sophie Marlowe is a digital content writer and outreach executive for Luxury Flooring. She specialises in crafting engaging blogs on home improvement and home decor with a focus on flooring. Sophie writes handy how-tos, easy guides, and helpful comparisons, letting the reader be informed and inspired to take their home to the next level.
