The author and designer Ingrid Fetell Lee is no stranger to the interior of the mood. In 2009 she founded her lifestyle blog, the aesthetics of joy to illuminate the relationship between our environment and our emotions and to exchange ideas and inspiration for the life of a more joyful life through design. This endeavor led to a book on the same topic and a popular Ted lecture. (It is worth a watch!) Most recently, Ingrid has teamed up with Boutique Wallpaper Brand Hygge & West at a wallpaper collection, which certainly brings a room with a happier point of view. (Our personal favorites include the tomato embrete heirs, the picnic strips and the graphic green-blue parasol motif.)
In honor of Ingrid's latest undertaking, we asked the designer to share some of her favorite methods to look forward to a home.
Wallpaper in your closet
An office in a wardrobe at home has an unexpected hits of the wall covering.
“A splash wallpaper in a closet rotates at a daily moment – a coat or a laundry – a little joy,” says Ingrid. “Our brain is wired to notice novelty, and if something is partially hidden, we are like a brave pattern behind a door, we give it the opportunity to repeat it again and again.” Ingrid suggests that you can create similar moments of joy by painting the inside of a cupboard a lively color, adding your bathroom a bizarre hook or lining out drawers with a happy pressure. “These surprise elements break the monotony and keep their surroundings fresh,” she says.
Add some curves
“Round shapes – circles, balls, arches – are more than one design preference. They are bound to our emotional reaction system,” says Ingrid. “Neuroscientific studies have shown that sharp angles can activate the amygdala, part of the brain that is associated with fear and fear, while curved shapes calm us down.” To soften your space, Ingrid suggests trying out a circular mirror, a round coffee table or pattern with curved shapes. “These soft forms signal subtle playback and leave a room more relaxed and joyful,” she says.
Paint your Turken (or stairwells)
In the home of Brent Ridge and Josh Kilmer-Purcell, a painted staircase brings playful energy into a more formal foyer.
You don't need much color to have a big influence on your space. “Only a small hit of a light, saturated color – like painting the edge of a door in corals or lemon yellow – can immediately raise the mood of a room,” says Ingrid. “Color influences us on powerful, often unconscious species. Research shows that people in colorful environments are more vigilant, more self -confident and joyful than those in blunt, neutral rooms.” Ingrid also notes that the lighter the color, the less you need. “Start small by adding it in unexpected places: the back of a bookshelf, the equipment of a window or a staircase,” she says.
Get out
Natural elements have a direct connection to our well -being. “Biophilic design – a term that indicates our innate love for nature – has been shown that it reduces stress and increases positive emotions,” says Ingrid. “Plants are an ideal way to do this, but even if they do not have a green thumb, patterns with natural motifs such as vines, leaves and flowers can give a feeling of lush and vitality in a room. Whether it is a lavish wallpaper, a botanical pressure or a natural fiber rug, these touches create a soothing, grounded feeling that conversions us with the natural world.”
Include repeating patterns
The repetition naturally has a little happy. “Whether stripes, polka points, scallops or another form, repeated motifs create rhythm and order,” says Ingrid. “Psychologists believe that our brain finds consolation in this kind of visual predictability – it is both soothing and energized.”
Include all the senses
Joy is not just something we see. It is something we feel, hear and even smell. “Soft textures, cozy materials, the fragrance of citrus fruits or pines, the sound of a crackling candle or a bird song outside: all this layer into a sensory experience that deepens our emotional connection to a place,” says Ingrid. “A joyful home not only looks good. It feels alive.”
Rachel Hardage Barrett has written and edited for publications for lifestyle publications for more than 20 years. As the editor-in-chief of country life, she has treated all things in connection with the country life of the country life, gardening, eating, traveling, antiquities, craft and land pop culture for more than a decade. Before the country life, Rachel spent several years at Southern Living, where she served as an executive editor for travel, food, style and functions. Before Southern Living, Rachel was the director of Special Projects Director of Real Simple, where she wrote and supervised books and special topics on food, travel, weddings, organization and parenthood and, in addition to working on international editions and licensed products. Before Rachel worked at Lifestyle Brands, she began her magazine career at Glamor, where she wrote and edited relationship items, prominent interviews as well as fashion and content. If she does not work on the magazine, she can probably browse around in an antique business, search land -regulatory real estate lists or dream of opening a general store.