Therapists reveal 8 things in your living room that could cause stress – and how to deal with them

Bright, white furniture can look really beautiful.

Still, Wise said that creating a “showroom feel” in your living room could stress out visitors by making them feel like everything has to stay clean.

“If the owner has created a showroom atmosphere and is always concerned about cleanliness, it can be stressful for guests who want to make themselves comfortable but are afraid of leaving stains or dirt or marks that will definitely be seen,” says Wise.

Wise said rooms with inadequate lighting can make it difficult to complete certain tasks, while rooms with bright artificial lights that cannot be dimmed can make it difficult to sleep and relax.

“It’s important to consider the function of each room in your home and purchase lighting that serves its purpose,” Wise said. “Adding lamps, wall sconces, dimmers or overhead lights can help redefine a space that promotes stress.”

Ahrens said she uses neutral tones and has plenty of sunlight in her home to maintain calm and focus.

“While research on color psychology is inconsistent, it appears that white and green light helps with depression,” she said.

Ahrens takes advantage of the natural light in her living space and opens “windows and doors for fresh air whenever” the weather permits.

Ahrens said noise is a common stressor and comes in many forms, including television and conversations.

“Not all noise is unpleasant or stressful. It’s about paying more attention to quality and quantity,” says Ahrens.

Loewen suggests turning off the TV when you are not watching it and paying attention to how the TV noise makes you feel, “especially when watching the news.”

If watching television causes stress, Loewen recommends replacing it with calming music.

Ahrens said exposure to visual technology can cause stress, especially when there is a lot of it in one place.

Disorganization and disorder typically cause stress, says Ahrens.

And Wise agrees.

“A dirty room can be a sign of chaos and discomfort for our bodies, which in turn creates stress and tension,” she said.

Televisions, speakers and other electronic devices in living rooms are often covered in loose cables and cords. “This can be visually distracting for some people,” Wise added.

Loewen had previously explained to BI that clutter gives our brains more visual information to process.

“By making space, you also give your mind a break,” he said.

“Old-fashioned decor or shabby furniture can spoil the mood,” says Ahrens.

For example, Ahrens said a dilapidated dining table can cause you to stop eating there often.

“If your living room sofa is old, dirty or out of style, you may not feel as relaxed there,” says Ahrens.

“Over the past year, with many people working from home, it has become very difficult for people to separate work and home life,” Wallins told BI in 2021. “By creating a separate space where you work and relax, you create not only a physical separation between the two, but also a mental separation.”

Wallins added that it can be difficult to separate work and relaxation environments when living in a small space.

“Just changing the chair or table you sit at to work or relax can make a big difference,” she said.

An unfinished living room renovation could add to your stress.

“When we are surrounded by things that don’t feel inviting or calming or that provoke some kind of stress response, we tend to spend a lot less time in that place,” Ahrens said.