Maximize Happiness at Home or Work

Life is to short to go around feeling unhappy. That applies to your home, your office, or any other space you inhabit throughout the day.

In many cases, you are in control of how your space looks and can customize it to maximize your happiness. Here are some ways you can create a space that can help boost your mood every time you set foot in it!

Design For You, Not Your Guests

We are naturally inclined to crave approval from others, and this really comes through when we are designing our homes and offices. It’s easy for these spaces to turn into projections of the people we want others to see us as, rather than who we actually are.

How does this manifest itself? You might want a comfy armchair in your living room, but opt for a more stylish chair instead because you saw it on Pinterest or in a magazine. You might buy the stylish chair hoping that it’ll give an impression that you are hip and in line with current trends.

You might derive some satisfaction from that if friends, family, or guests comment on your choice, but remember that you are going to be in the space way more than anyone else ever will be!

Let Light In

No matter what type of space you are designing, every one of them can benefit from natural light. Not only will natural light save on your need for electricity, it’s also proven to boost your mood–which may help increase serotonin levels in your brain.

Opt for sheer blinds and curtains that you can open easily to let in light. If cooling costs are a concern, add energy saving curtains in front of the sheer ones, but open them up for at least a little bit each day when the sun is not directly in line with your space.

If you’re stuck in an office without windows, you can mimic the effect of sunlight with a natural light lamp. Options are available for as little as $20-$30.