How to Design Functional Mental Health Spaces

For sufferers of depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder, it is important to create functional mental health spaces at home, work or in medical practice.

These spaces are crucial because when set up correctly, they can not only help to improve the sufferer’s mood, but they also can make them more relaxed and even productive.

But how do you go about setting up a functional mental health space correctly?

In this post, we will explore six different strategies you can adopt to create a calming environment that avoids triggering negative thoughts.

1. Declutter your spaces

According to the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, rooms that are full of clutter can put a significant strain on our cognitive resources and subsequently cause scrambled thoughts and a loss of focus. This in turn can lead to increased levels of stress and anxiety.

For this reason, you should try and maintain a mentally soothing space that is well organised, tidy and free of clutter – as this will create an overall sense of calmness and serenity for people with mental health issues.

Some good ways to do this are to use baskets, containers and multi-level shelving solutions to store possessions.

2. Find beautiful and functional furniture

Whilst decluttering a room is important, you should also balance this with furniture that is not only attractive but also functional.

Whether that be tables and chairs that are easy to clean, armchairs that represent a comfort zone in your living room, or comfortable mental health beds for your facilities, will depend on the space you are creating.

However, the more pieces you can find that are both beautiful and functional, the more effective your room will be as a calming mental health space.

3. Reduce noise distractions

When creating a functional mental health space, it is imperative to ensure that you keep noise distractions to a minimum. This is because incessant noise can trigger everything from headaches to an inability to think clearly - which in turn can significantly contribute to an increase in mental health-related flare-ups.

Using acoustic panels to soundproof the walls and double-glazing windows are good ways to keep outside noise to a minimum. You could also try fitting a door sweep, laying down carpet or hanging up noise-reducing curtains.

4. Embrace natural light 

When creating spaces to support mental health, it is imperative to embrace the power of natural light - in other words, light generated from the sun.

Natural light provides plenty of benefits, including raising our Vitamin D levels, enhancing sleep patterns and generally improving our moods.

If you can, try to incorporate as much natural light into the room as possible by adding skylights, large windows and mirrors that can help bounce it around the room.

At the same time, you should also be mindful of furnishings that block light, such as window treatments or thick curtains. Instead, use blinds or sheer fabrics that can easily be adjusted to let it in.

5. Keep room temperature to comfortable levels

Sleep is very important for everyone, let alone someone suffering from a mental health disorder. However, it can be difficult to get the good quality sleep you need if the room temperature is too hot or cold.

Likewise, if you are in an office environment, you might find it tough to maintain concentration and your levels of productivity. For this reason, it is crucial to keep the room temperature at comfortable levels.

The easiest way to do this is to put in reverse cycle air conditioning, as this will ensure you stay cool during the summer months and warm when the chill of winter hits. Just remember to pick a unit that doesn’t create too much noise and is energy efficient to keep your costs down.

You could also try replacing windows and doors that are drafty and insulating walls.

6. Add some greenery

It is amazing the difference a bit of greenery does to the overall aesthetic and serenity of a room.

Indoor plants such as aloe vera, peace lilies, cactus and lavender can not only spruce up the appearance of a room but they are also linked to a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.

Along with these plants, incorporating stone, wood, artwork that is nature-inspired and other natural materials into the decor of your functional mental health space can also create a serene bedroom that facilitates a more balanced state of mind.