Beyond Aesthetics: Rachel Jackson’s Tips for Building Truly Supportive Spaces

May 13

What if the way your home looks isn’t nearly as important as the way it feels?

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In this week’s episode of Highly Affected by Her Surroundings, I sit down with Rachel Jackson—ADHD-friendly interior designer, neurodiversity advocate, and founder of Rachel Jackson Design and The Home Design Lab—to explore how thoughtful design can radically improve how we function, feel, and connect in our spaces.

Rachel brings nearly two decades of experience to the conversation, but her real secret weapon is personal: she lives in a neurodivergent household and has shaped her entire design practice around real-life needs—lighting, layout, clutter, contrast, and all the little details in between.

Here’s a peek at what we cover:

What most people get wrong when designing for ADHD, autism, or sensory sensitivity
Rachel’s simple, decision-free decluttering method (Piles Are Friends)
Why lighting, sound, and layout matter more than color palette alone
How even small upgrades—like curtains, rugs, or warm light bulbs—can support calmer nervous systems
The connection between functional design and healthier relationships at home

We also get personal—talking about the shame many people feel around disorganization, how design school skipped the real-life stuff, and why dark green walls and hooks in the closet might just be the best therapy out there.

Whether you live with ADHD, love someone who does, or just feel overstimulated in your space, this episode is packed with practical insight and warm, honest conversation.

Ready to rethink your space?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTFGFYHjo3g

Plus, podcast listeners get 50% off Part 1 of her Interior Design for ADHD-Friendly Homes course with code PODCASTLOVE.