Why living with what you love is good for the mind

Think of the one thing in your home you would never part with. Chances are what makes it precious is the story behind it: a painting bought from an artist before the world knew their name, a piece from an era you loved long before others did.

Neuroscience confirms that beautiful surroundings measurably calm us: in one study, stress fell by 59.6% after fifteen minutes in a room designed around nature.

Symbiotic Living, the London and Chicago interior architecture and design practice founded by Sharlene Young, creates evidence-led homes for wellbeing that nurture the mind as well as delight the eye.

Too often, such treasures are hidden away, not lived with. For two collectors, Sharlene shaped a home where every piece in their art collection could tell its story. For another family, hand-painted murals echo a much-loved artwork.

Beauty enriches a home. Lived with every day, it nourishes the mind.