Your home should be more than just a place where you live – it should make you feel at ease, inspired, and truly yourself. Recent scientific research has proven that well-designed living spaces are directly linked to improved wellbeing and mental health. According to Susan Magsamen from the International Arts & Mind Lab at Johns Hopkins University, a leader in neuroaesthetics research, people have control over what they surround themselves with and must feed themselves with experiences needed to feel healthy and happy.

Interior designer Sonja Hawkins has witnessed firsthand the powerful connection between thoughtfully designed spaces and personal wellbeing. "I have always been intuitively aware that our environment can affect our emotions," says Hawkins, whose work has been featured in international interior design magazines. "Everything we surround ourselves with – color, texture, lighting, sound, smell – matters." Her stunning design of a Te Arai property exemplifies spaces where people naturally want to linger and feel comfortable.

Hawkins approaches design with the goal of evoking emotional responses rather than creating sterile show homes. "I don't really subscribe to the show home immaculate aesthetic," she explains. "When a space feels right, when it's somewhere you want to linger, then you know it's a success." This philosophy extends to every element of her designs, from contemporary yet timeless bathrooms perfect for long soaks to living areas that promote genuine relaxation.

The science of aesthetics and its impact on the brain represents a relatively new but rapidly growing field of research. A groundbreaking experiment at the Milan furniture fair in 2019 demonstrated just how varied individual taste in décor can be. The exhibit, called "A Space for Being," featured three distinctly different living rooms designed to test visitor responses through sensory tracking.

The first room, "Essential," featured soft lighting, curved walls, and a calming atmosphere enhanced by a wool tapestry wall-hanging colored with natural flower dyes. The second room, "Vital," was decorated in vibrant colors with beams of light, citrus scents, and interactive pop-up books filled with 3D artworks scattered throughout to spark curiosity. The third room, "Transformative," incorporated steel, wood, and leather materials, animated with neon lighting and charcoal scents.

All rooms were furnished with products from Danish design brand Muuto to maintain aesthetic consistency and minimize personal taste bias in visitor reactions. When data from approximately 3,000 participants was analyzed, the results revealed fascinating insights about human preferences. One-third preferred Essential, one-third chose Vital, and one-third favored Transformative. Even more intriguingly, some participants reported liking one room while their bodies responded more positively to a different space, suggesting that minds and hearts don't always agree on aesthetic preferences.

Interior designer Jade Hurst, founder of Good Space, has closely followed research emerging from Johns Hopkins University's Arts & Mind Lab. "It deeply inspires me," she says. "It's exciting to see science backing what many designers have instinctively felt for years – that the spaces we live and work in profoundly shape our wellbeing and health outcomes." Hurst's path into design began through wellness architecture, studying the connection between built environments and human health outcomes.

Hurst became the eighth person in New Zealand to receive WELL accreditation from the International WELL Building Institute. Her studies explored how elements like air quality, natural light, sound levels, and access to nature influence the human nervous system. This foundation shaped her current design approach, which she demonstrates in projects like Kenkō Studios, where she replaced heavy, mesh-covered windows with expansive glazing to flood spaces with natural sunlight.

"I've always been affected by my surroundings – how a space made me feel, not just how it looked," Hurst explains. "When I came across 'A Space for Being,' it was a lightbulb moment. I remember thinking, 'Yes! This is what I've been feeling, and now there's research to back it up.'" Her design philosophy centers on helping clients understand how they want to feel in their spaces, then translating those emotions into tangible design elements.

Designer Angela Wickstead, who is New Zealand-born and UK-based, brings both interior design and fashion backgrounds to her appreciation of aesthetics. "My background is both interior design and fashion, and I firmly believe that well-designed surroundings can make a difference to one's wellbeing," says Wickstead, who designs and produces luxury Italian-made linens. She operates from a London studio while living in a country house in Shropshire.

Wickstead emphasizes that good design should be enjoyed daily, not just admired. "Use your beautiful things every day," she advises. "I set my table with beautiful linen every night, even if it is just me at home for dinner." This philosophy reflects a broader understanding among creative professionals who naturally examine and absorb their surroundings more closely than the general population.

Modern understanding of aesthetics extends far beyond visual appeal to encompass emotional, physiological, and deeply sensory experiences. "There's a growing understanding that aesthetics aren't just visual – they're emotional, physiological, and deeply sensory," Hurst explains. "Good design should engage all the senses. When we layer sight, sound, touch, and smell with intention, we create spaces that support wellbeing in real, tangible ways."

Spaces designed for considered living reject idealized versions of perfection in favor of authentic, livable environments. A home should function as a place for genuine relaxation – featuring comfortable sofas for unwinding, dining tables for meaningful gatherings, sunny reading nooks, luxurious baths for soaking, and comfortable beds ensuring restful sleep. Interior design is gaining recognition as more than decoration or status symbols, instead focusing on forging emotional connections with spaces that serve as backdrops for daily life.

The emerging field of neuroaesthetics continues to provide scientific validation for what designers and homeowners have long suspected – that thoughtfully designed environments significantly impact mental health, emotional wellbeing, and overall quality of life. As this research expands, more people are discovering that investing time and attention in creating homes that make them feel good represents a worthwhile investment in their personal health and happiness.