Happy Place

Good design opens the door to the little pleasures that ensure contentment resides in your home

- Elizabeth Wilson

Making a happy home is a universal aspiration. Personal relationships are pivotal to this, of course, but our homes themselves – the way they feel, smell, sound and interact with the elements – also contribute to that happiness.

Think about the simple things in your home that give you pause. it might be the way sunlight beams through a certain window, the satisfying flow of cross-breezes, or the garden views you take in while eating your muesli in the morning.

These everyday, heart-warming moments of contentment are important to your wellbeing, according to health and design experts. They all help make your home a haven of wellbeing.

Sydney architect Joe snell says five design fundamentals – space, light, airflow, sound and view – play a huge role in the life of a home. “if you walk into a house and its fundamentals are right, you’ll enjoy being in that home, regardless of whether the style is to your taste,” says Joe. “Conversely, a home might be styled to perfection but it won’t feel comfortable if it’s too stuffy, the flow is awkward, the spatial planning is off, or there’s minimal natural light.”

Psychologist and founder of The Happiness institute dr Timothy sharp says there are many roll-on benefits from nurturing the good vibes in our homes. “Happiness feels good – and also increases our chances of success in life, good health, quality relationships and even longevity,” says dr sharp. “We spend a significant proportion of our lives at home, so what happens there – and how we feel there – plays a massive role in how we feel generally.”

To create calm and enhance contentment dr sharp recommends surrounding ourselves with objects and reminders of happy times. “Arrange zones within the home where family members can interact and, therefore, build positive relationships.”