The ambiance of your home has an undeniable impact on your emotions …and wellness. Regardless of whether you are a homebody or use your space as a relaxing sanctuary after long days, creating a soothing environment is essential.

 

Amber Dunford, a design psychologist and style director, has devoted her career to guiding others in creating such environments. With her background in interior design and psychology, she now provides bespoke design psychology lessons for both homeowners and designers. Considering the living room is a central space where we spend most of our waking hours, Amber emphasizes that it is critical to nail the design in this space.

Amber has shared her top six principles for achieving a comforting, personalized living room design, keeping one's well-being a top priority.

She suggests reflecting on the emotional ambiance you want to evoke in your space and considering areas where you've experienced such emotions. Are there aspects from those spaces that you could bring into your home? Perhaps it's an earth-tone plaster wall to imitate the beach, or a deep green monochromatic color scheme reminding you of a forest.

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Talk to the interior design experts of JarvisInteriors if you want professional help in creating a soothing living room.

Creating a sanctuary-like home begins with the design plan. Carefully considering how every element of your home could be gentler on the senses may take more thought than choosing attractive fabrics, but the outcome can be profoundly transformative. Amber insists that the perfect starting point is to focus on the emotion you wish to get from the completed space.

Drawing upon her expertise, here are valuable insights on her approach to styling spaces.

1- Use Layered Lighting

Dunford's first advice centers around the lighting design in the living room with emphasis on the importance of a layered arrangement.

Given that overhead lighting can appear harsh, she encourages considering different light layers to create a cozy environment. This includes the use of the Kelvin scale to select warmer bulbs around 2700 that imitate natural light and maintain a soothing atmosphere.

To achieve layered lighting, she suggests combining recessed lights with a pendant or chandelier, using wall sconces to highlight artwork and architecture, and incorporating lower-level lighting like table and floor lamps for functionality and a warm glow.

2- Incorporate Lush, Touchable Textures

Dunford emphasizes the significance of incorporating diverse, tactile textures in your interior design as they add visual depth and allow individuals to engage with their surroundings based on their mood.

She encourages creativity in choosing furniture and décor, stating that even elements like canvas artwork or textured wallpaper can introduce dimension and aesthetic appeal. Indicating that design should reflect the desired mood — serene or vibrant, she further emphasizes how textures can help convey a variety of emotions.

She also highlights the advantage of using different materials to create a seasonal narrative, suggesting fur throws and woolen pillows for a cozy autumn feel, while lighter linen accents and cotton pillows for a breezy summer vibe.

3- Allow for Various Seatings

Dunford suggests that this approach is beneficial if you enjoy hosting and wish to cater to both introverted and extroverted personality types with your living room furniture. It's also worth considering if the space will be shared by mixed personality types.

Accommodate your guests or family members by offering ample and varied seating in the living room. While sofas are essential, introducing a variety of other seating options ensures the living room becomes a comfortable space for everyone.

She explains that sofas are a staple piece for a living space and provide excellent communal seating, especially appreciated by extroverts who prefer the proximity they offer. Yet, for introverts, individual seating options like a stand-alone chair, ottoman or chaise lounge are less anxiety provoking.

Moreover, this strategy enables flexible rearrangement of your living room seating according to the need. For a more interactive setting, group the furniture centrally. If you require solitude while sharing the space, opt for a more dispersed layout to protect your peace.

4- Find Furniture With Visible Wood Grain

Dunford explains that this rule taps into biophilic design, rooted in our deep-seated connection to nature and the inclination to bring it into our homes. Observing natural elements often lowers stress levels and fosters overall relaxation.

Integrating the organic grain of wood in furniture, floors, and accessories is a straightforward and attainable way of injecting natural appeal into your space. She recommends choosing larger furniture pieces like coffee tables and side tables showcasing natural wood details, or opting for a stain that accentuates your existing wooden furniture.

She adds that looking at wood grain, an element from nature, has been found to decrease anxiety and stress. This concept strengthens the case for incorporating visible wood grain into your living room, especially if you aim to cultivate a peaceful and serene space for you and your guests.

5- Give the Room a "You" Feel

Customizing your space is one of the most straightforward yet familiar methods to liven up your living room. When your top priority is well-being, making your home feel like you becomes even more significant. Dunford admits that the living room is one of her favorite spaces to incorporate elements that can spark conversations, as it's often the gathering spot for friends, family, and guests.

She explains that conversation starters could be a special souvenir or sculpture from your travels, a captivating piece of art by a local artist, or a family heirloom. These items should essentially tell a story that you're comfortable sharing, providing a glimpse of who you are. They can reflect your personality, values, or your admiration for specific places, crafts, or cultures in the world.

6- Decorate with Vintage

Dunford's final advice to be successful in achieving a soothing living room is to incorporate vintage furniture and décor, as they add a unique charm and character to your space.

She explains that there's something extraordinary about featuring non-contemporary pieces that don’t appear store-bought, or an unconventional item that fits well in the room. A vintage chair or light fixture adds warmth and history to an otherwise retouched room.

She emphasizes that this is particularly important when dealing with newer homes lacking architectural history. The right balance of irregular shapes or aged items infuses a relaxed vibe into the living room, making it approachable and casually elegant.

Also read: 44 Cozy Living Room Ideas You'll Love and

15 Soothing Decor Ideas to Help You Relax and Unwind at Home

What is one living room design pitfall to avoid?

Finally, Dunford advises against adopting a "head-to-toe" trendy design. She stresses that such an approach can date your space and compromise its adaptability over time. Instead, she urges you to design from a place that has a personal feel, considering the elements that bring you the most joy and balance.

She points out that while some may find dark and moody interiors oppressive, others might find it a soothing sanctuary contrasting harshly lit buildings they usually spend their time in. She encourages you to focus on interior designs that make you feel calm, comfortable, and true to yourself, and incorporate these elements into your home. After all, your home is the only space you can control, so utilize this opportunity to design with mental well-being as a priority.

Need inspiration and professional advice in creating a soothing living room? The experts from JarvisInteriors can help!

For inspirations in creating a Japan-concept living room, read these tips from JarvisInteriors: JAPANDI LIVING ROOMS: Design Style That Adds Calm to Your Interiors.

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CONTENT Credits

6 rules you should always follow when designing a soothing living room, according to a design psychologist

   

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https://www.bhg.com/decorating/lessons/basics/home-decorating-ideas-to-create-a-soothing-environment/ and

https://www.thespruce.com/cozy-living-room-design-ideas-4126680