Sensory DELIGHT

How to create spaces that appeal to all the senses

- Melanie Farrell

When we think about interior design, we tend to focus on what we see and risk neglecting the other four senses. Engaging the senses of hearing, touch, smell and taste in your home environment can enhance your wellbeing. For a five-dimensional experience, factor in the five senses when designing indoor and outdoor spaces.

SOFT TOUCH 

Karin Cawthorne, owner of KARE Johannesburg, says designing for all the senses includes touch-friendly elements, like pillows, rugs, couches and throws, in textures such as bouclé, wool and velvet.

"I also like to use calming colours on walls in living and sleeping spaces, and soft lighting calms our senses and enhances our mood," she says.

Cawthorne suggests having a "living wall" inside the house to "sustain a healthy environment while purifying the air and lowering the ambient temperature".

"Sensory design keeps our senses engaged while simultaneously balancing them. In our overstimulated lives, balancing and calming our senses regulates our nervous system and soothes anxiety," Cawthorne explains.