10 simple ways to create a happy home environment, according to an interior designer

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Our homes quickly become an extension of who we are, and everything from how they’re decorated to what we do inside them can affect our mood, productivity and even our outlook on life.

But with each year delivering an exciting array of interior design trends – think hygge, lagom and Japanese feng-shui Kanso – it can be hard to know what you should be doing to create a happy home.

Luckily, Melbourne-based interior designer Georgia Ezra has broken it down into 10 simple but effective steps.

As the old adage goes, “Tidy Home, Tidy Mind” and Ezra insists that the first step to a happier living environment is getting organised.

Speaking to Femail, she says that making your bed and cleaning your kitchen sink each morning is imperative as this will set you up for the rest of the day and instantly raise your mood.

Similarly, ridding your fridge door of magnets, takeaway menus and calendars will help contribute to a less cluttered home as will having a big clear-out.

Simply gather items you haven’t used for a while, store them in a box, and if you don’t miss them after a year, donate to charity.

If a full-on clear-out isn’t an option though, Ezra suggests adopting the “rule of five”.

Here, all you need to do is select five things to put away at a time or set aside five minutes every hour to tidy up and by the end of the day you’ll have a neat home.

Décor is just as important too and Ezra says there are a number of things you can integrate into your home to reduce stress and lift spirits.

She says that plants and flowers will improve concentration while natural sunlight helps boost serotonin and candles will make you feel calmer and more collected.

Finally, what you do in your home can seriously impact how happy you are in it and because of this Ezra suggests spending as much time as you can with family and friends.

Instead of watching television in the evening, she says you should make the most of family time by cooking dinner together, listening to music and talking.

While inviting friends over to enjoy experiences in your home will encourage you to take more pride in how it looks and feels.