How To Decorate Your Home To Support Your Wellbeing

October 9th, 2026

The colours, paint and decorating choices you make can have a big impact on how your home feels. This World Mental Health Day, we’re giving you some tips on ways colour, lighting and other decorating choices can support your wellbeing.

A lounge with a blue panelled wall, grey sofa and a coffee table

Image from Farrow & Ball.

Interior Colour Schemes

Colour is one of the most powerful decorating tools you can use to change the feel of an interior. The paint colours, shades and combinations you choose can influence how a room looks and feels, helping you create an atmosphere that's calm and restful, warm and welcoming, or bright and energising.

Explore 6 questions to ask yourself before choosing a paint colour.

Blue – Calm And Restful

Soft blues are often associated with:

· Calmness

· Tranquillity

· Freshness

However, the paint shade you choose can make a big difference. A pale, powder blue can create a light and airy feel, while a deep navy can feel richer, cosier and more dramatic.

Where To Use Blue

Blue can work particularly well in:

· Bedrooms

· Bathrooms

· Reading spaces and other areas intended to feel restful.

For decorating ideas, explore Albany’s blue colour palettes.

Paint colour is Albany Seaford.

Green – Natural, Balanced And Restorative

Green has strong associations with nature, making it an easy way to bring an outdoors-inspired feeling into your home.

Sage, olive and earthy greens can create a softer, more understated look, while deeper greens can add richness and depth.

Where To Use Green

Green works well in living rooms, bedrooms and home offices in places where you have plenty of natural light.

For decorating ideas, explore Albany’s green palettes.

Yellow – Cheerful, Optimistic And Energising

Yellow is commonly associated with:

Sunshine

Optimism

Energy

Warmth

The intensity of the shade is important. A soft buttery yellow can feel warm and welcoming, while a bright, highly saturated yellow can create a much more energetic atmosphere.

Where To Use Yellow

Yellow is best in kitchens, dining rooms, hallways and darker spaces that benefit from warmth.

For decorating ideas, explore Albany’s yellow palettes.

See our recommendations on how to choose a colour scheme.

Test Your Colour

Found a colour you love? Before committing to painting the whole room, test it in the space.

Brewers colour cards and testers make it easier to see how a shade works alongside your existing furniture, flooring and lighting. Look at the colour at different times of day before making your final decision.

See our range of paint samples and tester pots.

A kitchen painted in blue and white with yellow cabinets.

Don’t Underestimate The Impact Of Natural Lighting

Natural light can dramatically change the way a paint colour looks throughout the day. Before committing to a new colour scheme, consider how much natural light your room receives and whether it faces north, south, east or west.

North-Facing Rooms

These tend to receive cooler, more indirect light. Warmer whites, creams and earthy tones can help prevent the room from feeling too cold.

South-Facing Rooms

These generally receive more direct sunlight, making them a good environment for both warm and cool colours.

East- and West-Facing Rooms

The quality of light can change significantly throughout the day, so testing your chosen colour at different times can be particularly useful.

Find out more about the best colours to use depending on which way your room is facing.

Find out more about how light affects paint colour.

Install Blackout Blinds Or Dimout Curtains

A good way to bring a sense of peace when decorating a bedroom is to install blackout blinds or dimout curtains. Blackout blinds can help reduce the amount of light entering a room, while also providing greater privacy. Depending on the style and material, they offer additional benefits such as reducing external noise and improving insulation.

If you don't want to block out all natural light, dimout curtains provide a softer alternative, reducing incoming light while still allowing some daylight into the room.

Brewers' Made to Measure service offers blinds and curtains made to the exact measurements of your windows, helping you achieve a neat finish while choosing the style, colour and fabric that works best for your space.

Walls painted in Levingston Green by Benjamin Moore.

Create A Spa-Like Bathroom

Your bathroom can become more than a purely functional space. With a few decorating changes, you can create a more relaxing, spa-inspired atmosphere.

Try:

Soft, Natural Colours

Pale greens, muted blues, warm whites and earthy neutrals can create a calm backdrop.

Layered Lighting

Combine bright task lighting with softer lighting for when you want to relax.

Natural Materials

Wood-effect finishes, stone-inspired colours and natural textures can reinforce the connection with nature.

Make Your Home Feel Personal

Creating a home that supports your wellbeing doesn't have to mean a complete makeover. Small changes to colour, lighting and the way you use a space can help you create an environment that feels more comfortable and personal.

This World Mental Health Day, take a moment to think about how your home makes you feel – and whether a simple decorating change could make it somewhere you enjoy spending time.