Why Quiet Isn’t the Only Path to Calm: Creating Energetic Yet Nourishing Spaces

For a long time, people have connected calm with quiet. Think empty white rooms, soft colors, and silent spaces. While these can be soothing for some, they’re not the only way to create peace. In fact, calm can also come from warmth, color, pattern, and personal expression.

The idea that serenity must equal stillness or silence is a myth. Absolute calm is about how a space makes you feel, not how empty it looks. Some people feel most relaxed in a space that wraps them up like a hug. That space might be filled with books, pillows, color, art, scent, and sound. It might be full of energy, and yet still incredibly peaceful.

Let’s explore this richer, fuller version of calm, what some call “cozy maximalism” or “stimulating serenity,” and learn how to create spaces that bring comfort and calm in an active, vibrant way.

Calm Is a Feeling, Not a Style

Calm is about what your nervous system feels, not what your room looks like. A space can be bright, busy, or full of life and still create deep comfort. What matters most is how the space supports your needs.

A 2019 study in The Journal of Environmental Psychology showed that people felt most relaxed in spaces that reflected their personal identity, not necessarily in minimalist spaces. In fact, people in colorful, expressive rooms reported higher emotional safety and lower stress levels than those in blank, neutral spaces.

In other words, calm is personal. For some, it comes from simplicity. For others, it comes from being surrounded by beauty, creativity, and memory.

Cozy Maximalism: Comfort Through Fullness

Cozy maximalism is not clutter. It is intentional layering of items that comfort, inspire, and calm you. Think of it like building a comfortable nest—one with texture, color, softness, and soul.

You might see:

• Deep colors like forest green or burnt orange

• Patterned pillows and throw blankets

• Bookshelves filled with stories and memories

• Art that sparks joy

• Warm lighting and soft textiles

These details do not overstimulate. They ground you, giving your senses something to settle into. It’s the design version of a warm drink on a cold day, rich, layered, and deeply comforting.

“Maximalism isn’t about having more stuff. It’s about making room for what makes you feel most like yourself.” – Liz Kamarul, designer

Stimulating Serenity: Calm Through Engagement

Some people feel calm not by retreating, but by engaging. For them, peace comes from spaces that activate the senses in gentle, thoughtful ways. This is called stimulating serenity.

It uses elements like:

• Bold but balanced color schemes

• Natural light and reflective surfaces

• Curves, movement, and visual rhythm

• Scented candles or calming music

The brain responds well to predictable stimulation. It loves pattern, symmetry, and sensory layers—when done with care. This kind of environment gives your mind just enough to focus on, helping it settle rather than wander.

A 2022 study from the University of Exeter found that environments with moderate sensory stimulation (color, art, sound) led to lower levels of anxiety and more creative thinking than both overstimulating and sterile spaces.

Color and Pattern Can Be Calm

We often hear that calm colors are only whites, greys, or soft pastels. But calm can come from deeper or more vibrant tones as well.

• Olive green connects to nature.

• Navy blue creates depth and stillness.

• Terracotta adds warmth and grounding.

• Deep purple brings a sense of luxury and calm strength

When paired with natural textures, like wood, linen, wool, and clay, these colors feel more like nature than noise.

Patterns can also be soothing when they have flow and repetition. Think wavy lines, botanical prints, or hand-drawn textures. They add motion and interest without being overwhelming.

Tip: Stick to a few primary colors and patterns you love, and repeat them across the space to create harmony.

Use Layers to Support All the Senses

Honestly, nourishing spaces go beyond what you see. They engage all five senses to help you settle and feel at home.

• Touch: Use soft rugs, velvet cushions, or worn leather chairs that invite your body to rest.

• Scent: Add candles, incense, or essential oils that match your mood. Scents like sandalwood and vanilla soothe the nervous system.

• Sound: Play soft music, ambient sounds, or nature recordings. These can calm the mind and add a sense of rhythm.

• Taste: Keep a tea station or snack area nearby. Comfort can come from knowing you’re cared for.

• Sight: Use warm lighting, layered textiles, and personal objects to make the room feel like a reflection of your inner world.

Design for Emotional Anchoring

One powerful idea in psychology is emotional anchoring. This means using objects and environments to hold a memory or feeling. When you walk into a space that reflects joy, safety, or love, your body remembers and responds—even if your day was stressful.

For example:

• A painting from your travels reminds you of freedom

• A colorful rug from childhood brings back safety

• A corner filled with plants and books becomes your escape

These layers don’t overwhelm you. They stabilize you. They are reminders of who you are, what you love, and what matters.

Your Calm Might Look Different—and That’s OK

There is no one-size-fits-all formula for calm. What soothes one person might bore another. The key is to ask yourself, What makes me feel most at home in my body and mind?

Your answer might include:

• Bold colors

• Soft lighting

• A mix of textures

• Personal art and mementos

• Scent and sound

If that’s your version of calm, lean into it. Don’t let trends or rules tell you otherwise.

Conclusion: Calm Comes in Many Colors

Quiet is one path to calm, but it is not the only one. For many people, fullness, color, pattern, and memory create spaces that heal and uplift.

Cozy maximalism and stimulating serenity show us that calm can be energetic. It can be joyful, expressive, even playful. It can surround you like a story, not just sit there in silence.

Design your space to meet you where you are. Fill it with things that make you breathe deeper, smile wider, and feel more like yourself.

Because absolute calm doesn’t come from emptiness. It comes from connection to space, to memory, to self.