The realities of modern life seem to present chaos every day, making the need for a calming home more essential than ever. When you cross the door into your home, your space should instantly quiet the mind and soften the pace of the day. But without thoughtful interior design, the opposite can happen.
If clutter and visual noise dominate your home, it's likely having an effect on your mood (whether you realize it or not). "Visual stimulants in the home can be just as detrimental to relaxation and well-being as ingested stimulants such as caffeine," explains interiors stylist and author Joanna Thornhill. "Both can contribute to an anxious, racing mind and an inability to switch off. Yet while we are generally conscious of our caffeine consumption, we can inadvertently binge on the brain-unsettling visual stuff."
