The environment that we are spending so much time in recently is more important than ever so we asked Henley Interior Designer Niki Shafer for some top tips on how we can make ourselves feel better in our own homes.

We’ve spent more time than planned in our homes during 2020 and seen how they can help us feel safe and secure but equally, how they might not be working to our benefit. 2021 is the year to bring wellbeing and happiness to our homes.

As we remove Christmas decorations, we can often feel low without the greenery and the sparkle. Bringing joy into January is a real must for 2021 as we face the cold winter months before the promise of spring (which has so much more meaning this year). While the reindeers and tinsel head back up into the attic, try replacing the twinkling tree with other forms of lights – fairy lights or table lamps, a wall wash or a stunning pendant.

Colour can also impact how we feel.  Pinks and reds for example are very powerful (actually raising our blood pressure), so we can use them sparingly and still have impact. Balance pinks with greys and only use reds in small doses – cushions, lampshade, vases, or art.

Terracotta red is a fashionable colour and can add the warmth of a red without the fiery nature of its prime colour. Try this in a dining room to encourage sociability and conversation.

What makes you happy in your home? Is it an exuberant wallpaper or bright and happy coloured wall? Maybe it’s how the colours contrast or even clash?

Yellow has always been considered a happy colour but has also been shown to be argumentative, so combine it with lighter blues or soft greys, or black and white for a strong punch in a monochromatic scheme.

It’s not necessary to use bold colours to ‘cheer you up’. Neutrals are calm and work wonders for our wellbeing as they soothe us and let our eyes and minds relax. Neutrals include creams, greys, taupe, tan, woods and white. They will need texture to ensure that soothing doesn’t become boring, as a single flat colour can feel just that; flat. Use a variety of materials or a textured wallpaper to ensure they stay interesting.

Serenity tends to come from neutrals, pastels, and ice colours. Add mirrors to these soothing colours to bounce light around and make sure there are plenty of textures including the space on the floor. A soft sensation underfoot or around the shoulders works wonders on our sense of comfort and wellbeing. This could be a sheepskin rug or a chenille throw.

A shocking splashback, an electric blue wall or a wallpaper with metallic tigers will require a bold attitude to your interiors. But if you love it and, more importantly think you’ll love it in a year or two’s time, then don’t worry about what your mother-in-law or the neighbours might think. This is your home and if it makes you smile, then it is doing good.

Niki Schafer is a professional interior designer based in Henley-on-Thames. She is a published author and speaks frequently on the subject of design psychology and the impact our environment has on our wellbeing.

www.nikischaferinteriordesign.co.uk

Facebook & Insta: @nikischaferinteriordesign

Photography by Clare West, Katy Walsh and Jon Gibson Skinner