How To Decorate Your Home If You're An Introvert
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"You're such an introvert" is a statement you've likely heard if you're someone who prefers to stay home instead of going out and socializing. According to Classics in the History of Psychology, Carl Jung introduced the concept of human beings falling into the introverted or extroverted category based on research he published in 1921. He described introversion as a psychological trait involving shyness, a quiet disposition, and impenetrability. Extroverts lean toward being social, more open, and enjoying the company of others.
As the years went by, more research led to a detailed breakdown of introversion. It's no surprise that in 2011, three professors from Wellesley College uncovered four different domains of introversion, showcasing that not all introverts are the same. The four categories of introverts consist of Social Introverts who prioritize solitude. Then there are the Thinking Introverts. These individuals tend to live in their thoughts. There are Anxious Introverts who are most likely to prioritize solitude. When they don't have solitude, they get anxious. Finally, Inhibited Introverts tend to have their guard up fiercely. Over time, they can enjoy social situations in doses (via ResearchGate). Whether there is a drop of introversion in you or you're the president of the introvert club, there are plenty of ways you can decorate your home to suit your needs. Here are some tips and tricks to style your home like an introvert.
Place plants in your home
Plants are officially the new pets! When CraftJack conducted a survey, this was more or less the findings. Many young Americans revealed that being a plant parent is one of the best things you can be. If you are an introvert whose energy gets drained around company, having plants will offer the best sort of companionship for your personality, less energy drainage, and more functional benefits. Depending on the species you introduce into your home, your wellness could improve thanks to the plants purifying the air and offering aesthetic value to brighten your mood. If you don't quite have a green thumb, there are easy houseplants anyone can keep alive. Find species like English ivy, aloe vera, and monstera.
Decorating with live plants is so great for introverts. If you have space for a garden, this is your sign to take your decor up a notch by investing in a full-fledged gardening hobby. To kickstart the process, gather your gardening tools and carve out a nature-oriented niche with spaces where you can retreat and relax when you want to recharge your introvert batteries (via The Guardian). If you do not have the space for an outdoor garden, maybe because you live in an apartment or a region with little greenery, don't fret. Feel free to create a mini-nursery indoors.
Invest in a great entertainment space
Social and anxious introverts are the two types who will prioritize staying at home. They get charged up from alone time in their havens. These individuals typically don't spend money on restaurants, cinema trips, and other events. They can invest that money into designing a great entertainment space at home. If you wish to decorate your home like an introvert, invest in a large flat screen television with quality speakers and a sturdy console. You also want to be well equipped with all your favorite streaming apps. A Smart TV with pre-installed apps such as Netflix and Hulu is an ideal option.
According to Tom's Guide, one of the best TV's an introvert can invest in is the LG G2 OLED due to the crisp quality of the pictures, high-quality sound, and all the AI features. Its design is minimalist but bold so consider mounting the electronic gadget on a neutral-colored console to make the TV a focal point in your home. This flat screen television and other similar version are readily available to purchase at places like Amazon.
Entertainment also covers indoor games such as darts. Hang a board on the wall, place a Play Station on your console, or even add a vending game machine. If you have an extra room in your home, convert it into a den. You can house all your games in that space. If you have a couple of guests visit, you can enjoy a wholesome social experience without disturbances.
Place throw blankets everywhere
If you are an introvert who enjoys spending time at home, ensure every spot in your home is cozy. According to Introvert, Dear, the bedroom is the most important space to create a peaceful sanctuary. When decorating your home to suit your personality, place plush throws with soft textures like velvet on your bed and other spots in your living quarters. If you are a thinking introvert, you most probably prioritize moments for musing. Add a fluffy throw to your bed or a reading nook to take moments of solitude to a luxurious level.
Throw blankets are small details that may not cost as much as other home accessories and furniture, so feel free to go all out and buy more than one to place in different rooms. There are various factors to consider when picking the perfect throw blanket for your home. The most important thing is to ensure that it matches the style of your home (via Shop Dignify). If you have a farmhouse or an eclectic decor style, feel free to pair your throw with the room's color palette or furniture so that the throw complements the room. If your home boasts an IKEA vibe, you should not go in the matchy direction. Invest in throws that create a focal point in the room. Consider a super soft throw such as this plush one from Walmart that over 400 users love. It's available in vibrant hues like teal, icy grey, and chocolate brown.
Paint your walls with soothing colors
The four walls of a room are features that introverts often see since they hardly feel the need to go out. If you are decorating your home like an introvert, be intentional about your wall color and make it appeal to your senses. To keep the ambiance of your home cool, calm, and collected, paint your walls with colors like brown, pale pastel green, or a muted blue.
Misty Yeomans, senior color marketing manager at paint company PPG Industries, told Realtor, "These shades have hints of color which provide the homeowner with a place to retreat from the overstimulation of everyday life." A soft blue hue "promotes happiness and is representative of the hygge trend." Wall painting is a fun DIY activity that will make you feel extra accomplished as you enjoy the result. However, if painting your home is not something you wish to do, feel free to opt for wallpaper. There are innovative ways to use wallpaper in any room. A peel-and-stick option is easy to remove if you want less commitment than painting. Ensure that the wallpaper boasts a peaceful color palette.
Display statement details
Introverts tend to shy away from social situations because they may not like being the center of attention. If you want to make your home environment comfortable for an introvert, consider displaying statement details within your home so these pieces can take the attention and do the talking for you. When you showcase large accessories such as huge vases or sculptures in your home, it will start conversations with visitors and help you feel small and safe in comparison. According to The Guardian, introverts yearn for this feeling.
You can place your large vases in different corners of a room so that every area has an attention-grabbing statement. Another decorative feature worth considering is a statement sculpture or even an extra large amethyst geode with healing powers from eBay. Another detail that will create a focal point in your home for your introverted aesthetic is a state-of-the-art fireplace. Such a feature would keep the focus off you, increase your home's value, boost the ambiance and keep you warm on cold nights. Multiple wins indeed!
Design a chic gallery wall
Much like the companionship you get from plants, art also offers a form of company that introverts enjoy, particularly art arranged on a gallery wall. Who needs to head to a museum or an art exhibition when you have a gallery wall in your home that you can sit in front of and ponder? Thinking introverts would know all about this activity.
If you've come this far in the process of decorating your home like an introvert, constructing a gallery wall may end up being the most fun detail. According to The Poster Club, designing a DIY version in your abode is attainable. All you need to do is measure the space where you want to hang the artwork and pick the specific paintings, drawings, or posters that spark interest when grouped. The beauty is that if you are an introvert, you can attend online art auctions from the comfort of your home and have the art shipped to you, thereby limiting social interaction. If you have a creative streak, you can paint your artwork and place it on the wall. Feel free to get creative with the pieces and choose a theme like the ocean to keep things feeling cohesive.
Ensure you frame the artwork and that the final placement aligns with the measurements of the wall. When you've chosen the perfect pieces, hang them at eye level. A gallery wall should be within comfortable visual reach for consumption. If your DIY wall comes together nicely, take things one step further and add one to other rooms to make your home feel like a museum or art gallery.
Place privacy at the top of your priority list
If you are an introvert living in a highly populated area, you may want to invest in extra measures to ensure your home feels private and secure. A handy tool to decorate with to achieve this privacy is a set of curtains. According to Introvert, Dear, layered curtains that keep out prying eyes and light from outdoors is something introverts love to have in their home. They soothe the senses and make introverts feel at home.
Consider hanging cool-colored curtains that scream comfort and calmness in different rooms of your home to ensure privacy. When hanging curtains in your bedroom, match your curtain panels to your duvet and watch how your room turns into a comfortable cocoon. Depending on the style of your home, you can choose between using curtains or other window treatments such as Venetian blinds, shutters, or thick drapes. Opt for sheer or semi-sheer curtains if you want more natural light to filter into your space. Another way to ensure absolute privacy no matter which room you're in is to add mobile dividers to break up the spaces within a home. These dividers from Amazon can help transform an open floor plan and make it appear cozier.
Scatter around a few carpets
If you want to decorate your home like an introvert, give your floors some love. According to Tapi Carpets & Floors, when you see a carpet in a room or walk on one, it feels cozy and helps tie a space together. In addition, rugs are perfect for introverts who love to live in their bubble. They boast the ability to absorb sound and keep it contained in the room while simultaneously blocking out outside noises. For example, they can soften the sound of footsteps by 25 to 34 decibels. Plus, they feel comfortable for the feet.
While purchasing your desired living room rug, don't forget the carpet underlay. This feature ensures premium soundproofing. Carpets, on their own, do a great job of reducing impact and sound. However, once a carpet underlay is in the mix, your carpet will become ten times more effective.
Before placing your carpet in your house, measure the floor space where it will go and consider your home's aesthetic. You don't want the carpet to stick out like a sore thumb. There are various styles of carpets for your home, including Saxony carpets, woven carpets, and loop pile carpets. Out of all the different styles, wool carpets are one of the best types to invest in as they can absorb sound most effectively (via Home Carpet One). Asides from wool carpets, cut pile carpets also do a great job at noise absorption.
Discover the power of candles
Introverts shy away from the spotlight at any given opportunity. These folks often avoid harsh or bright lighting in their homes since it can overstimulate the senses. Soft and dim light features that create a calm, peaceful mood are ideal for introverts. When decorating your home like an introvert, your lighting cannot be shouty and loud. Instead, opt for ambient lights and mood lighting like candles to make your living space as cozy as possible. The Whisky River Candle from Amazon is the perfect candle for introverts. It provides calming lighting in a transparent container, and once you have used the whole candle, you can transform the recyclable container into a tabletop storage vessel. While the candle is unscented, it provides an unrivaled ambiance once it's lit.
If you prefer scented candles, there are additional benefits you can enjoy. Clinical integrative psychotherapist Chryssa Chalkia told Travel + Leisure, "The soothing effect that candles have is based on how the brain processes smells. The smell of scented candles stimulates our limbic system, the part of the brain that is home to our memory and emotions. Hormones like serotonin and dopamine can be produced to help regulate mood. Therefore, our emotional state is influenced by the relationship that exists between scents, memories, and emotions." Different scents can play with people's moods. Depending on the aroma you choose, it can ultimately uplift your spirit. Lavender, cedar, and rosemary help soothe anxiety, while lemon and orange boost mood. Scented candles can also purify the air. In some cases, candles can aid wellness practices such as meditation and daily prayers.
Transform your space with ottomans
As an introvert, few things can drag you out of your home, especially if it's a haven of comfort. If you choose to have social interactions and break out of your solitude, you are most likely not entertaining large crowds, so there is probably no need for extra chairs. However, if you are open to having a few friends over for some social interactions, ottomans can act as additional chairs.
You can achieve a wholesome design when you invest in a set of two, such as this one from Overstock. When you are alone, use an ottoman to kick your feet up and relax while watching TV. You can use the other as a center or side table for your laptop. In addition, ottomans have stooled platforms for holding trays of food and drinks or essentials like TV remotes. You can turn your space into a dining area in no time. Alternatively, you can decorate an ottoman with fresh flowers, metallic ornaments, and small objects like crystals. Ottomans can also provide storage for the books and magazines that introverts tend to read during their alone time.
Remember, there are not many rules when choosing ottomans for your home. According to Maiden Home, your ottoman should be about ⅔ the size of your sofa. Position the ottoman between 14 and 18 inches from the sofa to keep it close enough to rest your legs. Find ones that match the existing color palette and your home's aesthetic, or decorate with ottomans that provide a fun pop of contrast with texture and wild patterns. This style offers a unique aesthetic while contrasting nicely with your current furniture. The choice is yours!