How to use sensory design to create expressive home décor?

The foundation of designing any home is the five senses- sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. In the sensory design look, each design element in the house has a strong influence of one or more of these five senses which finally transforms the entire home décor look that is chic and comfortable. In this guide, we will focus on what sensory designs are and its importance when doing home décor. 

 
What is sensory design?
The sensory design form of décor is a composition of the seamless exchange of senses to create an impressive home experience. This adds a new dimension to the entire home décor look, which otherwise may be plain vanilla. How wonderful will it be if a design that is rich visually also includes things like how it smells, sounds or tastes? The sensory design approach reinstates the fact that when the five senses work together, the outcome is something beautiful. 
This central idea behind conceiving this type of design is the way in which we want to interact with the backdrops in the home. Using this type we can craft different moods in a home décor that will help establish profound connections between the home and the people living in it. 
 
Sensory design: Positive impact in your home space
A well-thought sensory design approach will have a positive impact on people behaviour. 

It creates awareness and improves user experience
It accentuates the emotional bond that helps in healthy living
It enhances social interactions

 
Sensory design: How to use the five senses in your decor?
Mentioned below are the impact of the five senses that form the basis of the sensory design. 

Visual designs play a critical role in design and sensory design, because finally any décor stems down to how the entire space looks. Use of the various colour palettes, lighting, spatial composition etc. will evoke different emotions. A naturally illuminated space that reflects light is believed to bring in positivity and high energy levels in the space. Similarly, choice of colours in the wall, ceiling and tiles on the floor will help in creating the spatial design. 

To create a comfortable functional space, it is important that the acoustic criteria in a space is taken into consideration. You may not want your flooring to make noise every time someone walks or would want the cabinets in the modular kitchen to close without a screeching sound. By using sensory design, you can opt for soft flooring that removes the harsh noise but cleverly incorporates sounds that add to the look of the house.  

Smell

A house with a good smell makes the space more inviting.  This 100% complements the look that is achieved by the look and sound. In these times when the focus is on the air quality index (AQI) levels more than ever, it is important to address this aspect by investing in air purifiers, especially in places where the air quality is above permissible levels. 

Taste

While the contribution of taste is not much as compared to the other senses, this is a game changer. It uplifts the entire look and sets as a package when theme based food is served. For instance, serving a tub of popcorn, nachos with cheese sauce and some iced tea sets the mood for the TV room. 

This is yet another important sense that plays a vital part in the décor. The use of materials with various designs, textures etc. play a crucial role. While a soft floor may create a cozy warm look, you can opt for a hard floor in case you are wanting a cool look in your house. 
 
How to incorporate sensory design in your homes?
Before incorporating sensory design in your homes, you need to know some details. Mentioned are steps to follow to go about incorporating this design. 

Interaction of the various senses

Know how the various senses interact with each other to provide the best possible design. Also, understand how these are perceived by the people. 

Do a thorough research on the people whose house is going to be done. By knowing their preferences, it’s easier to incorporate elements. 

To ensure that sensory design is comfortable, ensure that you are including everyone- people who are over sensitive and less sensitive. This is important so that all the people living in the same house may be able to adjust to the décor in their own way. 

It’s a good idea to design the spaces in a flexible and functional way so that you can change the space as per your requirement from time to time. Additionally, by doing this, you will always end up achieving newer looks to your house. 
 
How to incorporate sensory design at home?
Mentioned are some of the ideas that you can take inspiration from to implement sensory design as part of your home décor. 
Colours and lighting 
Use of various colours and proper lighting play up the sight sensory design well. Use colour psychology to achieve the desired look in functional spaces – for instance

Use muted colours for calmness, bold colours for energy etc.
Bright, dynamic colour scheme to promote creativity, energy and vitality.

Source: Pinterest eesupplies/839569555565360460/

It is recommended to use layered lighting for maximum functionality 

Source: Pinterest lightscouk0375/444167582018980325
Soft flooring
To reduce noise level, soft flooring is recommended. This will reduce external noises and help keep your home environment sober. In case you stay in a multi-storey apartment, a soft flooring will also not cause any disturbance to the people staying in the apartment below you. Additionally, acoustic walls help in reducing external noise. You can choose beautiful looking functional acoustic wall plates that blend with your home décor. 

Source: Pinterest Foyr_Neo/678143656450470698
Rhythm of music
Music promotes relaxation and helps set the ambiance of the room. Incorporation of sound system and music instruments as part of the home décor will add to the visual and the sound context. 

Source: Pinterest ZenSpaces1/19773685856463334
Combination of hard and soft flooring for tactile interest
Mix the various textures in home décor for visual and tactile interest. While doing up your house, you can opt for a combination of tough furniture and soft upholstery. 

Source: Pinterest flooranddecor/344736546497376152
Similarly, you can opt for smooth texture by using plants and go for the rough texture by using natural materials such as jute as part of the entire home design look.

Source: Pinterest nymphsworkshop/426223552252053282
Clean air
Clean indoor air promotes better respiratory health and overall quality of living. Using a combination of indoor plants and air purifier provides superior results.  Use of air purifiers also help

Source: Pinterest swiftwellness/637259416057013180
Aroma therapy
Keeping home fragrant helps eliminate unpleasant odours from daily household chores like cooking and cleaning.  Scented candles, incense and essential oil diffusers can be used to keep the space smelling fresh. 

Source: Pinterest gracekin45678/1006202741746199892
Chocolates and more 
You can implement a sense of taste for a holistic sensory experience. This can be done by placing a box of dry fruits or chocolates in your living room. 

Source: Pinterest louislillyDesign/890727632591774170
 
Housing.com POV
For a home décor to be super hit and well- accepted, you should ensure that all senses used in the design are engaged in the best possible way. Incorporating a balanced sensory design will help raise the overall décor experience in your home. Remember that your house is your comfort space where you would want to unwind.

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com

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