7 Design Choices You Don't Realize Are Stressing You Out

A few extra pillows can make your couch or bed feel infinitely more cozy, but overdoing it could leave you feeling stressed. Not only do they limit the space you have to actually sit, extra throw pillows are destined to end up strewn on the floor. And as a UCLA study found, clutter homes = increased levels of stress hormones. Take a cue from the room above and stick to one or two of your favorites.

A survey by California Closets found that 28% of women see their closet as the most important space to have organized. Even if you don't have a spacious walk-in like designer Monique Lhuillier'scloset above, there's no excuse for tossing your shoes onto the floor willy nilly. Invest in a hanging rack or shelf, and you'll never spend time frantically searching for that other black patent leather pump again.

Almost everyone amasses a collection of random dishes and glassware throughout the years, but unless they're well organized, they may just make setting the table more stressful. Do yourself a favor and take stock of what you have (especially before the holidays roll around). Anything that doesn't have a match, should be set aside for Goodwill.

While you may be drawn to bright, eye-catching hues like yellow and red, they can actually end up making you feel stressed. Instead, choose calming colors like blue and white to bring peace to your home. Blue in particular has been shown to reduce blood pressure and make you feel sleepy, so it's especially ideal in bedrooms.

Mixing multiple prints into one cohesive design is a lot more difficult than it seems, and when done incorrectly, can make it impossible to unwind. If you do feel drawn to prints, make sure you keep the 60-30-10 rule in mind, meaning your dominant print can take up 60% of the space, while a secondary print should only take up 30%, and the final, accent print should only occupy 10% of the space.

Filling every square inch of your home's shelving with knick knacks, books, and photos often adds little to the overall aesthetic, but does make the space feel cluttered. That, in turn, can lead to an increased level of cortisol, a stress hormone, according to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology. Embrace the empty space and only keep items that you really feel passionate about on display.

Uncomfortable seating is one of the top 5 things that hold your home back, according to Apartment Therapy. (Yes, even that piece from your college days that you love.) Try upgrading to seats that not only look good, but make you feel relaxed the second you sit down.