Do you ever notice how different spaces make you feel? Do you take note of the lighting in fancy restuarants or the colors in fast food logos? Red can make you hungry, Yellow can lift your spirits, Well lit rooms stimulate learning, have you heard any of these design psychologies? Do you believe that design can change the way you feel in your home? Did you know that your home can affect your creativity and learning? I find the psychology of design fascinating!

I get so excited over spaces that are well designed. I can't tell you how many times people have told me all about an amazing house that I have to see - then when I eventually get to see the home it is all about how big the house is and nothing about the quality of the home. Big houses don't always equal amazing design. For me it is all about the use of materials, getting the details right, and making sure that the home makes you feel all the right emotions and really is functional for every day life.

With that said, let's talk a little about the psychology of design. Here is a little history lesson, short and sweet - the story of Jonas Salk. The coorelation between design and mood was first discovered in 1950 when Jonas Salk was working on a cure for Polio. He began his work in a basement laboratory. Progress was slow so to clear his head he traveled to Italy where he worked in open courtyards, amist great architecture and beauty. He discovered the Polio vaccine while in Italy and later said that he believed so strongly in designs ability to influence the mind. He designed the Salk facility in California as a labratory to stimulate new discoveries.

I think it is incredible how our built environment affects our health, our mood, and our appetite as well as how we perform and how we feel. So, lets dive in! We want to do a mini blog series and really shed some light on color, lighting, space planning and materials and how each of these can make a difference in your mood, your home, and your life!