The Psychology of Design | The Human Need for Change

Over the last decade, I have learned how to anticipate the needs of others when it comes to their homes. I have learned how to stay curious, observe closely, and immerse myself in the lives of the people who will inhabit a space. I love discovering what brings them comfort, what inspires them, and what their environment needs to support their daily rhythms.

But when it comes to my own home, that has always been a different story.

Our homes evolve just as we do. They shift with each life chapter. They change along with our aesthetic preferences and also with our emotional landscape. Some seasons call for calm and grounding. Others invite more energy, creativity, or connection. Sometimes we crave a space that offers sanctuary and a nervous system reset. Other times we feel the pull to host, to play, or to bring more delight into our daily lives.

Orshi Wren, Interior Designer of Astral House | St. Petersburg, FL

And if you are anything like me, you have probably felt the urge to move furniture around on a whim or refresh the art on your walls for no reason other than it suddenly felt right. Many women I know do this instinctively. It is not just decorating. It is a very human need for change, for seeing our space in a new way so we can feel ourselves differently within it.

My home office tells this story well. It came to life in 2020, during that strange and uncertain period when I shifted from selling home décor and merchandise to exploring interior design more seriously. It was a very do it yourself, make it work space created during a time of job loss, fear, and reinvention.

I still remember my husband Thomas looking at the unused storage room and saying: this will be your office one day. I laughed because the idea felt unrealistic. Yet here we are. Nearly five years later, I get to design and furnish homes for wonderful clients, from meaningful renovations to brand new residences. I have built relationships with vendors whose craftsmanship I admire deeply, and I feel grateful every day to do this work.

At some point I realized my little early pandemic office no longer reflected who I had become.

So I decided to completely reimagine it.

This is the space where I spend countless hours sourcing, sketching, dreaming, and speaking with vendors. Our environment should mirror back to us where we have arrived, the growth, the resilience, and the quiet work behind the scenes. When our space supports us, we move through the world with more clarity and confidence.

As I learned more about the psychology of design, I became acutely aware of how our surroundings influence us. Color palettes and textures matter, but clutter affects us on a biological level. I can feel my cortisol rise the moment I notice things out of place. Until my home is back in order, it is difficult for me to focus or fully relax. I know I am not alone in this.

This awareness shaped my office redesign. As much as I love the beautiful fabric swatches, wood samples, tiles, and hardware pieces gifted by the generous vendors I work with, I realized I could not have everything visible. It becomes visual noise. So this time, I am embracing closed cabinetry which offers simple and calming storage that lets me breathe. A small collection of my favorite samples will stay on display for inspiration, while the rest will stay tucked away until needed.

This entire process has reminded me that change is not only natural. It is necessary. Our homes are living reflections of who we are and who we are becoming. They do not need to be perfect. They simply need to evolve alongside us.

Living here in Crescent Heights, surrounded by neighbors who value creativity, character, and connection, I am grateful to be part of a community where both people and homes are always growing. If you ever feel that familiar spark, the urge to shift, refresh, or reimagine, I am always happy to chat, share ideas, or simply connect about the spaces we all love and live in.

Here is to honoring the changes we feel, both inside our homes and within ourselves.