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Lighting is one of the most influential — and most overlooked — design tools we have. In this short exploratory episode, Nico breaks down how lighting shapes the way we feel, sleep, focus, and move through our homes… and why the type of light we use may matter far more than we think.

You’ll hear how interior designers are trained to work with light, why most LEDs contain short wavelengths that signal “daytime” even when they look warm, and what emerging research (including a recent Huberman Lab episode with Dr. Glen Jeffrey) is beginning to reveal about LED lighting and our biology — from sleepiness to glucose levels.

Nico also shares a personal story about an evening spent in candlelight, why long-wavelength lighting like incandescent, halogen, sunlight, , and how these insights connect to her interest of the analog home.

If you’re curious about lighting, wellbeing, and how to design a home that truly supports you, this episode is a gentle introduction — and an invitation to go deeper.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Why lighting is treated as a core “material” in interior design
• The four main types of lighting designers use (and how they shape behaviour)
• How LEDs can look warm yet still emit short wavelengths that affect the brain
• Insights from Huberman & Dr. Glen Jeffrey on LED lighting and glucose regulation
• Why candlelight, incandescent, halogen, and sunlight emit longer wavelengths
• How lighting can be used as a wellbeing tool, not just a decorative choice
• Why room designation matters for mood, rest, and daily rhythm
• What the analog home is — and why people are craving it
• An invitation to explore how light might be impacting you more than you realize

Learn more & get the free Paro guides:
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Website: https://www.yourparo.com

Resources:

Free Living Room Know How. Free Bathroom Serenity Guide. Get the Free Guides Here! https://www.yourparo.com/free-guides

Digital Course: Design Your Home for Better Living https://www.yourparo.com/course

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Today we’re unpacking something light, funny, and surprisingly revealing — the “man cave.” Not the stereotype, but the psychology behind why people retreat to certain spaces and what that means for your home.

You’ll learn the real reasons the garage, den, or basement becomes the default refuge for some people, what makes a room feel like “home,” and why everyone — men, women, and kids — needs a personal zone that reflects them.

We’ll walk through the five core psychological drivers behind familiar spaces, how to co-design a home even when one partner says “I don’t care,” and a simple four-question framework that gets everyone involved in the process.

Plus, you’ll get elevated, practical design tips to upgrade a man cave without stripping away personality — and without turning it into a storage room with a TV.

By the end, you’ll have tools to create a home that supports individuality and togetherness so no one needs to escape to feel like themselves.

Download the free Living Room and Bathroom Guides at yourparo.com for more support.

Key Takeaways

• Why people retreat to predictable, familiar spaces — and why it’s not about isolation
• Five psychological reasons some rooms feel like “home” and others feel neutral
• Why every person needs a personal zone they connect to
• How to co-design shared spaces when one person claims they “don’t care”
• A simple four-question couples design framework
• High-impact design tips to elevate a man cave without stripping personality
• How to use lighting, texture, storage, and “hero items” to create emotional salience
• Why personal space is a human need, not a gendered one
• How co-creating spaces reduces escape behaviour in the home

Support the show

Website: https://www.yourparo.com

Resources:

Free Living Room Know How. Free Bathroom Serenity Guide. Get the Free Guides Here! https://www.yourparo.com/free-guides

Digital Course: Design Your Home for Better Living https://www.yourparo.com/course

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Thinking about changing something in your home—but not sure where to start?

In this episode of Your Home by Design, Nico from Paro shares five design moves you can do this weekend to instantly elevate your home and, in turn, how you feel in it. These aren’t trendy hacks or quick fixes. They’re grounded in neuroaesthetic design—how light, flow, and visual harmony directly influence mood, energy, and focus.

You’ll learn how to:
• Start with a conversation that gets everyone aligned
• Fix the lighting to restore calm and regulate rhythm
• Rearrange for flow so your body can actually breathe
• Add art that tells your story
• Create vignettes and space to pause

Plus a simple bonus move that transforms your mindset every time you walk into the room.

Because when your home starts working for you—even in small ways—you start showing up differently in your life too.

🎧 Listen now, and grab Paro’s free Living Room and Bathroom Guides at yourparo.com
.

Support the show

Website: https://www.yourparo.com

Resources:

Free Living Room Know How. Free Bathroom Serenity Guide. Get the Free Guides Here! https://www.yourparo.com/free-guides

Digital Course: Design Your Home for Better Living https://www.yourparo.com/course