Your home needs to represent where you want to move towards in life, and empowering interiors propel you forward. New research conducted by National Home Improvement Month has unveiled that currently, 52% of the UK feel uncomfortable in their own homes, 63% feel unsafe and 10% feel embarrassed or ashamed.
Presenter and DIY expert Georgina Burnett has some top interior tips on how to support and maximise positive mental health and wellbeing.
DECLUTTER - One of the easiest and most effective interior changes to make is creating a more spacious and simpler environment.
Your home needs to represent where you want to be or where you want to move towards in life, so you need empowering interiors to propel you forward. Removing excess clutter from mantelpieces, shelves and the tops of cupboards and storing in attics or under beds creates a minimalistic space that appears larger.
The interior instantly becomes a more soothing and relaxing space, losing its overwhelming and demanding aura.
UPCYCLE - Damaged or broken furniture and belongings can subconsciously impact wellbeing and mood. Perhaps you have been clinging onto items in need of repair or replacement, for far too long.
Replace and send the old items to charity, or even better - upcycle. You would be amazed by what you can do with some chalk paint and decoupage – and it will save you money. Fix anything that is broken. Feng Shui warns us that broken, cracked and faulty items in the home will affect our chi.
GREENERY - Incorporate plants, flowers, and greenery into interior design to improve wellbeing. According to many studies, indoor plants have been shown to improve your mood, reduce stress levels, increase productivity, attention span and even pain tolerance.
It’s a great way to soften edges and bring a corner to life. The popularity of house plants has returned in force recently - particularly big leafy plants like the Monstera, mirrored in fashionable wallpapers and fabrics.
A deep green plant can not only add depth to the en vogue pastel schemes but can also help your wellbeing. If you want big impact plants though, Schefflera, otherwise known as Umbrella plant, Dracaena, Yukka and Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum) are all great options for the home.
HEALTHY HOME - To improve air quality incorporate Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa), Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) or Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta) as these are great for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air.
Very popular at the moment are succulents. These pretty and interesting species take very little care - needing just the odd spritz with a water spray and can make for beautiful displays, even vertical wall art. There are also some incredible faux plants which can have a placebo effect on the mood of the less green-fingered amongst us.
COLOUR - Colour psychology is a fascinating subject and is a really helpful guide for working out which colours will bring about the appropriate mood for a room.
Colour is almost as divisive as Brexit though, so it’s a conversation to be had with all members of the household. For example, some people find that yellow lifts their mood, whilst it makes others feel uneasy.
So, play around with colours and assess how they make you and your family feel – then use what you find to help you choose the appropriate colour scheme for each room.
For more tips, advice on DIY and home improvements visit
National Home Improvement Month.
