5 Ways to Create Sensory Integration at Home

When I first started decorating my house, I’d go scrolling around on Pinterest looking for interior design ideas. But they were only focused on one of the five senses: sight.

In recent years though, I’ve leaned much more into creating a sensory home. And it has made a WORLD of difference in my and my family’s feelings of comfort each day.

how to create sensory integration at home with these decorating tips

Why Sensory Integration at Home Matters

In every room makeover lately that we’ve done for our own home and our friends’ homes, I try to bring in elements to satisfy all of the five senses.

The reactions I see from friends with every room reveal we do for them isn’t just in response to how a room looks.

When someone walks into a room that is designed with sensory in mind, they immediately take a deep breath, their shoulders drop, and their muscles relax. That’s when I know it’s working.

Our homes should envelop us in comfort; it should be like a retreat for our nervous system. We should immediately feel a wave of relief as soon as we walk through the door. (When I was a teacher, I even did some of these decorating tricks to help my students relieve stress in my classroom.)

The best part is it’s relatively easy to create sensory integration at home that’s mindful about relieving your stress every day.

1. Make Your Home Smell Good

I am not a big fan of using fake perfumes in our home. There are so many ways to make your house smell good naturally.

My favorite tip of all is to set up a no waste simmer pot to make our house smell super relaxing.

Use charcoal bags in drawers and closets.
Have some houseplants to cleanse the air.
Diffuse relaxing essential oils like lavender or bergamot (proven to reduce anxiety – check this list to make sure they’re pet safe).
Sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of trash cans.
Open the windows for a few minutes to air out your rooms.
Wash towel and bedding in 1 cup of white vinegar, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and your regular laundry detergent to remove musty smells.

bluetooth record player on console table

2. Stream a Relaxing Playlist

There are all kinds of calming playlists on Spotify. One of my favorites is Vitamin String Quartet Radio. (I love the Calm app too.) Feel free to steal my own Cozy Home Playlist.

(If you have any DIY projects planned in the near future, our DIY Project Tunes Playlist always energizes and motivates us.)

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fluffy bed with down throw pillows and down duvet with linen bedding

3. Lean Into Soft Textures

I’ve mentioned before that I use several tricks to make our beds feel super fluffy.

Using down or down alternative throw pillows in the living room is TOTALLY worth it. (Use pillow inserts one size larger than pillow covers to make them feel extra fluffed.)

Utilize natural, breathable textures where you can instead of synthetic fabrics.

These fabrics are most recommended for people with sensory sensitivity:

Cotton
Bamboo
Flannel
Linen
Fleece
Jersey knit

green swag curtains in a home theater room

4. Keep Color Theory in Mind

You probably already know this even if you haven’t heard of this term already; color theory in interior design taps into psychology by influencing how people feel in a space.

The right color choices can shape moods, making a room feel calm, cozy, or vibrant depending on its purpose.

When you’re choosing a paint color for a room, keep in mind how that color will influence how you feel each day.

Here’s a quick rundown of emotions commonly associated with colors in interior design:

Red: Energy, passion, excitement (can also evoke warmth or aggression).
Orange: Enthusiasm, creativity, sociability, and warmth.
Yellow: Happiness, optimism, and mental clarity (but too much can cause anxiety).
Green: Calm, balance, renewal, and connection to nature.
Blue: Tranquility, peace, and focus (darker shades may feel more formal or somber).
Purple: Luxury, creativity, and mystery (lighter purples like lavender feel soothing).
Pink: Love, gentleness, and nurturing.
Brown: Comfort, stability, and earthiness.
Black: Sophistication, elegance, and power (but can also feel heavy or overwhelming).
White: Cleanliness, simplicity, and purity (can also feel cold if overused).
Gray: Neutrality, calmness, and sophistication (though it can feel dull without accents).

Recommended Paint Colors

Here are some of the most recommended paint colors by interior designers.

3000K light bulbs in lamps and candle with coffee table decor in a living room

5. Be Mindful of Light Bulb Hues

The color of your light bulbs is a key indicator in how you feel in your home.

Warm, dim lighting is often used in romantic, cozy restaurants while blue-ish, bright lighting is used in hospitals and office buildings. That is by design!

See the best light bulbs for every room in your house.

For me, the “sweet spot” is a 3000K light bulb. It’s not too yellow and not too blue. It’s juuuuust right.

In the daytime, open curtains and window shades to let in plenty of natural light too.

home office desk facing window with table lamp

If you want to weave the sense of taste into the equation, it’s hard to argue against a brewing pot of coffee or a batch of cookies baking in the oven, right? That’s the epitome of a cozy home right there.

I can honestly say when I take a few minutes in the evenings to light a candle, stream a cozy playlist, brew a cup of peppermint tea, and curl up with a soft blanket, I immediately feel the stress of my day melt away.

That’s no accident. That’s the magic of a sensory home at work.

It’s so simple. It’s something we probably don’t think about much. But it’s those little details in our homes that make such a big difference in our well being.

Do you decorate in your home with your senses in mind? Highly recommend.