Home: The Missing Pillar of Wellness
We Care for Ourselves, But Overlook Our Spaces
Most health-conscious people are diligent about diet, exercise, and even mental health check-ups. But there’s one pillar of wellness that often gets neglected: our home environment. We spend the majority of our waking hours in indoor, built environments with much of that time in our own homes. These spaces can profoundly influence our mood and stress levels [1]. Yet many of us simply “deal with” our living space rather than actively caring for it.
I often hear busy parents in Utah say things like, “The kids will destroy any nice furnishings,” or “We’ll upgrade the house once the children are older.” It’s understandable. With work, family, and an outdoor lifestyle to enjoy, home décor might seem like a luxury to postpone. However, your home is part of your self-care. In fact, your living environment might be the missing wellness pillar you’ve been overlooking all along.
If you’ve moved to the Park City or Salt Lake City area for the skiing, cycling, and trails, you already know the power of environment. You seek refuge in nature on the weekends because it rejuvenates you. But why skimp on comfort at home, where you spend so much of your time? Picture coming back from an epic day on the slopes to a home that instantly makes you feel calm and restored, not a chaotic space that adds to your stress. Science tells us that the state of our home directly affects our well-being, often in ways we don’t even realize.
Low-Level Stress: The Invisible Strain of a Chaotic Home
Living in a disorganized or uncomfortable space can create a constant undercurrent of stress. You might think you’re “used to it,” but research shows that your body knows otherwise. In one study, women who described their homes as cluttered or full of unfinished projects had measurably higher stress hormone levels throughout the day and felt more depressed in the evening than women who felt their homes were restful and restorative [2]. In other words, a stressful home environment was linked to a stressful mind and body.
Remarkably, you may not consciously realize the toll your space is taking. A recent experiment had participants care for a baby simulator in two settings: one tidy and one chaotic. The researchers found that those in the cluttered, noisy room experienced a spike in physiological stress (measured by elevated stress biomarkers), even though they didn’t report feeling more stressed at the time [3]. The chaos triggered their bodies’ fight-or-flight response while their conscious mind tuned it out. This is the very definition of low-level stress: a constant background hum of tension that you might ignore, but which can quietly wear you down.
The Hidden Costs of “Just Putting Up With It”
Neglecting your home’s state isn’t benign. Here are a few scientifically backed ways that a suboptimal living space can chip away at your wellness:
Constant Fight-or-Flight: A chronically cluttered home can keep your nervous system in a subtle “alert” mode at all times. You might not be panicking, but your body stays primed for stress. Over time, this low-grade fight-or-flight response taxes your stress hormones and adrenal system [4]. Experts note that persistent activation of this stress response can contribute to issues like fatigue, lowered immunity, and metabolic problems. In short, the mess isn’t just an eyesore, it’s physiologically stressful.
Mood and Focus: Our brains like order. Piles of toys, heaps of laundry, or general disarray provide constant visual reminders of unfinished tasks. This clutter bombards your mind with stimuli, quietly draining your cognitive resources and making it harder to focus or relax [4]. Over time, living in a disorganized environment can elevate anxiety and even dampen your mood. In the study of home perceptions mentioned earlier, women with more chaotic homes felt their mood worsen as the day went on [2]. You may find yourself more irritable or on edge without realizing the environmental trigger.
Sleep Disruption: You might think you can ignore the clutter once you close your eyes, but your sleep may suffer too. Research has found that people who sleep in cluttered rooms are more likely to have sleep problems, including difficulty falling asleep and more nighttime disturbances [4]. It’s hard for your mind to fully wind down in a chaotic bedroom. Poor sleep, of course, cascades into a host of other health issues, affecting your energy, mood, and even appetite the next day. A serene, orderly bedroom is more conducive to that deep, restorative sleep which is vital for wellness.
The takeaway is clear: home is self-care. A poorly managed home environment can subject you to chronic, low-level stress that undermines the benefits of all those green smoothies and morning runs. By contrast, improving your space isn’t a superficial indulgence: it’s a meaningful investment in your mental and physical health.
Designing a Calm and Restorative Home
Just as you schedule workouts or meditation to care for yourself, you can intentionally design your home to support your well-being. Think of your living space as another tool in your wellness toolkit. Instead of viewing a beautiful, comfortable home as something “nice to have,” consider it as therapy you live in. Creating a calming environment is not just about aesthetics: it’s about crafting a personal sanctuary that helps your nervous system relax.
If nature is your refuge, bring some of those soothing natural elements indoors. Studies show that exposure to natural environments significantly reduces physiological stress and anxiety [5]. This is why a walk in the woods or a mountain vista instantly lifts our spirits. Through thoughtful design, we can capture a bit of that outdoor serenity at home. Biophilic design: a big term that simply means integrating nature into interior spaces, has been shown to have tangible calming effects. Something as simple as adding houseplants, maximizing natural light, or using natural textures (like wood and stone) in your decor can lower heart rate, blood pressure, and even stress hormone levels in occupants [5]. In one experiment, adding a living wall of plants to a room helped people perform a stressful task with lower physiological stress and a more positive mood, compared to doing the task in a plain room [5]. Our bodies respond to these cues of nature with a sigh of relief.
Beyond plants and sunlight, consider how color, layout, and furnishings affect your psyche. For instance, softer, warm lighting in the evenings can signal your brain to unwind, whereas harsh overhead lights might keep you activated. A cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair might encourage more screen-free relaxation time. Even small tweaks, like organizing your entryway to be clutter-free, or keeping surfaces clear, can reduce that mental load you feel when you walk in the door. The goal is to shape your home into a place that replenishes you, not one that secretly drains you.
And if you’re worried about kids or pets undoing your hard work: don’t be. Today’s design solutions include a wealth of performance-oriented materials that marry style and durability. You can have a gorgeous sofa that’s also spill-proof and easy to clean, or an area rug that can handle high traffic (and the occasional muddy paw print) without fraying. There’s no need to postpone creating a nurturing home until the kids leave for college! In fact, involving your family in caring for your shared space can teach children valuable lessons about respect, responsibility, and the importance of environment in self-care.
How We Can Help You Find Calm at Home
Transforming your home into a wellness haven might sound overwhelming, especially for busy professionals. This is where Curated Style Collective comes in. We specialize in helping clients create calm, rejuvenating homes that fit their real lives (kids, dogs, messes and all!). Our approach is both scientific and soulful. We distill the research on what environments promote well-being, and then we make it work for your personal style and needs. Here’s how we can support you:
Curated Home Edits: Sometimes a space just needs a “stress detox.” Through our curated home edit service, we come in and help you edit out the chaos. That means decluttering and organizing with smart storage solutions, repurposing and rearranging your existing furnishings for better flow, and adding a few finishing touches to increase comfort. Think of it as a refresh or minimalist makeover. We focus on functional beauty: ensuring the toys, gear, and everyday items in your home have a place to live, so that you can breathe easier. Even small changes, like creating a tidy drop-zone for backpacks and shoes, or clearing off that dining table turned catch-all, can have an outsized impact on your daily stress levels. Our curated edits aim for that “ahhh” feeling: the moment you step into your edited space and instantly feel more relaxed because everything is in order and in tune with your lifestyle. Learn more about this service for Northern Utah Clients.
Full-Service Design (with Family-Friendly Materials): Ready for a more dramatic transformation? Our full-service interior design takes your home from cluttered or impersonal to a custom-tailored sanctuary. We handle everything, from envisioning a cohesive design that reflects you, to managing all the details of implementation. Importantly, we select performance-oriented materials at every turn. You don’t have to choose between a stylish home and an active family life. We’ll source gorgeous fabrics that are stain-resistant and kid-proof, rugs and flooring that can weather heavy use, and furniture finishes that shrug off spills and scratches. The result? You get the upscale, tranquil ambiance you crave, without the white-knuckled worry that “the kids will wreck it.” Our design process often incorporates elements like calming color palettes, ergonomic layouts, and yes, touches of nature, all informed by the latest research on wellness design. The final design isn’t just a showpiece; it’s a livable, lovable space that supports your health and happiness every day.
Client-centered and conversational is how we operate. We know that creating a healthy home is a deeply personal journey, one that can feel both exciting and intimidating. That’s why we take the time to listen to your needs and concerns (no judgment about that overflowing toy bin or the outdated sofa you’ve been hanging onto!). Then we guide you step by step, whether it’s a mini edit or a full-home makeover. Our mission is to empower you to live better at home, turning your space into the relaxing retreat you deserve.
Conclusion: Your Home as a Foundation for Wellness
At the end of the day, investing in your home environment is not an extra chore on your to-do list: it’s a form of self-investment, as vital as scheduling time for exercise or meal prepping healthy foods. Eliminating the low-level stress caused by a chaotic space can free up mental bandwidth and emotional energy you didn’t realize you were losing. And filling your rooms with touches of calm and personality can inspire joy and comfort on a daily basis.
So the next time you find yourself feeling frazzled, don’t just head for the mountains: take a look around your home. With a few intentional changes, your house can become your sanctuary, amplifying all the healthy habits you’ve worked so hard to build. Remember that wellness is a three-legged stool: body, mind, and home. When all three are cared for, you’re far more likely to find balance. And if you need a partner in creating that balance, we're here to help turn your home into the restorative haven that supports the life you love.
Want your home to be a part of your wellness routine? Click here to get the conversation started!
(Authored By Craig Gritzen, Founder & Principal Designer of Curated Style Collective Interior Design Studio. We blend project management precision, scientific insight, and a belief that design can transform the way we live.)
References
Tawil, N., Sztuka, I.M., Pohlmann, K., Sudimac, S., & Kühn, S. (2021). The Living Space: Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Response to Interiors Presented in Virtual Reality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12510.
Saxbe, D. E., & Repetti, R. (2010). No place like home: Home tours correlate with daily patterns of mood and cortisol. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 36(1), 71–81.
Bodrij, F. F., Andeweg, S. M., Prevoo, M. J., Rippe, R. C., & Alink, L. R. (2021). The causal effect of household chaos on stress and caregiving: An experimental study. Comprehensive Psychoneuroendocrinology, 8, 100090.
Sander, L. (2019). What does clutter do to your brain and body? RACGP – newsGP.
Serra, H., Zavattaro, C., Eid, M., et al. (2025). Biophilic interventions in real and virtual environments reduce stress during cognitively demanding tasks. Scientific Reports, 15, Article 39642.
