your home by design

Nico Smutylo - Founder of yourPARO.
  • 5.0 (6)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

 ** New episodes every other Wednesday! **Your home is more than just a place—it’s the backdrop to your life, shaping your mood, mindset, and overall well-being. In this podcast, Nico uncovers the powerful link between interior design and neuroaesthetics, exploring how your environment influences your brain, body, and sense of fulfillment. From practical design tips that make your space more functional and beautiful, to the science behind how thoughtful choices can boost your mental, emotional, and physical health, each episode shows how your home can become a tool for personal growth. Nico dives deep into how small design changes can foster better habits, help you become the person you want to be, and support a lifestyle that aligns with your goals for wellness and fulfillment. Whether you’re redecorating, renovating, or simply curious about the psychology of design, this podcast offers research-driven insights, expert advice, and heartfelt stories to help you create a home that doesn’t just look good, but feels good—and helps you thrive. Join Nico, founder of PARO, as she blends design expertise with the science of neuroaesthetics and wellness, showing how your space can elevate your health, happiness, and lifestyle.

  1. FEB 5

    Updated Isn’t Elevated: What Actually Makes a Home Feel Designed Ep #62

    Send us a text If you're planning to update your home, pause. Before you buy the sofa.  Before you choose the tile.  Before you repaint or swap the lighting. Not every design decision creates the same level of impact. In this episode of Your Home by Design, we’re breaking down where to spend your money in the living room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom to elevate your space — without renovating everything. Because here’s what most people get wrong:  They change a lot… but not the right things. And that’s why a space still feels: Updated but not elevatedNew but not designedFine… but not finishedWe’ll cover: Why “builder grade” feels flat — and how to correct itThe one anchor piece that transforms your living roomHow sink selection impacts daily stressThe bedroom detail that instantly elevates (and most people overlook)Where to spend in a bathroom for maximum visual and tactile impactA final insight about execution that may completely shift how you allocate your budgetAt Paro, we believe homes are active participants in your well-being. They influence your mood, your stress levels, your behavior — even your health. Impact isn’t about spending more.  It’s about spending intentionally. If you’re ready to move your home from basic to intentional — this episode will change how you think about design. Explore free guides and the Create Space course at yourparo.com 🔑 Key Takeaways Builder grade lacks hierarchy — and hierarchy is what makes rooms feel finished.Anchor pieces (sofa, headboard, vanity, shower wall) carry visual weight.Daily-use elements deserve investment (sinks, faucet handles, lighting).Execution protects impact — poor craftsmanship weakens even good materials.Concentrating your budget in fewer rooms creates stronger results.Quality is felt — even when it isn’t consciously noticed.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

    33 min

  2. JAN 21

    Laundry Room Design: The Small Room That Organizes Your Life Ep #61

    Send us a text Your laundry room might be small — but it quietly organizes your entire week. In this episode of Your Home by Design, Nico breaks down laundry room design from a designer’s systems-first, neuroaesthetic perspective. This isn’t about baskets, labels, or Pinterest perfection. It’s about why this room becomes one of the most frustrating spaces in the home — and how thoughtful layout, clear systems, and intentional design can dramatically reduce mental load. The laundry room is a working system. When it’s unclear, cluttered, or overloaded, it creates friction, unfinished cycles, and background stress. When it’s designed properly, it becomes quiet, efficient, and supportive — without you even noticing. This episode will help you rethink your laundry room as a behavior-shaping space, not a leftover utility room. KEY TAKEAWAYS Why the laundry room becomes a catch-all — and how to stop itHow visual clutter creates cognitive load (even when you don’t notice it)Why systems must come before storage or cabinetryHow layout decisions quietly shape daily behaviorWhen stacked appliances, tall cabinetry, or pocket doors actually make senseThe difference between a thoughtful DIY refresh and a full design overhaulHow good laundry room design reduces mental fatigue and unfinished cyclesIf your laundry room constantly feels chaotic, this episode will help you see why — and what to do differently. 👉 Explore more design guidance at yourparo.com 👉 Follow along on Instagram @yourparo and @bynico.space 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

    23 min

  3. JAN 7

    Simplifying Your Home: How Slowing Down Creates Better Living Ep# 60

    Send us a text This episode marks my first episode of 2026, and instead of a recap or big resolutions, I want to start the year by slowing things down. In this episode, we reflect on what our homes have been carrying — what supported us, what quietly weighed on us, and what’s been asking for care and attention. We talk about simplifying not just our spaces, but our pace, our projects, and the way we make decisions at home. I share why repairing before replacing can completely change how a home feels, how sharing responsibility in a household reduces tension and mental load, and why simplifying visually helps the most meaningful things come into focus. We’ll also explore where it’s worth slowing down and investing in things that last — and why rushing design decisions often works against us. Throughout the episode, I return to a quiet image that’s stayed with me: a furniture maker carefully restoring an old chair. It wasn’t fast or flashy — but it felt like a reminder of how I want to approach home and life this year. At Paro, we believe our homes are tools for better living. And sometimes the most meaningful change doesn’t come from doing more — but from slowing down enough to do things well. Visit yourparo.com for free guides and resources to support you in creating space for better living.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Why slowing down leads to better decisions in your homeHow unfinished spaces quietly create stress and mental loadThe grounding power of repair, maintenance, and careHow simplifying together reduces tension in shared homesWhy visual quiet helps meaningful pieces stand outWhere it’s worth investing for long-term impactHow rushing design decisions often costs more in the long runSupport 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

    26 min

  4. 2025-12-10

    The Hidden Power of Light: Designing a More Analog Home Ep #59

    Send us a text 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 designThe 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 brainInsights from Huberman & Dr. Glen Jeffrey on LED lighting and glucose regulationWhy candlelight, incandescent, halogen, and sunlight emit longer wavelengthsHow lighting can be used as a wellbeing tool, not just a decorative choiceWhy room designation matters for mood, rest, and daily rhythmWhat the analog home is — and why people are craving itAn invitation to explore how light might be impacting you more than you realizeLearn more & get the free Paro guides: 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

    21 min

  5. 2025-11-26

    The Man Cave Myth: Why We Retreat & How to Design Spaces Everyone Feels at Home In. Ep #58

    Send us a text 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 isolationFive psychological reasons some rooms feel like “home” and others feel neutralWhy every person needs a personal zone they connect toHow to co-design shared spaces when one person claims they “don’t care”A simple four-question couples design frameworkHigh-impact design tips to elevate a man cave without stripping personalityHow to use lighting, texture, storage, and “hero items” to create emotional salienceWhy personal space is a human need, not a gendered oneHow co-creating spaces reduces escape behaviour in the homeSupport 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

    33 min

  6. 2025-11-12

    Five Design Moves to Instantly Elevate Your Home (and Your Life) Ep # 57

    Send us a text 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

    46 min

  7. 2025-10-29

    Home By Country: Children’s Bedrooms Around the World - How Design Shapes Calm, Growth, and Better Living Ep #56

    Send us a text In the final episode of the Home by Country series, host Nico Smutylo takes you inside children’s bedrooms around the world to reveal how design can shape calm, growth, and better living. From Denmark’s sense of calm and longevity, to Japan’s adaptable simplicity, to Germany’s structured precision, this episode uncovers how global design philosophies teach children rhythm, focus, and independence—and how you can bring those ideas home. You’ll learn how a rug or Roman shade can ground the nervous system, how layered lighting supports better sleep, and how furniture height can teach independence. Nico shares eight actionable neuroaesthetic design principles inspired by international interiors—from the 70/30 balance rule to designing for growth and protecting the room’s purpose—to help you create a bedroom that truly supports your child’s mind and body. Whether you’re redesigning a nursery, a tween space, or a teen’s room, this episode blends neuroscience, psychology, and timeless design to help you build a home that nurtures calm and creativity. 👉 Explore free guides, blog insights, and join the Create Space Digital Course waitlist 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

    37 min

  8. 2025-10-15

    Home By Country : Across the Threshold - How the World Designs Entryways Ep #55

    Send us a text Have you ever noticed how stepping through your front door can instantly change how you feel? In this episode of Your Home by Design, Nico explores the psychology of entryways — why this often-overlooked space has such a powerful impact on our stress levels, mindset, and sense of belonging. From Japan’s genkan rituals to the layered warmth of French and Italian foyers and the quiet drama of Moroccan thresholds, discover what cultures around the world can teach us about creating a true moment of arrival. You’ll also hear five actionable design strategies to transform your own entryway — from defining your threshold and layering light to introducing rituals that calm your nervous system. Because crossing your threshold isn’t just about walking into your house — it’s about shifting from doing to being. 🎧 Listen now to rethink the most overlooked space in your home — and design a better way to come 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

    49 min
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About

 ** New episodes every other Wednesday! **Your home is more than just a place—it’s the backdrop to your life, shaping your mood, mindset, and overall well-being. In this podcast, Nico uncovers the powerful link between interior design and neuroaesthetics, exploring how your environment influences your brain, body, and sense of fulfillment. From practical design tips that make your space more functional and beautiful, to the science behind how thoughtful choices can boost your mental, emotional, and physical health, each episode shows how your home can become a tool for personal growth. Nico dives deep into how small design changes can foster better habits, help you become the person you want to be, and support a lifestyle that aligns with your goals for wellness and fulfillment. Whether you’re redecorating, renovating, or simply curious about the psychology of design, this podcast offers research-driven insights, expert advice, and heartfelt stories to help you create a home that doesn’t just look good, but feels good—and helps you thrive. Join Nico, founder of PARO, as she blends design expertise with the science of neuroaesthetics and wellness, showing how your space can elevate your health, happiness, and lifestyle.

Information

  • Creator
    Nico Smutylo - Founder of yourPARO.
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 your home by design
  • Show Website
    your home by design

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