It’s a gorgeous day. The sunshine and the smell of fresh-cut grass provide a sweet dopamine boost. Work is a little stressful, but your yard is an oasis where your worries fade away. Did you know that spending time outdoors can boost your mood? And a well-designed and maintained lawn and landscape can contribute to your well-being. Here’s a look at some of the science behind green spaces and reducing stress, and some steps we can take to achieve a mood-boosting yard.
How Does Being Outside Improve Our Well-Being?
Studies show that spending time in nature can improve our mood, anxiety, and memory. Stress stimulates our sympathetic nervous system and takes a physical toll, raising blood pressure and heart rate. However, research shows that spending time outside can help mental and physical health.
A 2019 study showed that spending two hours a week in nature positively impacts health and well-being. Meanwhile, another study showed that just looking at images of nature for five minutes can calm the nervous system. Even short amounts of time outside can improve sleep and blood pressure, reducing the risk of chronic illness.It’s simple, green spaces are good for you.
What’s The Science Behind Green Spaces and Better Mental Health?
Some of the benefits of spending time outdoors come from physical activity, but the mental health benefits go beyond that. Studies show that just being in green spaces can reduce stress and anxiety. In the last two decades, we’ve learned more about the scientific reasons behind green space and health.
- Cortisol, known as the “stress hormone,” plays a major role in how our bodies respond to pressure. When levels remain high, it can negatively affect sleep, immunity, and mood. A Japanese study found that time spent in nature significantly lowered cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure, emphasizing how green spaces act as natural stress relievers.
- Spending time outside, either actively or passively, can help sync our circadian rhythms, get our bodies in tune with our internal clocks, improve sleep, and regulate natural hormone production.
- Being in nature offers different stimulations from urban environments, work, or school settings. The sights and sounds of nature are calming and centering, opening the door to feelings of peace.
- Quiet green space can provide opportunities for mindfulness and quiet reflection away from screens and other distractions.
What Elements Elevate Mood in Outdoor Spaces?
Color Psychology in Plants
The colors in your yard can subtly influence how you feel:
- Blues and purples (like lavender or salvia) tend to calm the mind and reduce anxiety.
- Yellows and oranges (like marigolds or tulips) bring energy, joy, and warmth.
- Greens—the most dominant color in nature—promote balance, renewal, and serenity.
By carefully choosing plant colors, you can create an emotional experience tailored to your needs.
Textures and Sounds
Outdoor textures and natural sounds contribute to mental clarity and emotional grounding. Consider how the soft touch of ornamental grasses or moss underfoot might make you feel. Or how the crunch of gravel paths provides satisfying auditory feedback.
These tactile and auditory experiences invite mindfulness and relaxation.
Spatial Design
The layout of your yard matters more than you might think. Open spaces encourage a sense of freedom and mental expansiveness, while partially enclosed areas—like pergolas, trellises, or garden nooks—can offer feelings of safety and seclusion. Both are essential, depending on whether you need stimulation or solitude.
How Can I Design A Mood-Boosting Yard?
Thoughtful planning can help you achieve the mood-boosting, peace-inspiring yard of your dreams. Working with an experienced landscaping team can make your vision a reality.
- Personalize your outdoor space by selecting plants, trees, and shrubs that reflect your style and support the atmosphere you want—whether it’s peaceful and meditative or lively and energizing.
- Adding social spaces to your landscape fosters connection. Hardscaping elements like patios and firepits are the perfect way to make your yard the perfect gathering place for friends, family and neighbors.
- Adding walkways and paths can boost purposeful movement and connect areas of your yard and home.
- Beautiful smells benefit your nervous system. Talk with your landscaper about your fragrant favorites like lilacs, lavender and roses.
Landscaping and Mood: Maintenance Matters
A beautifully designed, well-maintained outdoor space promotes peace of mind and invites regular use. Regular mowing, pruning, and seasonal cleanups keep your space vibrant and welcoming.
At Epling Landscaping and Lawn Service, we believe outdoor spaces are about more than aesthetics—they’re about enhancing your life. Whether it’s a place for enjoying energetic activities, sparking creativity, or simply bringing a moment of calm to your day, the right landscaping – and the knowledge that you have trusted professionals to maintain it – can transform your mood and mindset.
Looking to create a yard that boosts your well-being? Let’s design a space that feels as good as it looks.
