With the weekend at hand, most people want nothing more than to kick back and relax — but is your living room stressing you out?
A trio of therapists spoke with Business Insider about how the room meant for R&R could be having the opposite effect — and how best to stop it.
For one, light-colored living room furniture could create a “showroom feel,” says therapist Weena Wise, a sterile-feeling space that makes guests uncomfortable. Such a scheme “can be stressful for guests who want to get comfortable but fear creating stains or leaving dirt or marks that will definitely show,” Wise says.
Lighting plays a big part, says Cecille Ahrens. “While the research on color psychology is mixed, it appears depression is helped by white and green light,” she says. Open those windows and doors when you can, too, for fresh air.
Your TV could be stressing you out, too, says Mark Loewen, who suggests turning it off when you’re not watching and swapping it out for calming music instead.
Clutter is a big no-no, too: “A dirty space can signal chaos and discomfort to our bodies which in turn create stress and tension,” says Wise, who says loose wires and cords from electronic devices “can be visually disturbing for some people.”
She also adds that worn-out furniture could be bringing you down, as well. “If your living-room couch is old, dirty, or outdated, you may not feel as relaxed being in that space,” she insists.
Ariel Sank Wallins previously told the publication that for those who work from home, it’s key to create a “separate area where you work versus relax” to create a “physical and mental separation from the two.”