10 Things That Cause You Stress at Home Without You Realizing It

Poorly lit rooms can make it difficult to accomplish certain tasks, while rooms with bright artificial lighting make it hard to relax or unwind.

The living room is one of the most used spaces in the home; it’s where we carry out most daily activities, sometimes welcome guests, and where we relax after a long day.

Good design can turn the space into an oasis of comfort and calm, but just as easily, a misplaced item can cause stress and discomfort.

Sometimes, we can't even identify the source of the stress, making it hard to pinpoint. This is why experts and therapists recommend paying attention to certain factors when setting up your living room and choosing its furniture.

Avoid the "Showroom" Feeling

White furniture looks beautiful, but it can make the living room feel like a "showroom." This can create pressure on guests, making them feel that everything needs to stay pristine, so they don’t feel comfortable in fear of disrupting the order or leaving marks on the perfectly white furniture.

Avoid Dim Lighting

Therapists say that poorly lit rooms make it harder to complete tasks, while rooms with harsh artificial lighting make it difficult to relax.

It’s important to consider the function of each room when choosing lighting to ensure it serves its purpose. Side lamps or dimmable lights can help reduce stress and create balanced lighting. Additionally, using neutral light tones with natural sunlight can maintain calm and focus, while avoiding white and green lights, which can evoke feelings of depression.

Background Noise

Noise is one of the most common sources of stress, and it comes in many forms, including TV noise, conversations, and external sounds. Therapists note that not all noise is disturbing, but we should be mindful of the type and amount of noise.

They suggest turning off the TV and noticing how your mood changes, particularly the stress caused by TV noise, especially when watching news programs. If TV noise adds to your stress, replace it with soft, calming music.

Screen Stress

Large flat-screen TVs can create stress, especially if there’s more than one screen in the same space. To create a more relaxing environment, avoid sitting or sleeping facing the TV, even when it’s turned off.

Cable Clutter

Clutter in general causes stress, and one of the main sources of clutter in living rooms is tangled cables from TVs, speakers, and other electronic devices, which can create visual discomfort for some people.

Clutter overloads our minds with visual stimuli that need to be processed and sorted.

By clearing up spaces and reducing clutter, we free up mental space, allowing our minds to rest and breathe.

Worn-Out Furniture

Old or worn-out decor and furniture can bring down our spirits. For example, an old or dirty living room sofa might prevent you from feeling relaxed or comfortable, and dirty or damaged walls may cause visual stress, pulling you out of a peaceful state and into tension.

Working in Your Relaxation Space

By creating a separate workspace from the relaxation space, we not only create a physical separation but also a mental one between work and rest.

Even in small homes, this can be achieved by simply changing the chair or table dedicated to work and avoiding the use of the relaxation couch for work. Therapists say even a small change can make a big difference.

Stirring Up Memories

Family photos and keepsakes can be wonderful, but they also fill up space with memories, leaving you surrounded by ghosts of the past, which can become overwhelming.

In today’s fast-paced, technology-filled world, the last thing we need is extra stimulation. If relaxation is your goal, it might help to reduce the number of memory-filled items around you. Gradually remove these mementos and observe how you feel as the space becomes less crowded and more open.

Breaking the Neutral Color Scheme

Some people prefer neutral or white tones in their walls or furniture, but still find the room uncomfortable or dull. In such cases, adding small, colorful cushions, houseplants, or vibrant artwork can break up the monotony and bring life to the neutral color scheme.

Choosing the Wrong Color

Some of us choose the color of our rooms based purely on personal preferences, but picking paint colors isn’t the same as choosing clothes. The color of a room can transform from a mere hue into a whole mood. It’s recommended to use modern techniques like computer simulations to test colors before committing, while also imagining the mood each color brings to the space.