My 9 Favorite Things about October
October, with all its textures, colors, and quiet transitions, always reminds me to pause and notice the little things. neuroesthetics, the study of how beauty, art, and sensory experiences affect our brains, tells us that joy is not simply emotional, but physiological. Beautiful environments activate neural pathways that reduce stress, boost well-being, and enhance resilience.
Here are my nine favorite sources of joy this month, framed through both design and the lens of neuroaesthetics and design:
1. Walks with Falling Leaves (barefoot of course)
The sound of crunching leaves and the movement of color overhead engage multiple senses at once. These multisensory experiences stimulate the brain’s pleasure and reward centers, while also quieting stress responses.
It inspires me to bring that same sense of release into my own spaces, clearing clutter, creating calm, and making room for new energy. Bringing this concept into the home can be as simple as designing spaces that encourage pause and reflection, places where we can also “let go.”
2. The Golden Light
Natural light is one of the most powerful aesthetic experiences. Research reveals how warm light increases serotonin, enhances mood, and promotes calmness. That golden October glow transforms even the simplest moments into rituals of joy. In design, maximizing daylight and honoring its seasonal shifts allows our homes to support emotional balance.
3. Cozy Layers
Texture is deeply tied to neuroaesthetics, touch influences the brain’s sense of comfort and safety. Wrapping up in linen, wool, or velvet activates sensory pathways that reduce stress and increase feelings of security. In design, layering tactile elements makes a home not just visually beautiful, but physiologically soothing.
4. Harvest Flavors
October is a celebration of the senses. Cooking with what’s in season always grounds me, whether it’s baking an apple crisp or making roasted squash soup. It connects me back to nature’s rhythm.
Taste and smell are powerful neuroaesthetic triggers. The aroma of cinnamon or the sweetness of apples instantly connects us to memory and emotion, activating the limbic system, the brain’s emotional center. Seasonal flavors do more than nourish the body; they reinforce a sense of belonging and grounding in the cycles of nature.
5. Lake Reflections
Research shows that being near water increases dopamine and oxytocin levels, improving mood and reducing stress. Watching the mirrored dance of autumn leaves across a lake is more than beauty, it’s the brain’s restorative response to water and pattern. These “soft fascinations” give our minds space to rest, restore, and reflect. I find endless joy in watching how October paints the water’s surface. Reflections of fiery maples and golden aspens are fleeting art shows, never the same twice.
6. Gathering with Loved Ones
The sound of laughter, the warmth of a hand on yours, the flavors shared around a table, nourishes us on every sensory level. These environments amplify oxytocin and dopamine, the brain’s “connection and joy” chemicals. Designing spaces for gathering nurtures not just community, but neurological health.
7. Candles & Firelight
Nothing beats the glow of a candle or a fire on a chilly October evening. Light, both natural and created, has an extraordinary ability to shift energy and create sanctuary. The flicker of firelight has universal aesthetic appeal. Rhythmic, dynamic visuals like flame calm the nervous system and focus attention. It’s one of my favorite design elements to layer into a home.
8. Seasonal Rituals
Seasonal rituals, like carving pumpkins, decorating the porch, or journaling with a warm cup of tea, are more than just fun traditions. Neuroaesthetics shows us that these small acts of ritual and symbolism create meaning in our lives and spark positive emotions in the brain. When our homes provide space for creativity and expression, these rituals become even more joyful and memorable.
9. Connection to Nature
Even as the days shorten, nature offers endless joy, changing colors, migrating birds, crisp air. Biophilic design and neuroaesthetics both highlight how our brains are wired to respond positively to these natural cues. Building nature into our daily lives, whether through a view, a walk, or natural materials in the home, supports both joy and health.
OM Takeaway
Joy, for me, lives in both the extraordinary and the everyday, the golden light on an October afternoon, the sound of leaves underfoot, or laughter shared around a table. Through my work in neuroaesthetics and design, I’ve come to understand what my heart has always known: beauty, light, texture, ritual, and connection aren’t luxuries, they’re essential to the way we thrive. The spaces we live in shape not just how we feel, but how our brains restore, renew, and heal.
At Fusion Designed, my passion is bringing that same sense of joy into your project, creating a home that feels deeply personal, supports your well-being, and becomes a sanctuary for mind, body, and spirit.
This October, I hope you’ll pause to notice your own nine joys. Let your senses lead you, savor the rituals that bring comfort, and imagine what it would feel like to bring that same joy into your home. Because in the end, joy isn’t only the truest measure of design, it’s also one of the most powerful gifts we can give ourselves.
About the Author
Sheree Vincent, ASID Allied, Green AP, Feng Shui Master, Science in Design Certified
Sheree is the award-winning principal designer behind Fusion Designed, a Twin Cities–based interior design firm pioneering holistic design. With expertise spanning sustainable design, biophilic principles, Feng Shui, and neuroaesthetics, she creates sanctuaries that balance beauty, function, and well-being. Sheree’s mission is simple yet powerful: to design spaces that nurture mind, body, and spirit—while honoring the Earth.
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