Interior Design as a Tool for Empowering Women and Improving the Quality of Family Life
The Women’s Affairs Unit at the Center of Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies at the University of Baghdad organized a workshop entitled “My Home… My Space: A Scientific Study Highlighting Interior Design as a Tool for Women’s Empowerment and Improving Family Life.” The workshop was presented by two faculty members at the center, Assistant Lecturer Noor Aref and Assistant Lecturer Maha Amer.
The workshop aimed to highlight the pivotal role of women in shaping the residential environment, moving beyond the traditional concept of housekeeping to the realm of conscious decision-making in design. This approach integrates engineering and psychology, as an organized home environment directly impacts the mental and physical health of family members. Calming colors and good lighting help reduce stress and improve mood, while disorganization and visual clutter lead to distraction and additional psychological pressures.
The two faculty members discussed the role of women in empowering themselves by using interior design principles to improve quality of life in practical and economical ways. They pointed out that women are capable of transforming small, budget-conscious homes into comfortable and beautiful spaces by utilizing space intelligently, reusing resources, and minimizing waste. The workshop also highlighted the major obstacles women face in designing their homes, such as limited space and budgets. However, awareness of design principles like balance, unity, and harmony can transform these challenges into opportunities for personal creativity that reflects a woman’s identity and fosters stability within her family.
The workshop concluded with a set of “golden rules” to guide women in managing their personal space at home. These rules include dividing the space into areas for daily and frequent use, as well as storage, while maintaining a visual balance between primary, secondary, and bold colors. It also emphasized placing frequently used items in easily accessible locations to minimize physical effort and time.
