No one wants to be in a sad or bad mood for any longer than they have to be (no one wants to be in a sad or bad mood at all, but the truth is that sometimes it can’t be helped), but it can be hard to know how to turn things around and feel better. Sometimes it’s something that only a doctor or therapist can fix, but what if it’s not as bad as that, and you just need a bit of a lift?

The answer could be in your home decor. By putting a few clever ideas in place, you can make interior design choices that boost your mood and make your home a place where you really love to be. With that in mind, here are some of the things you can do.

Color Psychology

Color plays an important role in how we feel, so it makes sense that the colors you choose for your interior design and home decor will make you feel one way or another. That’s why it’s so important to think very carefully about which colors you want to use in your home and in various rooms because this could be the difference between feeling good and feeling down.

The color blue, for example, is calming and soothing, so it can be a fantastic option for a bedroom or home office. Orange, brown, and cream are warm colors that can make you feel comfortable and safe, so they’re great in a living room or kitchen. Red, on the other hand, is all about energy and sometimes anger, which is why it’s not often a popular design choice and definitely shouldn’t be in your bedroom if you want a good night’s sleep. You can choose any color you like, but it’s wise to research the psychology behind them before you commit and paint your home – you might be doing more harm than good, and the color you pick might make you feel negative instead of positive.

Good Lighting

There is definitely a place for a darker room, especially if you want to create a cozy haven. A darker living room or bedroom can be great, but a dark kitchen or bathroom isn’t so helpful. And even in rooms that you’ve specifically chosen to be darker, having the option to enjoy some brighter lighting won’t go amiss.

That’s why thinking about your lightning is definitely something you need to do, and getting it right could be what makes you feel happy in your home. One thing you’ll want to do is optimize as much natural light as possible, so have blinds or curtains that open up fully and let the light in. When it comes to the lighting itself, you can install ambient lighting and task lighting, so no matter what you use a room for, you’ll be able to set the lighting how you want it. Adjustable lighting is also a good idea, and dimmer switches (or smart bulbs that are controlled through voice or an app) can work wonders. Remember, electricity can be tricky and even dangerous, so if you’re not sure how to install these switches and lighting fixtures, hiring a qualified electrician is a good idea.

Natural Elements

Natural elements can do a lot when it comes to your home decor and how good it makes you feel, and even better, this is an easy (and fun) thing to do that will leave your home looking as great as you feel being in it.

Let’s start with the obvious: indoor plants. When you think of natural things, this is probably what springs to mind, and having some plants in your home is no bad thing – in fact, it can be very positive. Not only do they look great and have a calming effect on the mind, helping you relax more (and when you’re less stressed, you’ll feel happier), but they also help to purify the air, so as well as your home looking great, it will be a healthy place to be as well.

Indoor plants aren’t the only thing you can add to your home to include natural elements. One idea would be to open up your space so that the indoor and outdoor parts of your home come together – think of a conservatory or wide bi-fold doors that give you a seamless route from yard to house and back again. Plus, you can incorporate natural elements in your furniture and decor by using wood, bamboo, and stone rather than anything else.

Comfortable Furniture

Here’s a question for you: are you going to feel happier sitting in a comfortable dining chair or an uncomfortable one? Are you going to feel more positive on a comfortable sofa or an uncomfortable one? Unless you’re very unusual, you’re going to say you’ll feel better in a comfortable seat, sofa, bed, and so on – so, of course, if you want to improve your mood and feel good in your own home, your furniture needs to be comfortable.

When you’re selecting the furniture to have in your home, make sure you try it out in the store whenever possible. You need to know that you’re going to enjoy using that furniture, and even if it happens to look great and fits perfectly with your aesthetic, if you try it and find it’s not going to be comfortable and you won’t want to actually use it, don’t buy it. If you do, it will be a waste of money, and it will make you feel bad because you can’t even use it properly. It’s far better to have comfortable furniture that doesn’t quite go with your home decor than the other way around. Of course, with so many places to look and so many options to choose from, it’s actually quite likely that you will be able to find something that’s both comfortable and beautiful, so take your time when it comes to your search and don’t settle for anything less than exactly what will make you happy.