During the recent lockdowns, monotonous days spent staring at the four walls in our homes became the norm and surprisingly, little has been noted about the enormous impact having art on these walls can actually have on our wellbeing.
Walking into a room, we are often unaware of the detail our minds process on an instinctive or more primitive level. Subconsciously spotting a print or poster can instantly lift our mood and our reaction to the space.
Art therapy is renowned in the realm of psychology for reducing stress and improving mood but if getting creative is not for you, studies have shown that simply hanging a piece of art that you love can give you the same dopamine hit.
A series of brain-mapping experiments conducted in 2011 by Semir Zeki, a neurobiologist at the University College London, found that looking at art we love can “trigger a surge of the feel-good chemical, dopamine, into the orbito-frontal cortex of the brain, resulting in feelings of intense pleasure” notes The Telegraph. The study concluded that observing art has the ability to replicate the sensation of falling in love.
So if you're interested in a quick fix for serotonin from the comfort of your home, take into consideration the points below:
Choose the right location
We're often more receptive in the mornings so to really improve your chances of an early dopamine hit, hang the art you love in your bedroom.
And think about the spaces in your home that promote calmness and restoration, compliment these areas with art that instil a sense of peace.
Consider the colour palette
Our brains respond to colour, controlled by the hypothalamus where hormones are secreted and impulses such as hunger, body temperature and sleep patterns are controlled.
As a result, in the light of the morning, which is usually blue/green in colour, cortisol is released to stimulate the brain. Whereas, the blue light of dusk and going into the evening releases melatonin to make us drowsy.
Refresh your walls
As humans, we thrive in spaces that are refreshed so don't get too comfortable with how your gallery wall looks. Mix it up by replacing and relocating.
The most important aspect to get right for that happy hormone hit has to be, choose art that you love, art that evokes a memory or a feeling.
Take a look at our collection here to see if there's a piece(s) that speak to you.
