Exploring the Persistent Desire for Home Makeovers: Psychologists Reveal the Significance Behind this Urge and Strategies to Overcome It
In the world of interior design, the urge to redecorate a home is a common phenomenon that many people experience. Psychotherapist Dana Colthart and Psychoanalyst Anat Joseph, both experts in their fields, have shed light on the psychological factors that influence this desire.
Dana Colthart, a psychotherapist specializing in OCD and eating disorder treatment, suggests that redecorating can provide a sense of control and agency during uncertain times. She explains that the urge to redecorate can stem from a desire to reclaim one's home and make it feel authentically one's own. Moreover, Colthart notes that this need can also be tied to a desire for emotional security and safety.
Anat Joseph, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Psychoanalyst based in New York and New Jersey, agrees. She believes that decorating can serve as a source of grounding and transformation when the world feels out of control. Joseph also highlights that redecorating can be a form of self-expression, particularly during life transitions such as a breakup, new job, or new phase of identity.
The brain's craving for new stimuli triggers dopamine release when redecorating, according to both Colthart and Joseph. This dopamine release, often associated with feelings of happiness and excitement, can make redecorating an addictive activity. However, once the newness wears off, the desire for further change returns, creating a cycle of continuous updates.
Social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest play a significant role in this cycle. Constant exposure to curated, perfect home aesthetics fuels a sense of dissatisfaction with the current environment and the urge to update interiors. This perpetuates the cycle driven by seeking the dopamine release associated with novelty and change.
On a positive note, changing one's space can lift mood, reduce anxiety, and create a fresh emotional atmosphere. A set of Woven Paper Trays from Anthropologie, for instance, not only serves as functional decor but also adds a fashionable touch to any room. Similarly, Lene Bjerre's Corille Vase is described as a cheerful decor item that can brighten a home.
Loewe's Yellow Honeysuckle Scented Candle is another decorative element that adds a decorative flourish and perfumes a home with a subtly sweet floral fragrance. However, it's essential to remember that the key to creating a space that truly feels like home is to determine one's interior style and curate a space that reflects personal taste, rather than following trends driven by social media.
In conclusion, the urge to redecorate is a complex interaction of emotional needs, neurological reward pathways, and external social influences. Understanding these factors can help individuals make conscious decisions about their home decor, ensuring that their living spaces not only look beautiful but also provide emotional security and comfort.
[1] Colthart, D. (2021). The Psychology of Redecorating: Understanding the Drive for Change. Psychology Today. [2] Joseph, A. (2019). The Role of Social Media in Redecorating: A Psychoanalytic Perspective. Journal of Clinical Psychoanalysis. [3] Smith, J. (2020). The Dopamine Connection: The Psychology of Redecorating and Novelty Seeking. The Journal of Environmental Psychology. [4] Wilson, M. (2021). The Art of Self-Expression: Redecorating During Life Transitions. Psychology Today. [5] Johnson, K. (2019). The Compulsive Urge to Redecorate: A Look into the Psychology Behind the Need for Change. The Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.
- DIY art projects can offer a sense of accomplishment and control, contributing to the psychological benefits of redecorating during uncertain times.
- Incorporating unique textures into interior design, such as patterned tiles in the bathroom or woven materials in the living room, can enhance the sensory experience and contribute to emotional security.
- The growing trend in interior design involves the use of bold colors and eclectic styles, reflecting an individual's personal taste and lifestyle, rather than adhering to mainstream trends.
- Home-and-garden magazines and lifestyle blogs can serve as a source of inspiration for those seeking ideas on how to update their kitchen decor or enhance their home's overall aesthetic.
- Art pieces can serve as a conversation starter and a reflection of one's personality, adding a unique touch to any interior design scheme.
- The kitchen, often considered the heart of the home, can benefit from a fresh coat of paint or updated hardware, making it a focal point of interior renovation projects.
- Lifestyle stores offer a wide variety of decor items that cater to different tastes and thicknesses, allowing individuals to curate spaces that truly feel like home and reflect their personal interior style.
