To create a home that makes us happy, we first need to listen and respond to our senses. Layout, colour, texture, scent, lighting and more can be used to calm or energise, to focus the mind or relax the body. Interior stylist Pippa Jameson, author of The Sensory Home, offers her top tips to bring your harmonious home to life.
Sight
1. Pay special attention to the entrance of your home – lots of plants mean an easy transition from inside to out, plus a calming scent to engage your senses as soon as you walk through the door.
2. Keep items that carry personal sentiment in your eye-line, especially when you're relaxing on the sofa and lying in bed. Pippa calls them 'happy triggers'. Whether it's family photos or artwork, ensure that you have them around the house.
3. Colour undeniably affects how we feel when we enter a room. It is highly emotive and can relieve stress and anxiety. Therefore, colour in the home needs to be carefully considered; think about what colours resonate with you. Dulux Heritage collection is very calming, perfect for living rooms and bedrooms. For the kitchen, Wren kitchens offer 1,950 colours with their Spectrum collection.
4. Avoid tech upstairs or try to switch screens off a good few hours before bedtime to let the eyes and mind relax.
5. Switch to smart sensory lighting (try Zuma). With advanced and seamless integrated technology, Zuma® ceiling speakers offer advanced light and sound technology settings for meditation, relaxation, music, gentle movement or simply listening to podcasts.
Sound
1. Always play music at home, there is something for everyone, and it's proven to lower stress levels.
2. Try a sensory alarm clock so you can wake to the sounds of nature and a gradual, light sunrise, rather than being overwhelmed by a loud bleep or stressful stories on the radio – that can wait until later in the day.
3. Consider what noise pollution you can hear at home. Use noise-cancelling headphones if you need to work in a busy household to block out the sound of kids and the TV. Planting trees and hedges outside will diffuse noise from the road. Noisy neighbours? Place a full bookcase against the walls. Layering the floor with rugs and underlay will diffuse sound from below. If you own the property, create an extra membrane against the wall with acoustic cladding.
Taste
Prioritise coming together for mealtimes for a positive sensory connection with your family. Think about your kitchen layout and how accessible items are. Place everyday items in easy-to-reach cupboards to avoid bending and twisting your body.
Touch
1. Allow your body to breathe at night. Opt for natural breathable materials such as cotton or linen
2. Make sure your furniture fully supports your body; a supportive sofa, ergonomic office chairs and the right mattresses. Rem-Fit specialises in sleep and recovery technology.
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