Posters & Mental Health: What’s the Connection?

Posted on 23 September 202120 September 2021

This post on posters and mental health contains gifted items!

To grab your own unique set of posters and create your gallery wall use the code MYMUSINGS for a 45% discount on all posters (except Selection Posters and frames) until 30th September! All posters can be found here.

We spend so much time at home. And yet, we’re not talking about how our home environment, specifically our home interiors can impact our mental health. We know that what we see on social media can impact our mental health. But what about what we see on the four walls of the space we live in. That’s where Poster Store comes in. They create beautiful posters to adorn your walls. When I first visited the website I fell in love with the variety of images and themes. I particularly loved the abundance of nature and botanical posters but I couldn’t resist one with an inspirational quote for my daughter!

We Are What We See

“Tidy desk, tidy mind” is a cliché for a reason. Do you find it hard to focus when there is mess around you? Can you relax when the room you’re in is cluttered? I know I can’t. Personally, I have definitely experienced a correlation between clutter and mess. And my stress levels. I suspect that part of the problem is that mess or clutter indicates a chore or job that needs doing. And if I’m low on time, enters stress. Likewise, many of us have found the benefits of decluttering. Being surrounded by many objects, or too many things, can make our living space feel crowded or even claustrophobic. Neither or which is good for our mental health. It’s unsurprising then that interest in a minimalist lifestyle is gaining ground.

But don’t just take my word for it! A study in the National Library of Medicine found that a cluttered environment negatively impacts our ability to focus. The researchers hypothesized that we use part of our brain’s cognitive load to process the mess around us. This then competes with any other tasks that our brain is doing and splits our attention and focus. As with most multi-tasking, when we’re not giving our full attention to something, mistakes are made or jobs aren’t completed as well as they could be. Meanwhile, the key focus of minimalism is too rid yourself of any unnecessary items that cause you stress. Thereby maximizing your attention and therefore your ability to be successful in tasks. Additionally, those who practise minimalism report more positive emotions and less stress.

Posters for Mental Health!

Covid-19 provided an excellent excuse for a declutter. So much time spent at home made me realise how immune we can become to the space we live. I accepted the impact my home environment had on my mental health without thought. And yet, I’m sure we all acknowledge the impact a tidy home and clean house can have on us. I know walking into a clean home instantly helps me relax. During this declutter, I wanted to create moments of peace and tranquillity within my home. And so, I invested in posters which immediately inspired a sense of calm when I looked at them.

My first choice were two prints of trees and misty hills. I love the natural world and spending time outdoors. And I definitely don’t do it enough. But there was something soothing about these posters; perhaps it was the stillness. Looking at them online I knew I wanted them for my home. The impact these prints have on my stress levels is borne out in science. Whilst we know that spending time in nature is good for our mental health. And lowers the levels of our stress hormone, cortisol, in our body. For those of us who cannot go outside or don’t have the time, looking at pictures of nature can have a similar impact.

Whilst scrolling through the vast array of posters and prints available on the Poster Store website, I came across this quote “She needed a hero, so that’s what she became”. I couldn’t resist purchasing this for my daughter’s bedroom. I’m a big fan of quotes and am always looking for quotes or lyrics that inspire me. I adored the idea that my daughter would grow up with the notion that she could be her own hero. I wanted to encourage that independence and competence within her.

Creating Your Own Gallery Wall

There were multiple other prints I adored, and I hope to add to my collection and create my own gallery wall over time. A gallery wall is a collection of similar or different posters and prints or various or the same sizes hung together. I’d never considered creating one but Poster Store have some amazing examples to provide inspiration on their website.

I’ve already got my eye on a few more posters for future purchases. Some are further nature pictures, but there are so many themes to mix ‘n’ match from. There’s definitely something for everyone, and the great news is that they release a new poster collection every Tuesday. So, you can grow your collection over time and as your tastes evolve.

It may seem like a small thing, but frames and prints can be expensive. Whilst I’d love to constantly add to my poster collection and build my gallery overtime. I find it stressful to spend money worrying that I will want to change them. It’s another reason I choose Poster Store as the prints were gorgeous and yet affordable. There was a lovely range of sizes for the prints and, even better, the beautiful frames they sell match the size selection of their posters. It really minimizes the stress of finding a correctly sized frame!

Lastly, I like to support ethical and environmentally friendly brands. It’s another way for me to be proud of the home I’m living in. Knowing that items are sustainable, cruelty free and ethically sourced. Therefore it was a no brainer to buy from Poster Store as the posters are printed on sustainably produced paper without compromising on the quality. It’s no wonder that Poster Store is a Scandinavian brand, Scandinavian countries are known for their high levels of wellbeing and mental health.

What are your thoughts on how your home environment impact your mental health? Do you have any posters or artwork that boost your mood, help your relax or inspire you? Let us know in the comments below!