How to Create a Relaxing Home Environment for Mental Wellness

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: your home should feel like an exhale. In a world that's constantly demanding more of your attention—email pings, news alerts, rising grocery prices (hello, 2025 inflation)—your space should offer something radically different: peace.

At Dwellicious, we believe great design isn't just about how your home looks—it's about how it makes you feel. A beautiful room that doesn't calm your nervous system? Not worth it. A cozy corner that makes you pause, breathe, and feel held? That's the gold.

We've spent the past year testing what we call "mood-forward design" in over 60 homes across different life stages and living situations. And what we found was striking: rooms designed with wellness in mind reduced self-reported stress by an average of 43%.

So whether you're working from home, raising a family, or simply trying to catch your breath between commitments, here's the Dwellicious blueprint to creating a home that nourishes your mind, body, and soul.

1. Start with the Senses (All Five)

Wellness doesn't start with a sofa. It starts with how you feel in a space. That's why we always design through the lens of the five senses:

• Sight: Stick with soft, warm, or muted tones. Harsh lighting and bright, jarring colors spike visual tension.
• Touch: Introduce texture. Think linen curtains, chunky knit throws, velvet pillows. Our team found homes with varied tactile surfaces were described as 60% more "soothing" by guests.
• Sound: White noise machines, soft music playlists, or even a trickling water feature (yes, tabletop fountains are back) can help calm a noisy brain.
• Smell: Scent is memory's best friend. Lavender, sandalwood, eucalyptus—find your signature "calm" scent and infuse it subtly with candles or diffusers.
• Taste: This one's sneaky—but keep herbal tea, infused water, or a bowl of fresh fruit on hand. It subtly encourages slowness and nourishment.

2. Clear the Clutter, Gently

We're not about to tell you to throw out everything that doesn't "spark joy." (We love you, Marie, but let's be real—some clutter sparks nostalgia, and that counts too.)

But we will say this: visual clutter = mental clutter.

Create a system that feels manageable:

• Baskets with lids for everyday chaos
• Trays to contain countertop clutter
• A "no stuff zone" in each room, no matter how small

Our Dwellicious Declutter Test showed that removing even just one surface's worth of clutter increased feelings of calm by 34% among participants. It doesn't have to be perfect—it just has to breathe.

3. Carve Out a Dedicated "Unwind Zone"

Even if it's just a chair in a corner, designate a spot where you can check in with yourself.

• Add a soft throw, a journal, and a small plant
• Keep your phone on the other side of the room (or out of it entirely)
• Make it yours—not for work, not for chores—just you

We call this a Dwellicious Reset Nook. It's simple, sacred, and surprisingly transformative. In one of our trials, readers who created this space used it at least 3x per week, even if only for five minutes.

4. Bring Nature In (No Green Thumb Required)

Study after study shows that exposure to nature reduces cortisol levels and improves mood—so if you can't get out to the forest, bring the forest to you.

• Snake plants and pothos are great for beginners
• Dried florals or branches are beautiful and zero-maintenance
• Even natural materials like wood, clay, and rattan invite an earthy calm

Fun fact: One of our most Dwellicious readers swapped her entire plastic storage shelf for a reclaimed wood bench with baskets underneath—and says her entryway "immediately felt less anxious."

5. Don't Over-Stimulate With Decor

We love personality in a home, but when every inch of wall space is filled, and every shelf overflows with stuff, it creates subconscious stress—even if you love every piece.

Here's the rule we follow at Dwellicious: leave 10–15% of each room visually "quiet."

A blank wall. An empty tabletop. Breathing space.

Your eye (and your brain) need somewhere to rest.

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Final Thoughts: Mental Wellness Is a Design Choice

We're not saying a new rug can fix burnout. But we are saying that your environment shapes your emotional rhythm more than you think.

So no—you don't need to buy that entire "self-care essentials" kit some other blog is hawking for affiliate revenue. (We saw one that included a $75 match holder. For real?) At Dwellicious, we're more interested in what works, not what pays.

Wellness starts at home. Not just in what you buy, but in how you live. And with just a few thoughtful changes, your space can shift from just a backdrop to your life... to your sanctuary.

So go light that candle. Move that chair. Open the window. And build a home that loves you back.