Why Your Home Environment Matters for Wellbeing

If you've seen my latest video, which you can find here, you’ll have seen that I spent some time browsing homeware in the Place Vendôme sales, not because I love shopping in malls, but because I’ve been thinking about something deeper: how the spaces we live in can support our wellbeing.

Malls have never really been my favourite places. I often find them a bit overwhelming: the busy walkways, bright lights and constant calls to buy more can leave me feeling exhausted rather than restored. That’s partly why I wanted to reflect on what it is that makes a home feel warm, comfortable and supportive, rather than just a storage space for things.

Wellbeing researchers tend to emphasise that experiences usually matter more for happiness than the accumulation of material possessions. That insight is a useful reminder that moments, relationships, and meaningful activities often have a greater impact on our wellbeing that the things we buy. But that doesn’t mean our homes are irrelevant. They’re actually central to how we live and feel every day.

The space we come back to after a long day sets the tone for rest, reflection, connection and comfort.

A calm, supportive environment helps our nervous systems move out of stress mode and invites us to slow down and be present. Interior design psychology, the study of how spaces affect our behaviour and emotions, suggests that thoughtfully arranged environments can actually have positive effects on us, shaping how we act, think and feel within them.

It’s not about perfection or following trends. It’s about intentionality; choosing things that reflect who you are, what you love and how you want your life to feel. Soft lighting, meaningful objects, comfortable furniture, plants and personal touches can help create a sense of warmth and safety. According to research into healthy home environments, elements like comfort, quiet spaces and connection to the outside (natural light, views, easy movement) aren’t just aesthetic, they support mental and physical wellbeing too.

Your home can be a canvas for your identity and values. Pieces that remind you of meaningful moments, cultures you love or experiences you’ve had, ground you. When we live in a space that feels coherent with who we are, it helps us feel secure, authentic and at ease. That aligns with some of the core ideas in positive psychology about wellbeing: when our environments support our values and daily habits, they help us flourish.

In the video, I talk more about this -about how curating your home isn’t the opposite of mindful living, but can be an expression of intention, comfort and support.

At the end of the day, it’s not about purchasing an abundance of unnecessary stuff, it’s about creating spaces that feel like home, spaces that invite rest, connection, reflection and joy. And when our environment supports our wellbeing, it becomes a quiet partner in our everyday lives, helping us to show up more fully in the world, more rested and more ourselves.