Aesthetics matter – here’s how to curate your way to contentedness
New research in the field of neuroaesthetics has revealed how we can lead a more mindful and conscious life. We translate the latest empirical research into six daily practices that you can implement into your everyday…
Most of us think of beauty as a luxury. In the depths of the cost-of-living crisis, the artwork you might be able to afford to hang once the bills are paid, or the flowers you buy when you’re feeling indulgent, can be examples of these. And though we may have the digital world at our fingertips, we aren’t talking pixelated wallpapers of the Mona Lisa, or a reel of aesthetic fridge-tidying ASMR.
Neuroaesthetics is the physical science of how beauty and art affect the brain. Our brains are wired to respond to aesthetic experiences to boost mood, sharpen focus, reduce stress, and deepen meaning in our everyday lives. An emerging field of research is showing us that aesthetics and how we live are brain food. Design, art, and routine can directly influence our emotions and stress levels.
In 2025, three new studies in neuroaesthetics offered insights into how we experience beauty. Knoop et al. (2025) explored how music and visual art share the same emotional tone and our brains integrate them more deeply, which can lead to stronger feelings of beauty. This suggests that everyday experiences can be enhanced by curating sensory harmony. Meanwhile, Banville, Benchetrit, d’Ascoli, Rapin and King (2025) revealed that the ability to reconstruct what we see from brain scans improves dramatically with more data from each individual, pointing to a future of highly personalised brain–computer applications in art and design, in rather Black Mirror-esque style if you will. Finally, Cheron and De Maere (2025) highlighted that how we move our eyes across a painting (this being our scanpaths and moments of fixation) is tightly linked to brain rhythms. Together, these findings remind us that beauty is not just in what we look at, but in how our senses align, how our brains learn, and even how our eyes choose to wander.
So what does this mean for us? What does one take from this body of research into their everyday life? Well, for starters, that beauty isn’t just decoration but a biological necessity. You make your life healthier, happier, and more meaningful through curation. Here, we look at six daily practices, backed by neuroaesthetic research, to bring more mindfulness, peace, and stress relief into your life…
1. Pair sight and sound
The science: When we look at art while listening to music that matches its mood, our brains show stronger activity in regions that process reward and emotion. Beauty is exaggerated when multiple senses work together.
How to: Match music to your environment. Put on a calm playlist when you’re in a softly lit room, or upbeat songs when you’re working creatively or with visual stimuli. Think of your daily spaces as mini-soundtracks. Does your shower room warrant jazz? Kitchen, a touch of soul? Living room is new pop hits?
2. Slow down your gaze
The science: Eye-tracking studies reveal that art experts look at paintings differently than the majority of the public. Their gaze lingers, loops back, and follows paths that engage the brain’s visual and emotional networks more deeply.
How to: When you pass a piece of art, a building, or even a tree… pause. Let your eyes wander over details. Notice patterns, textures, and colours. The way you look shapes the way you feel.
3. Surround yourself with your taste
The science: EEG studies (electroencephalogram – a painless test that records the brain's electrical activity by placing electrodes on the scalp) show that preferences for beauty are highly individual. One person’s masterpiece may trigger parts of the brain that it doesn’t in others. Neural responses are strongest when beauty aligns with personal taste.
How to: Don’t decorate for trends or what you think you should like for your age group or occupation, for example. Hang the poster that makes you smile, display family photos, or keep that quirky mug collection growing.
4. Get rid of what you don’t like
The science: Neuroimaging shows that encountering something we find ugly or irritating doesn’t leave us irked; it actually activates brain networks linked to stress and conflict.
How to: Notice the visuals in your everyday spaces. Is there mess, harsh lighting, or a colour you dislike? Remove it or change it. Curating matters!
5. Choose objects that mean something
The science: Brain scans reveal that within milliseconds, our brains integrate not just what we see, but what it means to us. Objects with personal significance trigger stronger and faster responses.
How to: Add items that carry stories. A souvenir from a trip, a hand-me-down, or a photo that sparks memory should all do the trick.
6. Create micro-moments
The science: Engaging with beauty, even briefly, improves mood, reduces stress, and has therapeutic effects for people with dementia or trauma.
The takeaway
Neuroaesthetics shows us that beauty isn’t just frivolous – it’s our brain fuel. By tuning into how our brains respond to art, design, and everyday aesthetics, we can craft environments and habits that support wellbeing.
So tomorrow morning, instead of rushing past your surroundings, play the right song, look a little longer, and curate to your taste. Your stress responses, emotional regulation centres, and overall holistic health will thank you.