Living Space: How Different Living Environments Affect Your Brain and Well-Being

By Dr. Anaia Leilani Keali’i-Jolie, PsyD, LMFT

Have you ever noticed how certain places make you feel more energized, while others leave you feeling drained or at peace? Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of a city, the quiet charm of a rural town, the calming embrace of a coastal retreat, or the seclusion of a mountain cabin, your environment has a profound impact on your mood, cognitive function, and overall mental well-being.

Research in neuroscience, psychology, and environmental health confirms that different living spaces can affect things like stress levels, creativity, focus, and emotional resilience. But here’s the thing: what works for one person might not work for another. Some people thrive in the vibrant chaos of city life, while others feel more at home surrounded by nature. For many of us, the sweet spot lies somewhere in between—a balanced lifestyle that mixes the best of both fast-paced and peaceful environments.

So, how exactly do different living spaces influence the brain, and how can you figure out which one is the best fit for your personality and mental needs?

The High-Energy Hub: City Living

Cities are designed to keep you on your toes. With endless opportunities for social interaction, constant novelty, and a steady stream of things to do, urban environments naturally stimulate the brain. But while that can be exciting, it can also lead to overstimulation, leaving you feeling stressed or drained if you’re not careful.

How City Life Affects Your Mind

Living in a fast-paced city can actually improve your cognitive flexibility—the brain's ability to juggle multiple tasks and adapt to new information (Odegaard et al., 2018). Cities also foster constant social interaction, which can be both energizing and overwhelming. On one hand, you’re surrounded by people, which sparks creativity and innovation; on the other, the noise and crowds can activate the brain’s stress response (Lederbogen et al., 2011).

City Living is Best for:

• Extroverts who love the buzz of social interaction.

• Quick thinkers who enjoy the variety and stimulation of urban life.

• Professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs seeking networking opportunities.

Not Ideal for:

• Highly sensitive individuals who are easily overwhelmed by noise and crowds.

• Those prone to burnout, as the constant stimulation can lead to mental fatigue.

The Rural Retreat: Peace and Quiet

On the other hand, rural areas offer vast, open spaces and a slower pace of life that can be incredibly restorative. The lack of noise and distractions allows for deep focus, and the natural surroundings have been shown to reduce stress and enhance emotional resilience. Spending time in nature has been linked to lower cortisol levels and greater mental clarity (Bratman et al., 2015).

How Rural Living Helps Your Mind

Living in a more rural environment allows you to immerse yourself in nature, which can have significant cognitive benefits. Studies show that nature exposure helps improve focus and long-term thinking (Kaplan & Berman, 2010). Plus, the smaller, tight-knit communities often found in rural areas provide a sense of belonging, reducing loneliness. However, the trade-off might be fewer social opportunities and less variety in the people you meet.

Rural Living is Best for:

• Introverts and deep thinkers who appreciate peace and solitude.

• Highly sensitive individuals who need minimal external stimulation.

• Writers, researchers, or anyone who needs an uninterrupted space for deep work.

Not Ideal for:

• Social butterflies who crave daily interactions.

• Career-driven professionals who need the job opportunities and dynamic energy that cities offer.

Coastal Living: The Calm of the Ocean

If you’re looking for a blend of stimulation and relaxation, coastal living might be the perfect fit. Living near the ocean offers the calming effects of water and open space, both of which help reduce anxiety and enhance mental well-being. People who live near the coast often report lower stress levels, improved mood, and better cognitive function (White et al., 2013; Nichols, 2014).

Why Coastal Living Feels So Good

The soothing sound of waves and the endless horizon create a peaceful atmosphere that’s proven to lower stress hormones and boost cognitive performance. Coastal living encourages outdoor activities like walking, swimming, and hiking—activities that promote both physical and mental health.

Coastal Living is Best for:

• Those seeking emotional balance and relaxation.

• Creatives who benefit from the inspiration and clarity that water environments bring.

• People who want a balance of social engagement and solitude.

Not Ideal for:

• People who don’t enjoy humid or unpredictable weather.

• Those who prefer highly structured and predictable environments.

Hybrid Living: The Best of Both Worlds?

For many, living in just one type of environment isn’t enough. A growing number of people are embracing hybrid lifestyles, where they split their time between a bustling city and a peaceful retreat in nature. This balance allows them to experience both the energy of urban life and the calm of the countryside or coast.

Why Hybrid Living is Great for Your Brain

The beauty of a hybrid lifestyle is that it allows you to engage in diverse experiences without overstimulating your brain. You get the deep thinking and creative reset that nature provides while still enjoying the social variety and career opportunities that a city offers. This balance supports adaptability—being able to shift between fast-paced and slow living rhythms helps strengthen mental resilience and cognitive flexibility.

Some common examples of hybrid living include:

• The “Weekend Nature Escape,” where you work in the city during the week and retreat to nature on weekends.

• Spending winters in the city for work and culture, then escaping to the quiet of rural areas in the summer to recharge.

• Living near a small town with easy access to a city for occasional work or social events.

Matching Your Brain to the Right Environment

Your environment plays a major role in shaping how you feel and how your brain processes the world. Whether you thrive in a city, a rural town, a coastal paradise, or somewhere in between, finding the space that aligns with your natural rhythm is key to maintaining long-term well-being, focus, and creativity.

Take a moment to reflect:

• Do I recharge through stimulation or solitude?

• Do I thrive in fast-paced environments, or do I need a more relaxed, structured space?

• Would a hybrid lifestyle provide me with the best of both worlds?

Understanding how your surroundings impact your brain function can help you create a life that suits your unique needs, whether that’s the vibrancy of the city, the calm of rural life, the inspiration of the coast, or a combination of all three.

The Impact of Your Home: Colors, Clutter, and Your Mind

It’s not just about where you live—it’s about how your space feels. The colors in your home, the level of clutter, and the overall design all influence your mental state. They can affect everything from stress levels to focus and creativity.

How Colors Affect Your Brain

Colors play a huge role in shaping our mood and cognitive function. Different colors stimulate different emotional responses:

• Blue & Green: These colors promote calm, focus, and creativity. They’re especially calming when you’re trying to reduce stress and enhance relaxation.

• Red & Orange: These colors boost energy and alertness, making them perfect for tasks that require a high level of focus. But too much red can increase stress.

• Yellow: Bright and cheerful, yellow is associated with creativity and optimism, but too much of it can make you feel anxious.

• Gray & Beige: Neutral tones are soothing but can also feel emotionally draining, especially in spaces where you need to focus or stay motivated.

Clutter and Mental Clarity

Clutter can be a major mental drain. Studies have shown that when our environment is messy, our brains work overtime trying to process all the visible distractions. This can lead to stress, reduced focus, and even mental fatigue. By creating an organized, clutter-free space, you give your brain a chance to relax and focus.

Optimizing Your Space for Mental Clarity

Here are a few ways to design your environment for mental well-being:

• Use Colors Wisely: Choose soothing colors like blue or green for calm, or red and yellow for energy when needed.

• Declutter Gradually: Don’t tackle everything at once—start small to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

• Create Zones: Set up specific areas for work, relaxation, and creativity to help your brain shift between different modes.

• Adopt a Minimalist Approach: Keep only the items that serve a purpose or bring you joy to avoid unnecessary distractions.

• Incorporate Nature: Natural light, plants, and open spaces can significantly improve cognitive function and emotional balance.

Air Quality: The Unsung Factor for Mental Health

Finally, the quality of the air you breathe at home is just as important as your physical surroundings. Poor air quality can affect cognitive function, contribute to stress, and even lower your mood. To improve air quality, open your windows, use air purifiers, and bring in plants that help filter out toxins. Small changes like these can make a huge difference in how you feel day-to-day.

By thoughtfully designing both your living space and your environment, you can create a home that supports your mental clarity, creativity, and emotional stability. Whether you choose the vibrancy of a city, the tranquility of nature, or a mix of both, your space has the power to shape your mind—and your life—positively.

References

Bratman, G. N., Hamilton, J. P., Hahn, K. S., Daily, G. C., & Gross, J. J. (2015). Nature experience reduces rumination and subgenual prefrontal cortex activation. PNAS, 112(28), 8567-8572.

Lederbogen, F., Kirsch, P., Haddad, L., et al. (2011). City living and urban upbringing affect neural social stress processing in humans. Nature, 474(7352), 498-501.

White, M. P., Alcock, I., Wheeler, B. W., & Depledge, M. H. (2013). Coastal proximity, health, and well-being. Health & Place, 23, 97-103.

Nichols, W. (2014). Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In,

On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier. Little, Brown and Company.