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