The Science of Surroundings: How your walls can rewire your mind.
- Florence Frasier
- Sep 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 5
For years, I thought decorating my home was just about making it look nice. Picking pretty colours, choosing prints that matched the furniture, moving things around until it “felt right.” But the more I learned about mindset and neuroplasticity, the more I realised something powerful, that the way we style our homes isn’t just about how they look, it’s about how they make us think and feel.
Science has a name for this, its neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to rewire itself through repetition and association. And here’s where it gets interesting, what we see every single day becomes part of that rewiring. A phrase on your wall isn’t just a nice sentiment, it’s a message your subconscious learns to recognise, repeat, and eventually believe.
" Your surroundings are speaking to you, the question is, what do you want them to say? "
I started to notice this in my own life. The words and images around me were shaping how I felt, even when I wasn’t paying attention. A calming print in soft hues seemed to shift my energy. A reminder above my desk gave me the nudge I needed on hard days. Even something as simple as a botanical illustration anchored me in growth and renewal. These weren’t just pretty things. They were teaching me quietly, consistently, every time I saw them. I chose them intentionally, and they had meaning for me.
And that’s the thing, your surroundings are never neutral. They’re always speaking to you.
A framed affirmation above your workspace whispers "you are capable, you are enough, you can begin again."
Colours drawn from nature soften your nervous system, reminding your body to breathe.
Small, intentional words in a hallway turn an in-between space into a passage of encouragement.
" Small, beautiful things can shift everything "
When we think of design and wellbeing, we often separate them, but the truth is, they’re deeply connected. Your home can become one of your most powerful tools for transformation.
A bedroom isn’t just a place to sleep, it can become a sanctuary that retrains your mind to associate rest with peace. An office doesn’t have to be just practical, it can be a space where confidence is practised daily. Even the overlooked corners of your home can hold reminders that you’re growing, step by step.
The changes don’t happen overnight. They build slowly, almost invisibly, like sunlight shifting across a room. But over time, those whispers on your walls become beliefs, and those beliefs become the way you live.
So maybe the real question isn’t how do I want my home to look?
It’s how do I want my home to speak to me?
Because your environment is speaking. Every day, in every detail. The colours, the words, the images. And the more intentional you are about what they say, the more they can help you become the person you’re growing into.
So maybe the real question isn’t how do I want my home to look?
It’s how do I want my home to speak to me?
And if you’re not sure where to start, here are a few gentle journal prompts:
Ask yourself what you need more of right now. Do you crave calm? Confidence? Joy? Whatever word comes up for you, let that guide the pieces you choose for your walls.
Notice how colours make you feel. Soft neutrals might remind you to breathe, while earthy greens or botanical prints can reconnect you to growth and resilience.
Choose words you want to live by. A simple affirmation above your desk can become a daily nudge, not just something you read, but something you begin to embody.
Don’t overlook the small spaces. A hallway, a corner, even the area above a light switch, these “in-between” spots can hold the most powerful reminders, because you pass them so often. Where are these places?
Think of it less as decorating and more as curating messages for your future self. Your walls aren’t just holding art, they’re holding intentions, quietly guiding you each day.
This is also why I create the kind of art I do. I know what it’s like to need gentle reminders, and to want your surroundings to lift you up rather than weigh you down. My work is about more than design; it’s about creating pieces that feel beautiful but also quietly powerful in what they whisper back to you each day. So that when you look around your home, you don’t just see decoration, you see encouragement, peace, and possibility.
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