31/08/2023

Top tips for a Restorative Home

DESIGNING HEALTHY SPACES

Create opportunities for social connections
Use natural materials, especially wood
Reduce clutter

Create opportunities for social connections:
Research has shown that when sharing a meal together family bonds become stronger; children are better adjusted and less likely to abuse alcohol or drugs; family members eat more nutritional meals and are less likely to be overweight,
Stress can become more manageable where there is the support of family and friends.
Studies have shown that the quantity and quality of social connections (talking and listening to family, friends) correlate with reported well-being
One of the key indicators for cognitive decline (Dementia for example) include quantity and quality of social connections – now and in the past

Use natural materials, especially wood:
Research has shown that the use of wood in interior design promotes health, recovery and reduces stress levels all due to the connection with nature. This appears to be due to the fact that the brain is under less stress and the nervous system less irritated during interactions with the natural world, because scanning for safety is not needed all the time in an environment that is is familiar and safe.

Reduce clutter:
A UCLA study (Saxbe and Repetti 2010) indicated that women living with stressful or cluttered homes got more depressed over the course of the day, whereas women with restorative homes had decreased depressed mood over the day. They also reported that women who have issues with clutter have the signature pattern of cortisol that is associated with people who have chronic fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder. Clutter hugely impacts on decision fatigue – the brain is making micro decisions all day and hits a point where fatigue kicks in, seeing clutter on top of this just exasperates it.

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