Latest news with #HomeTherapy
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Guava Is Summer's Juiciest Color Trend—Here's How a Designer Brings It Home
Guava, a soft pink-orange hue, is gaining popularity for its emotional warmth and versatility. Interior designer Anita Yokota highlights the color's sensory appeal: creating comforting spaces that still pop. Guava pairs easily with neutrals and natural textures to create vibrant yet balanced home over Barbie pink and butter yellow—this season's it shade is softer, fruitier, and unexpectedly grounding. Meet guava, a sun-kissed pink-orange hue that's taking over summer design. Whether featured on upholstery, art, or paint palettes, guava is more of a feeling than a fleeting trend. And according to Anita Yokota, interior designer and licensed therapist, that emotional connection is exactly why guava is resonating right now. 'Design right now is all about feeling something—color, texture, and memory,' Yokota tells BHG. 'We're moving away from sterile minimalism. Guava tones bring in the sensory joy of summer: They remind us of tropical vacations, sweet nostalgia, or that calming serotonin boost you feel sipping a smoothie on a warm day.'Anita Yokota is a therapist-turned-designer, author of Home Therapy, and host of a podcast of the same 7 Summer Decorating Trends Designers Say Are Everywhere Right Now Guava hits a unique sweet spot: soft yet vibrant, grounded yet playful. Think of it as golden hour in color form. 'It evokes warmth, optimism, and a sense of ease,' Yokota says. 'From a neuroscience lens, colors in the warm pink-orange family can stimulate the limbic system, which governs emotion and memory. That's why guava can make a space feel both invigorating and emotionally safe, a powerful combo for rooms where connection happens.' It's no wonder Yokota, who pioneered the 'Home Therapy' design approach blending interiors and mental health, is so excited about this shade. She says guava and similar shades reflect a bigger movement in design, one that's moving away from picture-perfect spaces and toward ones that create a sensory, emotional experience. Today, people care less about how flawless a home looks and more about how comforting and meaningful it feels. The beauty of guava is its surprising range. 'Guava is more versatile than people think—it acts like a neutral because it's not overly saturated,' Yokota says. 'It plays well with almost any color.' Here are her top styling tips: Start small. 'Textiles are the easiest place to begin—throws, pillows, or rugs in this shade bring an instant pop of color,' she suggests. 'If you're not ready for a full-color moment, try a guava-hued seat cushion or a small upholstered piece to experiment with the tone.' Try a focal furniture piece. 'A guava bench or accent chair adds dimension without overwhelming a room,' Yokota says. She especially loves using the shade in dining nooks, suggesting to mix it with neutrals like cream, tan, or stone for a fresh look. Lean into layered color. Art is another go-to for infusing guava in a way that feels elevated and dynamic. 'Look for pieces that pick up on guava tones—it draws the eye, adds color, and can shift the whole energy of a space,' she says. Want to bring the look home? Yokota recommends starting with natural textures that balance guava's warmth, like linen pillow covers, handwoven throws, and ceramics. 'These items strike the perfect balance between earthy and vibrant, which keeps guava grounded rather than sugary,' she explains. For paint, she suggests: Wing It by Clare Paint Red Earth by Farrow & Ball Both shades offer a buildable, muted take on guava that works beautifully on accent walls or cabinetry. Related: 2025 Paint Color Forecast: Out with the Bold and In with Muted Earth Tones 'Color is more than aesthetic—it's a neurobiological experience,' Yokota says. 'Warm tones like guava can increase feelings of safety and joy by gently stimulating dopamine pathways.' She often uses the hue in communal spaces, such as kitchens, breakfast nooks, or reading corners, to encourage connection. Yokota says guava promotes energy, play, and emotional openness—the very things that make a house feel like a home. So if you're craving a refresh that feels both joyful and grounding, guava could be your perfect summer match. 'This color helps us feel something. And that's exactly what design should do,' says Yokota. Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens
Hindustan Times
25-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Easy ways to declutter your space
Let's face it. Most of us have that drawer. You know, the one stuffed with expired products, mystery cables, and enough rubber bands to start a small business. Clutter sneaks in like a ninja and before you know it, your home is less of that pinterest-perfect inspo and more like 'where did I keep that thing'? Decluttering isn't just about making room on your shelves; it's about making space in your mind too. And as many of us think, it's not just about tossing things out; it's about letting go of what no longer serves you. This side-to-side approach breaks the room into bite-sized zones, making the task more manageable and less overwhelming. For example the latest entry in this list is of the 'poop-rule'. As disgusting as the name may sound, it actually might not be a bad idea. The "poop rule," popularized by content creator Amanda Johnson, is a quirky decluttering method: if an item were to be covered in poop, would you still keep it? Johnson used it to clear out unused clothes, incomplete games, and rarely-used decor. In simplest form, this rule helps one get rid of the things that don't really hold value to their life. It can be a 10-year-old water-bottle, or even a one-day old mug. But hold on. This isn't the only rule that assists in decluttering. Therapist-turned-designer Anita Yokota's 'ski slope method' from her book Home Therapy makes decluttering less of an uphill battle. Imagine your messy room as a ski slope. Don't charge straight down; instead, zigzag from corner to corner. This side-to-side approach breaks the room into bite-sized zones, making the task more manageable and less overwhelming. On the other hand, the 'Swedish death cleaning' may sound grim, but it's really just smart decluttering. Introduced by Margareta Magnusson in her book- The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, the method encourages clearing out non-essentials to ease the burden on loved ones after you're gone. But it's not just for the elderly. Anyone drowning in drawer chaos can benefit from this. To begin with start with basements, ditch duplicates, save the sentimental stuff for last, and take your time. Now, once our decluttering mission is complete, the 'one-in, one-out' rule can be the trick to maintain the spaces as clutter-free. It's simple. For every new item one brings in, they let go of a similar one. Bought a new coat? Give away an old one. It's to strike a balance. In this way, it's not just clutter-free but the volume of the space remains constant. This method isn't just about maintenance—it's a mindset shift. The rule helps prevent mindless shopping by making you evaluate each purchase. Over time, it keeps your space in check, your wardrobe curated, and your wallet gets to smile a little. (Story by Rajlekha Roy Burman)
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- USA Today
Dopamine décor favors emotions over aesthetics: Happy home, happy life
Dopamine décor favors emotions over aesthetics: Happy home, happy life When you're happy, your whole body knows it. Your heart races. Your face flushes. Your breath quickens. The butterflies in your stomach flutter. And then there's your brain. When you're happy, its neural nooks and crannies flood with 'happiness hormones' like dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. By eliciting feelings of joy, accomplishment, pleasure, satisfaction and self-esteem, they reinforce healthy habits that help you survive and thrive. Sunlight, exercise, music, memories and pets are just a few of the many things that can stimulate happiness at the neurochemical level, research suggests. But happiness doesn't flow only from your activities. It's also an important byproduct of your surroundings. 'When you're looking at things in your environment, your retina is actively sending messages to your brain that directly impact how you feel,' explains Anita Yokota, a licensed family and marriage therapist, interior designer and author of Home Therapy: Interior Design for Increasing Happiness, Boosting Confidence and Creating Calm. 'So, it's really important to be intentional about what we bring into our homes.' Indeed, a 2019 study by the Happiness Research Institute found that 73 percent of people who are happy with their homes also are happier in general. So powerful is the home-happiness connection that it went viral on social media in 2023: The hashtag #dopaminedecor had more than 173 million views on TikTok as of late January. 'Instead of triggers — things that increase our blood pressure and the stress hormone cortisol — dopamine décor is all about finding what I call glimmers: things that bring us joy,' Yokota says. Although neither homes nor happiness are one-size-fits-all, a few universal design principles can help anyone create a space that makes them smile. Show your true colors Color can instantly change how rooms — and people — feel, says Chelsea Foy, founder and editor of the lifestyle blog Lovely Indeed and author of The Happy Home: The Ultimate Guide to Creating a Home That Brings You Joy. Her personal favorite, yellow, makes her feel energized and uplifted. 'There's a small bank of cabinets in my laundry room that I painted a mustardy yellow, and every time I pass by, it makes me smile,' she says. Although warm hues tend to be stimulating and cool shades soothing, there's no 'bad' color. It's a matter of personal preference, notes Foy, who says even small pops of color can make a big impact. Consider creating an accent wall with paint or wallpaper; peppering rooms with bold pillows, lamps and accessories; or making flamboyant focal points out of rugs, artwork or furnishings. 'It could be a fantastic pink couch you found at a thrift store, or a painting that dominates a wall,' Foy says. 'Beige can be beautiful, but we need things that make our spaces feel vibrant.' Don't be a square Shapes also can be impactful, says industrial designer Ingrid Fetell Lee, author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness. 'Research shows that when we look at angular objects, the amygdala — the part of our brain that's associated with fear and anxiety — lights up. When we look at round shapes, that part of our brain stays silent,' explains Lee, who suggests round instead of square tables, mirrors and picture frames. 'If you notice the way you move in a space with sharp angles, you tend to be a little more cautious. You don't want to bang your shin on the coffee table, whereas in a space with lots of rounded shapes you feel very at ease.' Sacred symmetry works In 2016, scientists at the University of Chicago conducted an experiment in which they showed students pictures of either orderly or disorderly environments, then gave them a math test. The students who saw messy rooms were more likely to cheat, according to researchers, who cited asymmetry as a hallmark of disorderly spaces. 'There's something destabilizing about asymmetrical environments that influences the way we behave,' suggests Lee, who says you can bring more symmetry to spaces by decorating in pairs — two nightstands flanking a bed or two plants flanking a large piece of artwork — or by choosing wallpapers and fabrics with repeating patterns. Clutter disrupts joy A common cause of asymmetry is clutter. 'Clutter increases the stress hormone cortisol. … When we see clutter, it actually increases our blood pressure,' explains Yokota, who recommends using baskets, bins and trays to organize clutter in closets, drawers and pantries, and on surfaces like counters and desktops. 'I'm a huge proponent of using vertical space, so I also love hooks. … I put 3M hooks on the beautiful porcelain waterfall countertop in my kitchen because that's where my kids' backpacks land, and if I had to see a backpack on the floor there, it would drive me crazy.' It's as important to remove emotional clutter as it is physical clutter, says interior designer Rebecca West, CEO of Seriously Happy Homes and author of Happy Starts at Home: Change Your Space, Transform Your Life. She recalls a recently divorced client, for example, who got rid of a bookcase that reminded her of her marriage. 'As soon as she put it on the curb, it was like 100 pounds had been lifted from her shoulders,' West says. Embrace the element of surprise Creating small moments of whimsy and surprise gives you little sparks of joy whenever you see them, says interior designer Betsy Wentz, author of Design Happy: Colorful Homes for the Modern Family. Instead of art, for example, Wentz likes to frame and hang colorful scarves or cool bedsheets. And for fun accessories, she applies tinted lacquer to mirrors, light fixtures and knickknacks. 'You can lacquer anything,' says Wentz, who recalls a grandfather clock she once transformed for a client. 'It had belonged to her husband's great-grandfather. We lacquered it and put in fabric panels behind where the pendulum swings. Now it's a really fun, unexpected piece. It looks like an antique, but it's a bright citron yellow.' Wallpaper also can achieve a similar effect. You can put it on ceilings, in drawers, in alcoves or even in closets. For example, Lee cites a client who put butterfly wallpaper in the entryway closet where her kids store their coats and shoes. 'Now, whenever they leave the house, her kids say, 'To the butterflies!'' says Lee, who once painted big yellow cabana stripes in a closet of her own. 'I would forget about them, and then I'd open the closet and get a big burst of sunshine.' Create community Close relationships and social connections are the biggest determinants of happiness, according to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, one of the world's longest-running studies of adult life. To nurture them in your home, design spaces in ways that maximize social attachment. 'Instead of making your furniture face one way to the TV in the living room, consider having more of a circular furniture flow,' Yokota suggests. 'For me, swivel chairs give a big dopamine hit. Nowadays we have these open concepts where the kitchen and family rooms are connected. I love using swivel chairs in those spaces so you can easily interact with people on either side of you.' Wax nostalgic Scientists have found that nostalgic experiences activate not only the areas of the brain associated with memory, but also those associated with pleasure. That's why Foy likes decorating with personal mementos instead of meaningless bric-a-brac — sentimental souvenirs from treasured travels, for example, or framed artwork from her kids. 'I like looking into my space and seeing things that bring back good memories,' she says. 'Filling your home with physical representations of a life well lived … brings warmth to a space and allows you to see yourself in it.'
