Interior Design for Mental Health: Building Your Sanctuary ft. Jessica Blanco

Ever feel like your living space is draining your energy instead of restoring it? In this episode, we sit down with interior designer Jessica Blanco to explore the powerful connection between our physical environments and mental wellbeing.Jessica brings a unique perspective, having transitioned from 20 years in education to interior design, where she noticed that how we start our day in our spaces carries with us through everything else. Whether you're living in a small apartment or a large home, the way your space is organized (or not) directly impacts how you feel.What You'll Learn:Why "outer order equals inner calm" applies to everyone, not just those on the autism spectrumHow Scandinavian cultures design intentionally to support daily rhythms and wellbeingPractical tips for balancing shared spaces when family members have different needsThe mental energy cost of clutter; even the stuff you've stopped "seeing"Simple tricks to refresh your space (hint: flowers and charging stations go a long way)Why involving kids in the design and organization process matters for the whole familyHow adjustable lighting and seating can transform a room for multiple usersReal Talk Moments: Danna gets vulnerable about living in what she calls a "tornado" with her husband and two teenage boys, while Megan shares her experience navigating design decisions with her autistic partner. Jessica opens up about not having her own space in her home—and the creative solutions she's found.Jessica's Parting Wisdom:Get embodied—pay attention to how you feel in your spaceTake inventory—what do you love versus what are you keeping out of weird emotional attachment?Coming Up: Stay tuned for our next episode with Jessica where we'll dive deeper into sensory considerations and designing for neurodiversity.Connect with Jessica Blanco: https://bit.ly/jessica_designsGet in touch!Check out the So Frickin' Healthy WebsiteLeave us a VoicemailJoin the So Frickin' Healthy CommunityWatch us on YouTubeConnect with us on SubstackK, love you, byeeeeeMentioned in this episode:Come See Our Faces - Live Every WednesdayThat's right! Danna and Megan are LIVE and unfiltered every Wednesday morning, 10:00 CET. Come join us on YouTube or Substack - we want to connect with you, beautiful listener! Can't watch us live - the videos will be available about an hour after the live ends. Drop us a comment, leave your thoughts, tell us who you want us to interview next.So Frickin' Healthy is a proud member of and produced by the SwissCast NetworkDiscover more great podcasts for English-speaking SwitzerlandSwissCast Network