The objects and habits that fill our homes may reveal more about our psychological wellbeing than we realise, recent research shows. An article published by YourTango on July 20, 2025, highlights 11 household items and behaviours frequently found in the homes of deeply unhappy individuals—items that most others would never choose to acquire. With the quality of our living space increasingly recognised as a key driver of mental health, psychologists and medical professionals are urging a closer look at our environments and what we keep within them.
The YourTango report, supported by studies from sources like the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, explores how a cluttered or unhealthy home environment can reduce mood, diminish well-being, and deepen stress or depression. Such findings carry notable implications for Thai society, where urbanisation, digital lifestyles, and the popularity of consumer goods are rapidly reshaping homes and routines. As more Thais live in high-density housing or work remotely from home, concerns are mounting about the silent effects of these household trends on collective mental health.
Among the 11 “little things” the article identifies are common culprits: too many streaming services, unhelpful sentimental items, clothes never worn, dead plants, processed foods, harsh overhead lighting, excessive screens, unused exercise equipment, sugar supplies, piles of unopened mail, and blackout curtains. According to the referenced studies, each item exemplifies a behaviour pattern that can entrench unhappiness, from avoidance and rumination to unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-neglect.
For example, subscribing to multiple streaming services is now routine for millions. The cited Deloitte report finds average monthly spending on such services exceeds $70 in the US—a number likely echoed in middle-income urban Thailand. However, the mental health impact is less obvious. Mindless entertainment fosters passive habits that dampen some people’s mood and productivity, with the distraction acting as a maladaptive coping strategy for discomfort or insecurity. This concern is echoed by mental health professionals in Thailand, as many urban residents report rising rates of screen addiction and associated loneliness (verywellmind.com).
Unhelpful sentimental items—such as gifts from a painful relationship or relics from a troubled childhood—also keep people stuck in a cycle of “nostalgic depression.” Thai social workers have observed similar patterns, particularly among the elderly or those with strained family ties. While nostalgia can provoke joy, routinely revisiting negative memories exacerbates depression for at-risk individuals, according to a 2022 psychological study cited in the feature.
The habit of hoarding clothes never worn, often “goal clothes” for unrealised ambitions or impulse buys powered by fleeting trends, speaks to a deeper sense of lack of control. The Counseling Psychologist journal notes that such purchases can be an emotional crutch—something familiar to Thai psychologists treating shopping addiction, which has grown alongside the rise in online retail platforms and social media-driven consumerism (WebMD).
Dead or neglected plants, far from merely being an eyesore, are a stark reminder of neglect—both of home and self. According to feng shui practitioners and mental health experts in Thailand, lively indoor greenery is believed to promote a calm mind and healthy energy, echoing traditional Thai values of keeping one’s residence clean and vibrant. However, dead plants create an energy of decay and neglect that can worsen feelings of hopelessness.
A recurring enemy across Thai households is processed food. Convenience diets full of fast food, instant noodles, and sweetened drinks, while affordable and quick, are associated with increased rates of depression. A study in JAMA Network Open found that artificial ingredients and processed foods not only deprive the brain of necessary nutrients but also elevate stress and fatigue—a connection increasingly recognised by Thai urban health advocates.
Similar negative impacts are tied to harsh lighting, with LED and overhead bulbs elevating cortisol and stress, while natural or warm lighting soothes and restores. Thai interior designers and therapists have begun recommending changes in home lighting and the reintroduction of traditional décor elements—like warmy hued lamps or sunlight exposure—especially for those battling insomnia and anxiety (Wikipedia: Mental health and home environment).
Experts also warn about the proliferation of screens—televisions, laptops, smartphones, and tablets—in Thai homes. High daily screen time, according to Preventive Medicine Reports, is linked to double the risk of mood disorders like depression and anxiety. This is particularly concerning in Thailand, where smartphone penetration is above 90% and digital media consumption continues to grow among all age groups.
Unused exercise equipment is a source of guilt rather than motivation for many. A Translational Psychiatry study referenced in the article argues that the presence of such items, often purchased with the intention of self-improvement, may reinforce shame and financial anxiety—two common factors in the Thai context for those already struggling with debt or inactivity.
Sugar, a staple in many Thai diets, is shown to worsen mood for those with depression or emotional eating habits. According to a 2024 Frontiers in Psychology study, sugar hoarding and habitual consumption are coping mechanisms for unresolved distress—an emerging concern for Thai doctors monitoring rising obesity rates and diabetes alongside deteriorating mental health.
Unopened mail and packages reflect another psychological burden: when daily tasks become insurmountable, it is rarely due to laziness, but rather diminished cognition and motivation—core symptoms of depression as described by Harvard Health. In Thai society, where rapid urban living and financial pressure mount, such neglect becomes easy to overlook and dismiss, but may hide deeper mental struggles.
Even blackout curtains, a common response to Bangkok’s city lights, are double-edged. While useful for shift workers or light-sensitive individuals, they can reinforce unhealthy sleep cycles and deepen depressive episodes if misused, warns Johns Hopkins Medicine. Sleep culture in Thailand has shifted in recent years, with many younger urbanites now reporting irregular or insufficient rest.
Across all of these points, the key is not the object itself but the underlying behaviour. Research from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reinforces that home environments both shape and reflect our psychological coping strategies. For Thai readers, the message is clear: an intentional, healthy living space is a vital foundation for resilient mental health.
Expert opinions continue to stress the importance of attuning domestic habits to well-being. According to one licensed social worker quoted in the article, even small shifts—decluttering sentimental objects, reducing screen time, or introducing more natural elements into the home—can break the cycle of rumination and isolation that fuels depression. Thai interior designers, life coaches, and Buddhist counselors increasingly blend modern science and traditional wisdom to support these lifestyle changes.
Culturally, Thailand’s history of communal living arrangements and attachment to ancestral homes highlights both the strength and vulnerability of the home as a mental health anchor. Historically, Buddhist principles encouraged order, mindfulness, and harmonious living spaces, underscoring today’s scientific findings about the dangers of material accumulation and self-neglect. However, contemporary pressures—urbanisation, digital isolation, and Western consumer trends—threaten these values, making this conversation more urgent than ever for the country’s youth and urban dwellers.
Looking ahead, advocates in Thailand say broader public health campaigns, policy support for mental well-being in urban planning, and public education on healthy home habits will be crucial. Growing interest in minimalism, “slow living,” and wellness-focused interior design present an opportunity for meaningful change; elites in the design and psychology spheres, such as those contributing to Mental Health Thailand forums and academic conferences, are calling for more holistic, culturally attuned interventions.
For Thai readers and families, the actionable takeaway is both simple and profound: conduct a “wellness inventory” of your living space. Remove or repurpose objects that keep you fixated on the past or lost in distraction. Prioritise fresh foods and natural lighting. Schedule regular clean-outs to avoid clutter. And most importantly, seek professional support if feelings of overwhelm or sadness persist. Local mental health resources, Buddhist meditation centres, and support lines are ready to help those who are struggling.
In summary, our homes tell the story of our inner worlds. By bringing awareness to our physical spaces—what we buy, what we keep, and what we ignore—Thai society can take an important step toward collective mental resilience, drawing on both ancient wisdom and modern medical insight.
Sources:
- “11 Little Things Deeply Unhappy People Have In Their Homes That No One Else Would Ever Buy” (YourTango, July 20, 2025)
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- How Mental Health and Cleaning Are Connected (Verywell Mind)
- Mental health and home environment (Wikipedia)
- How Clutter Can Affect Your Health (WebMD)