How the environment of our home feels can affect our mental health. This is why experts like licensed therapist-turned-interior designer Anita Yokota emphasize the importance of being intentional about decorating.
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“If you’re in a very messy environment, or you’re in a chaotic environment, you’re not prone to using that living space for yourself,” Yokota told Better Homes & Gardens. “You want your home to work for you, and you want your home to feel really good because when you feel good, then your outlook on everything is so different.”
One possible reason a particular design choice may not work is that it conflicts with the house’s architecture. According to interior designer Nicole Jensen, the visual tension is evident in the way it can feel like a person wearing two mismatched outfits.
“The space can feel disjointed,” she told Real Simple. "It’s not just a design issue; it can impact how you feel in your home.
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Jensen notes that making things work between your home’s architecture and your furniture choices, for example, is all about “balance and repetition.” An example she gave is mixing a vintage chair with a minimalist Murphy door in the same wood finish. According to her, it’s a way of blending antiques with a sleek, modern home.
“It creates cohesion without sacrificing personality,” Jensen shared.
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Jensen shared an example of an ill-advised interior-decorating decision: forcing stiff, traditional pieces into an industrial city loft.
"If you do bring in classic silhouettes, balance them with bold, modern fabrics,” she said. “Think chunky, industrial textures that hold their own."
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