How Interior Design Can Help You Build Better Habits
James Clear's book, Atomic Habits can be applied to interior design
Why Environment Shapes Habits
Creating spaces supporting our lifestyle and habits has never been more important in today's fast-paced world. Whether we realize it or not, our environment—the places where we live, work, and relax—has a profound impact on our behavior. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear emphasizes the power of environment design to build good habits and break bad ones. This idea aligns perfectly with the principles of interior design, where thoughtful choices about how we arrange, furnish, and decorate our spaces can shape our day-to-day lives.
At Denine Jackson Interiors, I believe that interior design goes beyond creating beautiful spaces—it’s about designing environments that make it easier to live the life you want. Whether you’re a busy professional juggling work and family life or someone who wants a home that reflects your achievements, how your home is designed plays a critical role in supporting the habits and routines that help you thrive.
In this blog, we’ll explore the intersection of environment design from Atomic Habits and interior design and how you can create spaces that help you build better habits, reduce stress, and bring more intention into your life.
How Your Space Influences Your Behavior
Our behavior is often a product of our environment. Take a moment to think about the last time you felt overwhelmed by clutter or distracted in your workspace. Or maybe you’ve noticed that certain areas of your home make you feel more relaxed and focused, while others seem to encourage procrastination.
These feelings aren’t random—they’re the result of how our surroundings shape our actions. James Clear explains that small changes in our environment can lead to big changes in behavior. This is because we often respond to the cues around us without even realizing it. For example, a cluttered kitchen might make you reach for takeout instead of cooking a healthy meal, while an organized, well-lit office can help you focus and be more productive.
At Denine Jackson Interiors, I approach every project with this understanding: Interior design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about creating spaces that work for you, making it easier to establish routines, be productive, and enjoy your home to the fullest.
For my ideal client—a busy professional who values both luxury and functionality—designing a home that supports their habits is essential. Whether it’s a peaceful, clutter-free bedroom to promote better sleep or a stylish home office that boosts focus and creativity, the right design can transform how you live.
Applying Atomic Habits’ Environment Design Principles to Interior Design
Let’s dive into how you can apply the key principles from Atomic Habits to your home’s design to foster better habits.
1. Make Good Habits Obvious
In Atomic Habits, Clear talks about how good habits often fail to stick because their cues are too subtle. We need reminders to engage in these habits, and one of the best ways to do that is by making them more visible and accessible.
Interior Design Tip: The design of your space should bring the things you want to use and engage with into clear sight. For example:
Fitness Goals: If you want to exercise more, consider designing a dedicated workout space in your home. The key is visibility, whether it’s a yoga corner with a mat and equipment readily available or a home gym with natural light and inspiring decor. You’re more likely to use your exercise equipment when you can see it.
Work Productivity: An organized and visually appealing workspace can make all the difference for professionals working from home. Place essential items, like your computer or planner, in clear view, and make your desk area inviting with ergonomic furniture and calming design elements that encourage focus.
Reading and Relaxation: If you want to read more, create a cozy reading nook with a comfortable chair, a small table, and soft lighting. Keep your current read within arm’s reach. The more you see it, the more you’ll be inclined to pick it up.
2. Make Bad Habits Invisible
Conversely, making bad habits harder to access can help reduce their occurrence. Clear suggests that removing temptations from your environment is one of the easiest ways to break a bad habit.
Interior Design Tip: Thoughtful storage solutions and strategic placement can help reduce clutter and make it harder to engage in unwanted behaviors.
Snacking Habits: If you’re trying to eat healthier, storing snacks out of sight can help. Design your kitchen with sleek, closed cabinetry or a pantry with opaque doors to hide less healthy options. Instead, place fresh fruit or healthy snacks on a stylish counter bowl or in glass jars that are easy to see.
Limiting Screen Time: To reduce screen time, consider incorporating design elements that hide devices or make them less central in the room. For example, create a designated storage space for remotes and phones in your living room. Use decorative boxes or stylish storage solutions to make screens less accessible and encourage activities like reading or conversation.
3. Context Cues and Habit Stacking
James Clear introduces the idea of habit stacking, where you pair a new habit with an existing one. Your home's design can facilitate this by providing visual cues and creating spaces that make it easier to adopt new behaviors.
Interior Design Tip: Consider how rooms can support multiple habits when designing spaces. For example:
Morning Routines: To develop a better morning routine, design your bathroom or vanity area to encourage it. Place your skincare products, journal, or meditation tools where they’re easily accessible when you wake up.
Healthy Eating Habits: Set up your dining area to make mealtimes more intentional. A beautiful dining table with comfortable chairs and intentional decor can encourage you to sit down for meals rather than eat on the go or at your desk.
4. Proximity and Convenience
Clear explains that the easier something is to do, the more likely you are to do it. By designing your space for convenience, you can reduce the friction between you and your desired habits.
Interior Design Tip: Think about how the layout of your home can support ease of use. Some ideas include:
Kitchen Design for Healthy Living: A well-organized kitchen with easy access to appliances and cooking tools can make preparing healthy meals more convenient. Consider incorporating smart storage solutions like pull-out drawers or tiered shelves so everything is within reach.
Home Office Design for Productivity: A home office with everything you need at arm’s length—like a filing system, printer, and ergonomic seating—can increase productivity by reducing distractions and interruptions.
Entryway Design for Organization: An organized entryway with hooks for keys, a shoe rack, and designated spaces for bags can make leaving and returning home more efficient, reduce stress, and set the tone for your day.
How to Create a Habit-Forming Space in Your Home
Now that we’ve explored how design can support habit formation, let’s look at practical ways to create habit-forming spaces in your home. Here are some specific tips to help you get started:
1. Functional Layouts
The layout of your home should make it easy to engage in the habits you want to cultivate. Whether designing a living room, bedroom, or office, the key is ensuring the space supports the flow of activities you want to perform.
Example: If you want to spend more time reading or relaxing, arrange your furniture to create a comfortable seating area with good lighting. Avoid placing distractions like TVs or phones nearby.
2. Color Psychology
Color has a powerful effect on mood and behavior. Depending on the space and the habits you want to reinforce, certain colors can help promote focus, relaxation, or energy.
Tip: Use calming tones like soft blues and greens in spaces where you want to relax, such as the bedroom or living room. In contrast, use energizing colors like yellows or oranges in areas like the kitchen or home office, where you need to feel motivated and focused.
3. Declutter and Organize
A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, making it harder to focus on your goals and develop new habits. By decluttering and organizing your home, you can create an environment that promotes mental clarity and reduces stress.
Tip: Incorporate stylish storage solutions to keep clutter at bay. Use baskets, cabinets, and shelving to organize items and maintain a clean, open space. Consider multi-functional furniture like ottomans with hidden storage to maximize functionality and style.
Incorporating Wellness into Design: A Holistic Approach
Designing a home that supports your wellness goals is essential to creating a balanced and fulfilling life. A well-designed space can promote physical and mental well-being, helping you establish habits that improve your overall quality of life.
Wellness Corners
Create dedicated areas in your home that support wellness practices, such as meditation, yoga, or mindfulness. These wellness corners can be small and simple, but they should be designed with intention.
Tip: A meditation corner with a comfortable cushion, soft lighting, and natural elements like plants or a small water feature can create a calming atmosphere that encourages daily mindfulness practices.
Lighting and Nature
Natural light and biophilic design (incorporating nature into your space) can significantly impact your mood and productivity. Use natural light to enhance your home’s design and boost energy levels.
Tip: Position workspaces or relaxation areas near windows to take advantage of natural light. Bring the outdoors inside with plants, natural textures, and earthy color schemes to create a serene and inviting environment.
Real-Life Examples: Interior Design for Habit Formation
To bring these principles to life, let’s look at real-world examples of how interior design can support habit formation. These examples showcase how subtle design changes can significantly impact daily routines and overall well-being.
Example 1: Transforming a Home Office for Productivity
A busy attorney juggling work and home life may struggle to maintain focus and productivity in her home office. The space may be cluttered, lack adequate lighting, and not reflect the professional environment she needs to thrive.
She worked with an interior designer to create a more organized and focused environment by redesigning the space with her goals in mind. By incorporating:
A large, clean desk with plenty of surface area for her work materials, eliminating distractions.
Ample storage with closed cabinets and sleek shelving to keep clutter out of sight.
Task lighting that was both functional and stylish to create a well-lit workspace.
The result? She should feel more productive and in control of her workload thanks to a space that is aligned with her professional needs.
Example 2: A Wellness Corner for Mindfulness
A busy mom may want to incorporate mindfulness and self-care practices into her daily routine but struggle to find the time and space in her home. She worked with an interior designer to design a wellness corner in her living room, using calming colors, soft textures, and natural elements like plants.
This small but intentional space included:
A comfortable chair with plush pillows and throws, encouraging relaxation.
Soft lighting through a combination of floor lamps and candles.
A few small storage baskets for keeping mindfulness tools (journals, essential oils, etc.) easily accessible.
By having a dedicated space for her mindfulness practice, she found it easier to prioritize her self-care routine, improving her overall sense of well-being.
The Power of Intentional Design
At Denine Jackson Interiors, I believe that a well-designed home is more than just visually pleasing—it’s a space that works for you, helping you build the habits that will lead to a more fulfilling and balanced life. The intersection of interior design and habit formation is powerful. When you design with intention, you’re creating a beautiful space and setting yourself up for success in every area of your life.
The environments we live in should reflect the life we want to lead. Whether creating a productive home office, designing a wellness space, or simply making your home a place to relax and recharge, thoughtful design can support the habits and routines that will help you thrive.
Ready to design a home that helps you build better habits? Let’s connect. Whether you’re looking for a complete home transformation or want to focus on a specific area of your space, I’m here to help you create a home that looks stunning and supports your lifestyle.
Bonus Tips for Habit-Forming Design in Every Room
Living Room: Arrange your seating to encourage conversation and relaxation rather than defaulting to watching TV.
Bedroom: Create a clutter-free, serene environment with calming colors and soft textures to promote better sleep.
Kitchen: Design your kitchen layout to make healthy meal preparation more convenient, with easy access to tools and ingredients.
How Interior Design Affects Mental Health and Productivity
Research shows that well-designed spaces can reduce stress, increase focus, and improve mental health. Thoughtful interior design choices can create a sense of peace and order, making it easier to focus on your goals.
FAQ: How Can I Start Designing My Space for Habit Formation?
Q: Where do I start if I want to redesign my home for better habits?
A: Begin by assessing your current space. What habits do you want to build or break? What areas of your home support or hinder these habits? Once you clearly understand what needs to change, focus on small design shifts that make good habits easier and bad habits harder.
Q: What if I don’t have a lot of space to work with?
A: You don’t need a large home to design for habit formation. Even small spaces can be optimized with multi-functional furniture, smart storage solutions, and intentional layouts. The key is making the space work for you, regardless of size.
