by Kate Jonuska
Bobby Berk, of “Queer Eye” fame, says good design is good for mental health
RADIATING INCLUSIVITY AND KINDNESS, fans of the hit Netflix series “Queer Eye” will instantly recognize the spirit of Bobby Berk, interior design specialist for the show and founder of Bobby Berk Design, in his new book, “Right at Home: How Good Design is Good for the Mind.” Explaining that our homes both affect and are reflections of our state of mind, Berk focuses on functional design suited for each unique person or family in the belief that good design promotes good mental health.
Insisting design is for everyone, he writes, “Your design style is literally Anything That Makes You Happy. And coincidentally—or not so coincidentally—things that make you happy are simply, profoundly (and scientifically) awesome for your mental health.”
And alongside tons of inspirational photos—some including Berk and his fluffy dog—he backs up such claims with science about how color affects emotion, how line-of-sight items can trigger memories and how grief can freeze your life (and home) in place. While, of course, no substitute for professional mental health care, design can help reprioritize your life, make you more productive or help you cast off past versions of yourself that no longer suit.
“What you see with your eyes gets on an express train straight to your nervous system and your brain (aka your body’s HQ). What you see is literally what your mind gets,” Berk writes. “So, you must be ruthless about what you allow into it … (or) you’re basically letting cortisol (your stress hormone) live rent-free in your head, body and soul.”
Along with the life coaching, of course, the book is an extensive and photo-filled guide that covers design basics and some unique deep dives on houseplants and sunlight. (“And the best thing about light? It’s free.”) The included worksheets are fun and helpful and build confidence. Berk shows how even entertaining can be integral for your wellness, writing: “When your home isn’t guest-ready on a very basic level, it’s just way too easy to stay isolated.”
