Ever walked into a room and instantly felt tense, without quite knowing why? The cause might not be your to-do list. It could be your lighting, your layout, or even the paint colour on the walls.
We often focus on how our homes look, but the way they feel can have a far greater impact on our mood. According to Sayonara Rell, founder of Sayo Designs, small design decisions can quietly shape our stress levels day to day.
‘The difference between a home that heals you and a home that hurts you often comes down to elements you can’t see on a traditional floor plan,’ she says. ‘Many people are unintentionally designing spaces that drain their energy rather than recharge it.’
Here are five common interior mistakes that could be increasing stress levels, and what to do instead.
1. Harsh evening lighting
Lighting has a powerful impact on how your body winds down. Sayonara explains that even one or two bright, cool-toned LED fixtures can trick your body into thinking it’s midday.
Research shows around half of residential lighting is bright enough in the evening to significantly suppress melatonin, the hormone responsible for sleep.
• THE FIX
‘Don’t wait until the fixtures are installed to see how they affect your mood,’ Sayonara advises. Test how lighting feels across the full day — from natural morning light to dimmed evening settings. Layer softer, warmer light sources in the evening to support your sleep cycle rather than disrupt it.
2. Hidden chemical emissions (VOCs)
Indoor air can sometimes contain higher pollutant levels than outdoor air — often due to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by furniture and finishes. Budget-friendly pressed wood and MDF shelving, in particular, can release formaldehyde over time.
• THE FIX
‘Prioritise wellness-first materials when updating your space,’ says Sayonara. Where possible, choose solid wood, bamboo or stone instead of mass-produced MDF. Natural materials don’t just bring a timeless look, they can also help create a healthier home by avoiding synthetic glues that may off-gas indoors.
Read more: Inside Grand Designs' hypoallergenic house: How one couple designed their way to a healthier home
3. Unmanaged clutter
Clutter isn’t just visual – it’s cognitive. A study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that women who described their homes as cluttered had significantly flatter cortisol slopes throughout the day — a hormonal pattern linked to chronic stress.
‘Every out-of-place object registers in the brain as an unfinished task,’ says Sayonara.
• THE FIX
Focus on the organisation before the decoration. ‘Rather than adding decorative boxes later, incorporate concealed storage and built-ins directly into the plan,’ she says. Knowing exactly what fits – and where – helps prevent clutter before it accumulates.
4. High-stress wall colours
Colour psychology suggests that some shades can trigger a stronger physiological stress response. Red, for instance, can raise blood pressure, while large areas of bright yellow may feel overstimulating for many people. A shade that looks appealing on a paint swatch can feel much more intense once it covers an entire room.
• THE FIX
‘Don’t choose a wall colour from a swatch; you have to live in it first,’ Sayonara advises. Test colours in real lighting conditions, particularly in the evening, to see how they affect your mood before committing.
5. Poorly scaled furniture
Oversized furniture in small spaces can make rooms feel cramped and tense. Rugs that are too small can visually fragment a space, creating subtle imbalance. ‘The sense of unease often arises when you must navigate awkwardly around furniture,’ says Sayonara.
• THE FIX
Stop guessing. Visualise how it will actually feel to move through the space. Ensure there’s breathing room around larger pieces and that rugs anchor, rather than shrink, the layout. Sayonara believes many homeowners prioritise trends over wellbeing.
‘We often sacrifice comfort for rigid, sharp-edged social media trends that make a home feel more like a stressful showroom than a relaxing sanctuary,’ she says. ‘Your home is either enabling you or exhausting you, and most people don’t realise the difference until the furniture arrives and the paint has dried.’
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