11 Happy Homeware and Interiors Bits To Spike Your Serotonin
From soft furnishings in sunshine yellow to novelty smiley door knobs, make your space smile
words Heather Gwyther
No matter how much you meditate, or how many houseplants you have, there is no wellness without the neurotransmitter serotonin - its effects on the brain take a leading role in keeping us happy. You can boost your serotonin levels by adjusting your diet (bananas, walnuts and spinach are all full of the stuff), exercising, going outside and even getting a massage. So here’s a theory: happiness can be heightened by homeware.
As silly as that may sound, colour psychology confirms the power of colour to influence your moods, improve your psychological abilities and boost you to action. And there’s one colour in particular as the go-to happy pill: yellow. The fact that smiley faces tend to be yellow is no accident - the colour has been shown to actually increase serotonin levels. Similarly, orange combines those qualities with the reinvigorating properties of red to improve your mood and stimulate your mental abilities (which may well help you work from home better).
Another thing that can help make your home a happier place is light. Lumie (a brand member of the Society for Light Treatment and Biological Rhythms) makes products from clocks to lamps that use light to make mornings merrier and moods brighter. This is especially useful in the winter months when natural light is infrequent, and for people who suffer with circadian rhythm disorders (we’re sure you’ve heard of SAD - seasonal affective disorder).
Don’t get it twisted - happy homeware doesn’t necessarily have to be brightly coloured and - in the eyes of staunch minimalists or Scandi chic home lovers at least - somewhat barmy to give you a boost. There’s nothing wrong with the loud and proud variety of happy homeware, of course, and if you get your joy from a slogan bath mat or a rainbow blanket then cool! To avoid purchasing a whole flat’s worth of trend-led homeware rather than what you genuinely love, stay true to your style and needs. Our homes should be breeding grounds for contentment, not coolness; however that looks to you.
Book of Smiles
Urban Outfitters - The Sm;)e Book
A book full of the iconic ideogram to make you - you guessed it - smile. DJ DB Burkeman and Rich Browd curate a joyous celebration of the history of the Smiley Face in popular culture, film, art and music. A universal symbol of joyful defiance and unity, artists featured include BANKSY, Jeremy Deller, Wolfgang Tillmans, Norman Cook and more. Ravers of the world, a coffee table treat for your most vibey afterparties.
Dinner Candles for Long Nights in
House of Lady Muck - 'Let's Twist Again' Dinner Candles
To some of us, happiness in the house is a good dinner partner, a hearty meal and a lit candle. This set of candles from the London nail studio’s lifestyle brand have 4.5 hours burn time for an intimate, long, luscious night in.
Sunrise Alarm
Lumie - Sunrise Alarm
An alarm that makes waking up in the dead of winter rather nice? Enter the lovely Lumie. You’ll wake up naturally with the gradual 30-minute sunrise light, and drift off with the fading 30-minute sunset setting. Alarm beeps are optional, and come in five different sounds, so you won’t incorporate the noise into your dreams and sleep through. The mood light can be adjusted to green, blue, pink, red and orange depending on your colour flow.
Yellow Velvet Comfort Cushion
Not On The High Street - Sun Parasol Cushion
Here’s to translating the sun into soft furnishings. What they lack in heat, they make up for in stability! This ethically made cushion, made of soft cotton yellow velvet fabric with white corded surround trim, will have you dreaming of the poolside.
Bath Mat of Happiness
Next - Circle Bath Mat
Well, if you like to keep things literal, this is undoubtedly the bath mat you need to be stepping on each morning - particularly if you ever come to blows with a broken boiler. You can feel good about it too, as the 100% cotton material is Better Cotton Initiative BCI certified.
Rainbow Throw
Adorawool - 100% Wool Rainbow Throw
Who doesn’t feel happy upon the first sight of a rainbow? Bring that feeling into your home (and in fact, wrap yourself in it) with this wool blanket. It’s heavy duty on the cosiness, with 100% wool and at 1KG of dense knit - get it out in the garden for some summer BBQ lounging.
Feel-Good Candle
Never Go Alone - Candle Edition 01: Sandstone
A warm, invitingly earthy scent of sandalwood and cedar, juniper and coriander for snuggling up. The aromatherapy-like choices are all smells meant to ease stress too. The candle, handcrafted and poured in France, has a fragrance that celebrates the contrast and balance of nature, with warm and cool notes to help the transition from dark winters into colourful, warm springs and summers. The gradient coloured candle holder means it can sit pride and place anywhere in your room.
