Interior Design For Empaths

A room mindfully designed to support individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout overlooks an ocean view from a beachside penthouse featuring wall sculpture of bird wings made from paper, sleeper sofa and brown chair

Empaths often experience a heightened sensitivity to the feelings and emotions of others, a unique trait that forges deep connections with the surrounding community. Stanford University psychologist Jamil Zaki, PhD, describes empathy as the "psychological 'superglue' that connects people and undergirds cooperation and kindness."(1) However, it's important to remember that we must also care for ourselves. "The very capabilities that make someone an empath also make it more difficult when they need to protect themselves from emotional overload."(2) By creating quiet, restful, healing spaces at home, empaths can take time to decompress and circumvent compassion fatigue or burnout. This sense of control over our surroundings enables us to establish healthy boundaries while maintaining connections with the outside world. These restorative spaces are not just a luxury but a necessity for our emotional well-being, contributing to a balanced, joyful life.

A room mindfully designed to support individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout contains a purple chaise lounge in front of sheer white curtains with a potted ficus tree

According to Dr Ryan Sultan, principal investigator at the Sultan Lab for Mental Health Informatics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, "While it may feel difficult to be more sensitive than others... It's all about learning to set boundaries, practice self-care and use your empathy in ways that are healthy and empowering for you."(3) Many empaths may seek to create a mindful, restorative environment at home. As we are all unique individuals, it is essential that we feel comfortable sharing our needs honestly in a safe, inclusive environment. An awareness and sensitivity to the unique needs of empaths can be incorporated into the design process to create a joyful and enjoyable experience. Active listening considers another person's feelings as we listen, creating a space for open and honest communication. Slow design allows us to take time to thoroughly evaluate the custom design options that best serve us in our homes. 3D renderings, for instance, offer a tangible way to get the feeling of a space, a crucial consideration when designing for empaths. A design team can also act as the main point of contact within a project, communicating sensitivities and coordinating services with other teams and crews working on the project, creating boundaries that simplify and streamline the design process.

An airy white living room mindfully designed to support individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout features a white glowing light resembling a cloud, potted plants and an art collection

Neuroaesthetics studies how sensory experiences impact our minds and bodies as an "emerging discipline within cognitive neuroscience, concerned with understanding the biological bases of aesthetic experiences."(4) What we see, smell, touch, and hear can emotionally affect us, and our sensory experience of a space plays a significant role in our emotional wellness. For empaths, who often have highly tuned senses, creating a peaceful and mindful home involves considering the impact of color, light, sound, and touch. These elements can all contribute to creating a tranquil, healing home environment.

A home office mindfully designed to support individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout features custom wood built in shelves and cabinets, a desk made from a raw slab of wood and a roman shade featuring hummingbird stripe wallpaper

Window treatments and soundproofing can help create auditory boundaries. Sudden loud noises can also be buffered throughout our home by installing soft-closing cabinets and drawers, rugs, and carpeting, contributing to a quiet and tranquil environment.

A library in a tudor revival estate designed to support individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout features a baroqie carved wood desk, stone mantle fireplace, dark wood panelling

Light levels can be easily adjusted and regulated to suit our needs by having a variety of lighting sources throughout our home, such as overhead lamps, adjustable dimmers, and window treatments. If we like, we can even adjust the lighting to mimic the shifts in daylight that occur naturally throughout the day, which can affect our circadian rhythms and overall well-being. 

A bedroom designed for a child with autism features custom built bunk beds with curtains for privacy, built in desk and shelving and blue and white triangle wallpaper

For empaths seeking restorative sanctuary, it could be beneficial to incorporate small, intimate spaces within the home. These spaces can provide a sense of comfort, security, and respite. Custom cabinetry and furniture can create a variety of personalized spaces throughout the home, incorporating ergonomic design to create cozy, intimate spaces personalized to support our bodies. The ability to adjust lighting also enables the creation of darker, snug spaces to rest and recharge within the home. Furnishings and cushions made from textiles with soft textures or a custom weighted blanket all contribute to creating a space dedicated to comfort and relaxation. Decluttering our home with custom storage options can also create a sense of order and calmness.

A relaxing bathroom mindfully designed for individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout features floral wallpaper from Kale Tree, a white bathtub and wood flooring

Biophilic design incorporates color, pattern, texture, imagery, and materials from the natural world so that we may experience the mindful benefits of being in nature within our homes. It is an excellent option for empaths who wish to experience the beauty of the surrounding environment while seeking some time at home to recharge. Neutral, earthy colors can contribute to a calm atmosphere, and materials that celebrate the beauty of nature, such as wood flooring and finishes, can have a grounding quality. Unique stone countertops like marble and onyx connect with the natural world and exude a beautiful luxury. Wallpaper and fabric design inspired by the natural world and plenty of plants in the home can create a lush and tranquil green space. Using non-toxic wall and floor treatments that are low in VOCs throughout our home can also positively affect scent and air quality.

A primary bedroom in a tudor revival estate mindfully designed for individuals experiencing stress, anxiety and burnout features a king bed with wooden bedframe and an assortment of decorative cushions

Homes designed to support emotional sensitivities give empaths a space to rest and recharge within healing environments, helping prevent emotional fatigue and burnout. These homes create a supportive space that empowers us to live mindfully and maintain balance. They become a catalyst for us to live our best lives by taking control of our emotional well-being.

Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

Bibliography

  1. “Cultivating Empathy.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, 01 Nov. 2021, www.apa.org/monitor/2021/11/feature-cultivating-empathy.
  2. “What Is an Empath? Plus 5 Signs You Could Be One.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023, www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-an-empath/.
  3. “What Is an Empath? Plus 5 Signs You Could Be One.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023, www.forbes.com/health/mind/what-is-an-empath/.
  4. “Neuroaesthetics.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Anjan Chatterjee et al. 23 Apr. 2014, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661314000758.

References

  1. “What Is the Relationship between Stress and Empathy?” Greater Good, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_is_the_relationship_between_stress_and_empathy. 13 Aug 2013.
  2. “Individual Differences in Preference for Architectural Interiors.” Journal of Environmental Psychology, Academic Press, Oshin Vartanian a, et al. 6 Aug. 2021, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494421001213?via%3Dihub.

Designer Sarah Barnard on Why Empathy Is Central to Her Work

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Article by Gwendolyn Purdom, originally featured Houzz.

Growing up with historic preservationist parents, Sarah Barnard got her introduction to architecture and home design at a young age.

“I grew up in historic homes, and my father was restoring furniture and light fixtures and stair railings and you name it,” the Los Angeles interior designer says. “Certainly, as things progressed in life, I think his talents became mine.”

The experience also shaped the way Barnard now approaches her work as the principal designer at Sarah Barnard Design — a firm built on sustainable, wellness-focused and otherwise mindful practices. (Barnard is a WELL accredited professional, a Building Biology practitioner and a LEED accredited professional.)

“Reducing, reusing, recycling — these types of things were not novel concepts,” Barnard says. “Being sensible and responsible in our choices and in our material specifications is something that’s always been a part of my life and definitely influences the way that I work.”

Barnard, who has been using Houzz to share project photos and to connect with fellow professionals on Pro-to-Pro discussion boards almost since the platform launched, has been seeing more and more clients, parents particularly, looking at their homes through a more thoughtful, holistic lens. Beyond being environmentally conscious, Barnard’s home design projects revolve around creating spaces that are personalized to support mental and physical health and happiness.

“If we all could be so lucky to exist in a space that is uniquely ours,” Barnard says. “There really is no happier environment than a space that is specially made for you.”

PHOTO BY: CHAS METIVIER

PHOTO BY: CHAS METIVIER

Q. You specialize in wellness design, sustainable design, and other mindful design practices. Why did you choose to make those specialties central to your work?

A. Empathy is really the foundation of our studio’s practice. Being able to meet our clients where they are and create environments that support them in living their best lives is really the heart of what we do.

My two primary credentials are LEED AP [accredited professional] and Well AP. LEED focuses more on environmental responsibility. WELL is focused more on human health. Those two things, along with historic preservation, really are the key focuses of my practice.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

That said, the personalization piece is really where it’s at in terms of being able to adapt to a broad range of situations. Sometimes that is a client who is seeking a vegan or perhaps a sustainable and vegan environment.

Other times it might be something that’s more of a specific family need, like a child with developmental differences or a person who has 13 cats. Any personalized need that could be better accommodated through home design is something that we’re keen to help with.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. How do you work around challenges those specialties may present?
A. There are always limitations, and one thing we learn as design students and we practice throughout life is that limitations really drive design. With a big, broad, open scope the outcome could be anything, but the more limitations the project has to endure, the more specific the outcome.

An example of that is that we have a client who utilizes a prosthetic leg, and of course, this is something that is integral to her day-to-day function but not something that she would like to draw attention to. In the process of designing her home, it was disclosed at some point that she didn’t want certain types of textiles that would make it difficult for her to get up or get down. Something that might be more slippery, for example.

So, something that we may not have been aware of at the start of the project — once we’re armed with the information of what specific textures are going to be safest for her, then we can proceed accordingly in recommending those well-matched solutions.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. Where do you find inspiration?
A. On a personal level, I’m definitely very much connected to the natural world. For me, that means spending time in my garden, doing a heck of a lot of birdwatching, really being tuned in to the small daily differences — like what the birds are doing, what the plants are doing, what the caterpillars are doing.

Being in touch with what’s going on in the natural world is a really important way for me to stay grounded in my professional life. Those textures, colors, patterns, things that I experience in the outdoors definitely drive the solutions that I create indoors.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL ARTWORK: KEVIN MOORE

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL ARTWORK: KEVIN MOORE

Q. What has been your most memorable client request? You worked with someone with 13 cats?
A. Yes. We made a special screened porch for the cats so that they could enter and exit the house safely without being eaten by a coyote or disturbing the neighborhood bird population. They were able to bask in the sun and live their happy lives safely and in a way that made the homeowner pleased.

I think perhaps the most fun request we’ve had in the last few years was that a young couple in the entertainment industry wanted an adult sleepover room. It was a very large space that would essentially have multi-functions for hosting parties, but the sofas would be modular and movable so that they could be reconfigured as king-sized beds. And if the party got late and movie-watching turned to sleep, 10 or more couples could camp in this room.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. Is there one particular project that changed your business in some way?

A. In my late 20s, I had the opportunity to design the West Coast offices for National Geographic Entertainment. And that certainly was an important project for us, because it was not only aesthetically in our dream wheelhouse, but it also was a client that more than ever before really was in alignment with our values and the things that we think are important. That definitely was a fantastic experience.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. What advice would you offer to pros who want to make their practice more sustainable or mindful?

A. The most critical skill in mindful design is listening — creating a space in which the client feels comfortable to share, and then really listening and asking follow-up questions, many of them, prior to offering any solutions. Probably the most common rookie designer mistake I see is, designers, want to view a space and immediately make recommendations. And in doing that they would have missed the most critical element of the space, which is the user.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. What particular challenges is the interior design industry facing?
A. Interior designers have always had a singular challenge, which we will probably face for decades to come, and that is that many homeowners don’t actually understand what we do. Because of this sort of lack of education in the homeowner, they may misunderstand our services to be shopping. They may misunderstand our services to be a number of things that are not actually what interior design practice is fundamentally about. And because of this misinformation, I think designers may struggle to communicate their value to a person who perhaps hasn’t worked with a designer before or isn’t familiar with all the benefits a professional can bring to a project.

Because I have been in the game most of my adult life, I am fortunate to be approached regularly by clients who are knowledgeable, who do value what my team has to offer. I think in the rare occurrence where we’ve worked with a client who struggles to understand the process, we just remain patient and explain to whatever length necessary so that they can understand what is happening and why.

A great example of that would be, I had a client once and he said he didn’t need measuring; he just needed furniture. That’s an example of someone who just doesn’t understand the steps of the process. Being patient with him and explaining to him why measuring is critical to the process allowed him to remain in support of the work that we were doing and understand what we were delivering and why.

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

PHOTO BY: STEVEN DEWALL

Q. What advice would you offer other pros on making their own design specialties stand out?
A. It’s like the advice that our moms all gave us as children, but it’s critical to be yourself — thinking about what’s really important to you and what are the things that you really, really are passionate about and being more a part of those things.

For example, for me, it’s nature and birds and that’s my truth. It’s easy for me to talk about nature and birds because that is my real life. It’s much more difficult to try to follow the trends of others and latch on to boho-chic or whatever is the latest thing. Because if the latest thing is not your thing, it’s never going to be authentic anyway.

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Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that connect deeply to nature and art. Empathy and mindfulness are the foundation of her practice creating healing, supportive environments that enhance life.