New research found that over a third of Brits (35%) are more anxious now than before the pandemic, with 60% saying their mood is impacted by their environment in the post-pandemic world. Home decor brand Lick has partnered with mental health charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) to launch a first-of-its-kind Mindful Wallpaper, complete with a calming paint palette to soothe and relax you at home.
The launch is part of an ongoing partnership with CALM to encourage conversations around mental health and raise awareness of proactive steps that can be taken to improve your mental wellbeing. With the current news agenda, over a third (39%) of Brits say they struggle to relax and 38% say they feel overwhelmed since the world has returned to normal. 44% found that adopting creative activities improved their mental wellbeing during the pandemic, but only half (50%) have continued these hobbies since the world has come out of lockdown.
To encourage Brits to take proactive steps towards bettering their mental wellbeing, Lick have created a unique botanical wallpaper with CALM to explore the therapeutic power of colour and painting. Inspired by biophilic design that connects us to our natural environment, Mindful 01 is the perfect escape from day-to-day life: reducing stress, enhancing creativity and improving your mood.
Simon Gunning, CEO, Campaign Against Living Miserably, says: “Creative activities like painting are not only deeply satisfying, it can help you unwind and take a step back from all the pressures that life throws at you. That’s why we’re delighted to team up with Lick to offer this unique mindful wallpaper and soothing colour palette. By working together we aim to remind people and give them the tools to talk about and look after their mental wellbeing, before they reach a crisis.”
CALM’s top tips for helping when you feel overwhelmed (full tips on the website here ):
- Breathe - take deeper breaths a little more deeply each time
- Focus on the here and now (AKA get out of your head)
- Ten
- se your muscles - it’ll help to make you feel in control
- What would you say to a mate? The perspective will help
- Distraction - painting is a brilliant, creative activity to give yourself a break
The wallpaper is designed with the simplicity of nature in mind after research revealed that two thirds of Brits (69%) find that nature and outdoor spaces have a positive impact on their mental health. Over half of Brits (57%) claim that colours mirroring nature, such as blues and greens, have a calming effect on their mood.
Lick’s Director of Interior Design and Colour Psychologist, Tash Bradley, curated the calming palette with the psychological benefits of nature in mind. It includes six soothing colours; White 06, Pink 07, Beige 03, Blue 16, Green 09 and Green 02. No matter which colours you choose, all will fit together and harmonise to create a calming and nurturing feel in your home.
Tash Bradley, Lick’s Director of Interior Design and Colour Psychologist, says: “Green instantly has a calming effect, being a colour that our eyes don’t need to adjust to and therefore instantly creating a zen environment. If you’d really like to tap into the foliage and forestry tones that’ll match the design itself, we’d suggest going for Green 02 or Green 09 and pairing that with White 06 or Beige 03 to give you a soft and warm nod to nature.
A colour that helps us to relax and slow down, Blue 15 is a very mentally soothing blue, it’s the colour of the mind and instantly makes you think of the blue sky, which we often connect to happy and sunny days. This design would look beautiful painted with a mix of blue, pink and white, with pink being the colour of comfort, making it soothing to look at.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, please visit thecalmzone.net for practical support and advice.
