Feeling = Being: Why Emotional Design is More Than a Feeling
The Interior State: Designing for the Human Experience
The traditional discourse surrounding the home often prioritizes tangible assets, focusing on square footage, stylistic labels, and market value. However, for those who see their residence as a sanctuary, the true measure of a space lies in its invisible luxury: the profound impact it has on the occupant's internal state. Modern design is evolving beyond the purely aesthetic to embrace a more vital truth: our environments are the primary authors of our daily experience.
This perspective is rooted in the idea that feeling equals being. It suggests that a home is not just a physical structure but a specialized environment for cognitive recovery and emotional sovereignty. When we acknowledge that our surroundings dictate our internal reality, the role of interior design shifts from decoration to essential stewardship over the human condition.
The Biological Reality: Interiority as Objective Data
The concept that feelings are subjective or secondary to physical reality is increasingly challenged by neurobiological research. Studies suggest that the human brain may conceive of feelings as objective reality, processing emotional states with the same physiological weight as color, shape, or size (Cornell University). If an individual feels depleted by a chaotic or poorly lit room, their body is experiencing a literal, physical state of depletion.
This biological connection is explained by the interaction between feelings, thoughts, and behavior, often described as a cascading effect where each element influences the other (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles). For the high-achieving individual, the home must serve as a proactive tool to manage the constant internal labor of emotional regulation. By designing interiors that mitigate stress and reduce cortisol levels, we are not just creating a pleasant atmosphere but actively reducing the biological tax on an individual's health and longevity.
The Psychology of Space: How Interiors Map the Mind
The relationship between a person and their environment is deeply encoded in our neural pathways. Research indicates that specialized cells in the hippocampus are sensitive to the geometry and spatial arrangement of our surroundings (University of Waterloo). This means that the layout of a room is never neutral, as it is constantly being mapped by the brain to determine levels of ease or agitation.
Historically, this understanding was applied to monumental structures to evoke specific communal responses. Sacred buildings and cathedrals were designed to facilitate the lifting of the eyes, a physical action that encourages regions of the brain to become more absorbent of the environment (CNN Style). While these historic examples focused on public awe, the modern bespoke interior applies similar intentionality to private life, creating spaces that evoke states of exploration, contemplation, and profound safety.
The Restorative Toolkit: Engineering Serenity
To facilitate a supportive state of being, designers use a sophisticated toolkit rooted in wellness and biophilia. Biophilic design is not just about adding plants to a room but involves implementing specific patterns shown to reduce stress and enhance cognitive performance (Browning et al.). Patterns such as refuge, which provides a sense of enclosure and security, or mystery, which encourages gentle engagement, are essential for creating a restorative atmosphere.
Furthermore, wellness oriented design incorporates elements like curated natural light, color psychology, and sensory variability to support mental health (Marymount University). Even the geometry of furniture and fixtures plays a role, as research shows the neurological benefits of curving shapes over sharp angles (Sina et al.). These microrestorative interventions, whether an artfully placed aquarium or a quiet garden view, offer essential breaks from directed attention and help prevent the fatigue and burnout common in modern life.
The Sarah Barnard Design Philosophy: Bespoke Emotional Sovereignty
The most critical aspect of designing for the interior state is recognizing individual perception. The interaction between sensory inputs and emotional response is highly personalized, as each person’s mind uses past experiences to inform how they perceive their current environment (Nautilus). Because there is no universal solution for well-being, true luxury must be bespoke.
The Sarah Barnard Design approach focuses on co-creating an environment that honors the client’s specific inner state. By naming the feelings we wish to cultivate, we can arrange our lives and homes to maximize time spent in positive energies. Ultimately, a well-designed interior serves as a sanctuary for the soul, providing the diversion and strength needed to navigate the world with grace. When our environment supports our feelings, it sustains our very being.
Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments 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. A certified California Naturalist, Sarah believes in celebrating nature through responsible design that works symbiotically with the local 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 recognized as a "Ones to Watch" Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and has been awarded "Best of Houzz Design" for seven consecutive years. Sarah's MFA in visual arts from Claremont Graduate University informs her practice and innovative approach toward interior design as creating a living work of art.
Works Cited
Browning, William D., Catherine O. Ryan, and Joseph O. Clancy. 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Well-Being in the Built Environment. Terrapin Bright Green, 2014.
CNN Style. "How Architecture Affects Your Brain." CNN, 2024.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Los Angeles. "The CBT Model of Emotions." CBT-LA, 2024.
Cornell University. "Objective Feelings: New Research Suggests Our Brain Tells Us Feelings Are Reality." Cornell Human Ecology, 2024.
Marymount University. "Designing for Well-Being: The Role of Interior Architecture in Mental Health." Marymount Blog, 2024.
Nautilus. "How Emotions Connect Your Body and Brain." Nautilus, 2024.
Sina, Amanda, et al. "Impact of Curvature on Aesthetic Choices." National Library of Medicine, 2021.
University of Waterloo. "The Hidden Ways Architecture Affects How You Feel." Department of Psychology, 2024.
Creative Workspaces: Home Office Interior Design Reimagined
As a WELL and LEED-accredited interior designer specializing in spaces that support emotional and physical wellbeing, I have a particular passion for creative workspaces. Creative work can be inherently joyful and healing, and having a dedicated space, whether an entire room, a desk, or even a chair outdoors that is devoted to accessing a creative flow state, can be an excellent way to find support in the home. Even the intentionality of dedicating an area to creativity gives that work weight and importance, automatically making it a greater priority. The more care put into thinking about a creative space, or any space, the more likely it is to become a functional presence in life, which can be a great way to encourage positive and joyful habits.
One of the things I talk about with many of my clients is designing a space that is specific to their needs and preferences, and working with them to feel comfortable eschewing any expectations they may feel obligated to meet about what a room should look or be like. Many of us adapt to the environments we are in, rather than adapting our spaces to meet our needs. Increasingly, people are craving spaces and routines that feel aligned with who we are, rather than trying to match expectations that feel out of step with what actually works for us. When I’m working, I try to take to heart the idea of meeting my own environmental and emotional needs. Not only does it support my best creative work, but it also helps reinforce how important it is for the client to have this same experience, and makes me feel more connected to my goals as a designer.
I’ve come to learn that different parts of the creative and work process may be best supported by different surroundings. When I’m waking up my brain and body, I like to start the day in the garden. Nature is a huge part of my creative work, but it’s also where I find the most joy and feel most connected to the world and to myself. I love the quiet acts of caretaking as I tend to my plants, and seeing them progress and change reflects the seasonality and natural rhythms of the earth. Seeing the plant life and the birds, and collecting pine cones and seed pods, all help me ground and relax in a way that lends itself to creative thinking throughout the day. While I don’t necessarily spend the time in my garden looking for inspiration, it always finds me. Many of the colors, textures, and imagery in my client work and in the products of my home goods studio, Kale Tree, are inspired by time spent in my garden.
After feeling fully immersed in nature and ready to begin my day in the studio, I’ve found that limited sensory input gives me the most mental space and clarity for creative expansion and problem-solving. Soft, natural lighting, silence, minimal to no scents, and no distracting textures all contribute to a profound external quiet that lets my internal world take focus, and that is really when I can enter a creative flow state where I do my best work. Then, I can tap into the imagery and inspiration that guide my designs and connect with my clients' desires without the distraction of a conflicting external space.
Knowing that I need such minimal sensory input has really emphasized the importance of encouraging clients to honor their personal sensory sensibilities. Every person needs a space as individual as they are, and it’s so important to evaluate what works best for them. If there is a moment when someone really feels they are in a flow state and connecting with a positive feeling, creatively, taking a step back afterward to take stock of their environment can be a good way to reflect on what’s most supportive.
So often, expectations around design can override actual habits and preferences. A common anecdote from clients remodeling their homes is that, although they currently have a designated home office, they usually work at the kitchen table. Knowing this becomes a great opportunity to reconsider the idea of a home workspace and embrace personal sensibilities, rather than expectations about what a home office should be or look like. Is it the warmth and comfort of being around family? The openness of the space, or a more expansive view? Maybe it’s not abandoning a home office altogether, but creating a space that adapts more to a work environment that is actually pleasurable. Taking the time to evaluate what is supportive and what makes it easier for someone to access a flow state can lead to perhaps more unconventional spaces, but also more productive ones. Re-examining how we approach these concepts and environments is one of the most exciting parts of my job and one of the best ways to help my clients physically and emotionally.
Sarah Barnard is a WELL and LEED accredited designer and creator of environments 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. A certified California Naturalist, Sarah believes in celebrating nature through responsible design that works symbiotically with the local 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 recognized as a "Ones to Watch" Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and has been awarded "Best of Houzz Design" for seven consecutive years. Sarah's MFA in visual arts from Claremont Graduate University informs her practice and innovative approach toward interior design as creating a living work of art.