Your living room might be adding to your stress without you realizing it. A peer-reviewed UCLA study found that participants who described their homes as cluttered or unfinished had less favorable daily cortisol patterns and worsening mood.
Researchers analyzed home tours involving 60 dual-income spouses. The findings don’t prove clutter causes stress, but they suggest that your surroundings matter. Fortunately, creating a more relaxing room may require fewer changes than you think.
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Why Your Television Could Be Part of the Problem
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One overlooked source of visual clutter is the television itself. Large black screens, exposed cables, and electronics can dominate rooms intended for relaxation.
Jon Cielo, senior product manager at TCL, believes homeowners should rethink that arrangement.
“One of the biggest mistakes is designing the room entirely around the television,” Cielo told Men’s Journal.
“A comfortable media space should support conversation, relaxation, and shared experiences, not just viewing.”
TCL’s A300W Designer Series NXTVISION TV, paired with a movable floor stand, offers a different approach. Its flush-wall design and Art Mode allow the screen to display paintings or personal photographs when viewers aren’t watching television.
That’s an aesthetic solution, however, not a clinically proven stress treatment.
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Scientists Found Something Surprising About Viewing Art
A 2026 study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity examined 50 adults viewing original paintings in a gallery or reproductions in a laboratory.
Gallery participants experienced approximately 22 percent lower cortisol after viewing, while the reproduction group showed no comparable significant change.
The findings suggest that art’s setting and presentation may influence its effects. They do not establish equivalent benefits from digital artwork at home.
Cielo recommends reducing unnecessary distractions first.
“Technology can contribute to a calmer environment when it is thoughtfully integrated,” he says.
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Three Changes That Could Make Your Living Room More Relaxing
Start by concealing cables and removing unused electronics. Next, maximize natural daylight and create softer evening lighting with the Lutron Caséta Diva Smart Dimmer, which lets homeowners adjust brightness with a simple slider or automate lighting schedules using the optional Smart Hub. Finally, arrange seating to encourage conversation rather than directing every chair toward the television.
“Lighting is often the most overlooked factor,” Cielo says.
“Natural light during the day and layered, dimmable lighting in the evening can dramatically influence the mood of a room.”
His broader advice is straightforward: “The best technology tends to blend into the background, allowing people to focus on the content and the people around them.”
The takeaway: Before investing in another wellness gadget, consider making your existing living space quieter, simpler, and more welcoming.
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