4 min readHome should be a place of comfort and retreat. After a long day, most of us want to step through the front door and feel instantly at ease. In fact, many interior designers are borrowing ideas from luxury hotels as homeowners aim to create personal sanctuaries that evoke the calm of a wellness getaway.
Yet unlike a vacation destination, home is also where daily life happens—work, chores, and endless to-do lists included. As a result, it can easily become a source of stress. What many people don’t realize is that certain design choices and organizational habits may be making their homes feel more overwhelming than necessary. Spaces that are poorly planned or cluttered can work against the sense of relaxation we seek.
To uncover these hidden stress triggers, we turned to home therapy expert Anita Yokota, a licensed marriage and family therapist who now works as an interior designer. Yokota has dedicated her work to exploring the connection between psychology and home design. Her book, Home Therapy, goes beyond beautiful decor inspiration, offering practical, therapy-informed strategies for creating a more peaceful living environment.
We spoke with Yokota about the common household features that can quietly contribute to stress. And that includes one many of us know all too well: cluttered countertops. Ahead, discover five ways people unintentionally make their homes more stressful and the expert-backed solutions that can help restore a sense of calm.
Floor Plans That Are Too Open
Before you go for that open-concept floor plan, remember that some definition will do you some good. "While open concepts are popular, they can feel chaotic if there's no visual separation between spaces," Yokota says. "This lack of structure can make it harder to relax, focus, or even enjoy family time without distractions."
How to Fix: To avoid having a space that feels too jumbled, Yokota says to focus on subtle boundaries. The way you arrange your furniture or place area rugs can create extra definition and flow between different areas of your home. To provide a sense of containment without a wall that closes the room off, opt for decorative screens, shelving, or partial dividers. Beware the pony wall, though. Jeremiah Brent is not a fan.
Clutter Magnets Everywhere
Think of the areas of your home that are most likely to gather a variety of different objects. Bookshelves, entryways, and kitchen counters can easily become piled high with items, and just looking at them can feel overwhelming. "Visual clutter is mental clutter," Yokota warns. "When surfaces are overloaded with books, mail, or miscellaneous items, it creates subconscious stress, making relaxation difficult."
How to Fix: Of course, clearing the items can bring you some ease. But a clear space can fill back up just as easily. Yokota suggests being intentional with what replaces the clutter. You'll be less likely to pile more mail if that counter is home for something else. "I love using an intention tray—a beautiful basket or tray filled with items that encourage pause and presence," Yokota says. "For example, in the kitchen, a tray with fresh fruit, a food journal, and a candle creates a mindful habit rather than mindlessly reaching for kids’ snacks in the pantry. Small shifts like this can subtly rewire our daily stress responses."
Furniture That Doesn’t Fit the Space
Whether it's a tiny couch in a sprawling living room or a bed that stretches wall to wall in the bedroom, furniture that doesn't match its space is more than an eyesore. "Oversized furniture in small rooms (or vice versa) disrupts flow, making movement feel restricted and uncomfortable," Yokota says. "This creates a feeling of being cramped or off-balance in your own home."
How to Fix: To help seating flow in particular, Yokota turns to one type of furniture over and over: swivel chairs. "They allow for flexible seating and effortless engagement in conversations, making social connections more fluid and natural, which in turn lowers stress," Yokota says.
Bad Lighting
The way you light a room completely changes its feel, especially when it comes to color temperature. Cooler lighting might be welcome in the garage or task-oriented spaces, but it won't make your den feel very cozy. "Bright, cool-toned lighting can feel harsh and uninviting, while dim spaces lacking natural light can drain energy and mood," Yokota says. "Lighting directly influences our circadian rhythm and melatonin production, which affects sleep, mood, and even decision-making."
How to Fix: Yokota prefers to stick to warm lighting. Check the color temperature of light bulbs when you buy them, and look for a range of 2700K to 3000K for a soft glow. Placing a few cordless, battery-powered lamps in dark corners can bring that warmth to any room, without needing extra outlets. "Neuroscience tells us that warm lighting mimics natural firelight, triggering a relaxation response in the brain," Yokota says. "Think of how calming a candlelit dinner or a sunset feels."
Following Trends Instead of Your Interests
It can be a lot of fun to follow a trend like Art Deco or chrome decor, but beware of shaping your home based solely on what's popular at the moment. Not only can it affect the longevity of your design, but Yokota says it can make you feel disconnected from yourself. "Living in a space that doesn't reflect who you are can create subtle tension—an unspoken sense that you don't quite belong in your own home," Yokota says. "Authenticity in our surroundings is key to feeling at ease."
How to Fix: Balance the trendy decor in your home with "elements that hold meaning," advises Yokota. Family artifacts, souvenirs, and reminders of your favorite places, and even a handwritten note, can make you feel more grounded. "For example, a client once swapped a generic abstract painting for a gallery wall of handwritten recipes from her grandmother," Yokota says. "The difference in emotional connection was instant, and that space became one of her favorite spots to relax."
