Burnt Out? These 7 Décor Hacks Can Help Support Your Nervous System

Firstly, what is the nervous system and what does it do?

As it’s the topic of millions of – often over-simplifying – social media posts, it begs asking the question: what exactly is the nervous system, and how does it work?

“Our nervous system is essentially the body’s communication network. It connects our brain to the rest of our body, helping us process information, respond to our surroundings and regulate everything from our heart rate and breathing to our emotions and stress responses,” says Rawlinson.

“One of its most important jobs is helping us respond to potential threats. When we perceive something as stressful or dangerous, our nervous system can activate our fight-or-flight response, preparing us to take action. When the threat has passed, other processes help our body settle and recover.”

Arguably the biggest misconception about nervous system regulation is that we are supposed to be calm or relaxed at every waking moment, and that feeling anything other than that is cause for concern.

“Regulation is really about flexibility: being able to respond appropriately to different situations and move between states of activation and rest without becoming overwhelmed or getting stuck in a heightened state of stress,” she says.

“Our environment can play an important role in this. Everything from the lighting and sounds around us to the textures we touch and the familiarity of our surroundings can influence how comfortable, alert or at ease we feel.”

2. Predictability

Our brains are constantly trying to make sense of what’s happening around us, and familiarity and predictability can help reduce uncertainty, Rawlinson explains.

“This is one reason why small daily rituals can feel so comforting. Think about the lamp you switch on every evening, your morning cup of coffee in your favourite mug or the familiar sequence of getting ready for bed,” she continues.

“These repeated experiences can become reassuring cues that help us transition between different parts of the day. Creating a few simple rituals within your home can help make it feel like a place of comfort and familiarity.”

Consider how the ritual fits into your space, and make it visually prominent in spots you frequent, such as keeping your go-to mug on your nightstand or your most-loved towels beautifully draped over the bathtub, awaiting your bathing routine.

4. Add nature cues

There’s a growing body of research that suggests that exposure to natural environments can have positive effects on stress and psychological well-being, some of which also applies when thinking 'inside the house'.

“While bringing a few plants indoors isn’t the same as spending time in nature, incorporating natural elements into our homes can help us feel more connected to the outside world,” Rawlinson tells Bed Threads Journal.

“This might mean adding a pot of herbs to your kitchen windowsill, displaying fresh flowers or introducing natural materials such as wood, stone and woven fibres. Even making the most of natural daylight or creating a view of greenery can make a difference to how a space feels.”

6. Consider how light changes throughout the day

If you, like us, love to read up on all things sleep, you’ll know that light plays an important role in regulating our circadian rhythms, which influence our sleep-wake cycles, energy and alertness.

“Exposure to natural daylight during the day can help support these rhythms, while softer, dimmer lighting in the evening can help signal that it’s time to wind down,” Rawlinson notes.

One simple change is to avoid relying exclusively on bright overhead lighting, particularly in the evenings.

“Instead, try creating different layers of light using table lamps, floor lamps or wall lights,” she says.

“This gives you more control over the atmosphere of a room and allows you to adjust the lighting depending on how you want to feel.”

Remember: Perfection is not the goal

Feeling tempted to redecorate? Like the misguided idea that we should be calm all the time, remember that having a pristine, photo-ready house isn’t the goal when it comes to styling for your nervous system.

“In fact, the pressure to maintain a perfectly tidy, beautifully styled home can become another source of stress in itself. Our homes don’t need to look like something from a magazine to support our wellbeing. They need to work for the people who actually live in them,” Rawlinson adds.

“Sometimes the most comforting things in our homes are the ones that wouldn’t necessarily make it into an interior design shoot: the slightly worn armchair we love curling up in, the family photographs on the fridge or the colourful collection of objects we’ve gathered over the years."

Ultimately, Rawlinson encourages us to think less about what our homes should look like and more about how we want to feel when we’re in it:

“The goal isn’t to create a perfect home. It’s to create a space that helps you feel a little safer, steadier and more at ease.”