Everyone deserves a space where they feel safe and at peace. A space where relaxation comes easy and tomorrow’s to-do list doesn’t seem so daunting. For many, that space is their home.
If your home isn’t quite the tranquil sanctuary you long for, don’t fret. There are plenty of simple tricks and tips that can help you transform your abode into a calming space where you can finally relax and rejuvenate. The best part? No remodeling necessary!
Create the Ideal Sleep Environment
Creating a good sleep environment is one of the best ways to turn your home into a serene sanctuary. Getting a full night’s rest is associated with all kinds of benefits, one of which is helping you tackle daily stress more easily.
To ensure a good night’s sleep, replace your old mattress with one that provides optimal support and comfort. If your bedding is old and drab, upgrade to luxury bedding that makes you feel like you’re sleeping in a five-star hotel. Don’t forget to add lots of pillows!
Paint with Soothing Colors
Scientists have known for a long time that color influences our mood. Certain hues can be calming, while others can make us feel more productive and energetic. By picking the right colors for different spaces, you can achieve the feeling you want throughout the day.
For example, calming blues and greens are especially ideal for bedrooms, bathrooms and other areas where you want to feel more relaxed. Neutrals such as whites, beiges and lighter grays can also provide a soothing backdrop, making them a great choice for kitchens and living rooms.
Conquer Clutter
Ever wonder why it’s so hard to relax when the dishes are stacking up, your work desk is a mess and the closet is overflowing with clothes? Turns out, clutter can make us feel overwhelmed by all of our “stuff,” which negatively impacts our mental well-being.
Fortunately, the fix is simple: tidy up! If you’re the type of person who feels paralyzed by the mess in their home, try picking up one item each day and asking yourself, “Do I need this in my home?” If the answer is no, put it in a donation box.
Go Green
Want to feel happier and more relaxed in your home? It could be as easy as visiting your local nursery and buying more houseplants. Beyond their visual appeal, houseplants have been shown to increase productivity, reduce stress levels and improve your everyday mood.
If you have a black thumb, skip the trendy (but notoriously tricky to care for) fiddle leaf fig and opt for something easier to keep alive. Succulents, snake plants and ZZ plants are all great options for beginner plant parents.
Set Up ‘Wellness’ Zones
Everyone knows that self-care is a mental health must. But let’s face it, many of us forget to carve out time for self-care. One potential workaround to this problem is to create “wellness” zones in your home that encourage you to practice daily self-care.
Creating wellness zones doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive. In fact, it could be as simple as getting a bath caddy for your bathtub or tossing a weighted throw blanket on the couch to help you relax in the evening. By making your home more self-care friendly, you can set yourself up for a calmer, happier life.
Don’t Overlook Rugs
Area rugs are a great way to add texture appeal to a room while upping the cozy factor tenfold. Along with feeling soft and luxurious underfoot, the right area rug can bring new life into your space while helping with noise reduction.
While area rugs are typically used to cover hard surface floors like laminate and hardwood, they can also be layered over carpet. If you’re renting your home and can’t rip out the existing carpet, consider adding an area rug in a different texture to elevate your living space and make it feel more homey.
Rethink Your Lighting
It’s amazing how something as simple as changing a light bulb can completely transform the look and feel of your space. The right lighting can improve everything about your home, from its architectural design to its interior paint color. Of course, the wrong lighting can do the opposite, setting the wrong tone for the room and making certain spaces feel off.
If you want to give your home a relaxing vibe, pay close attention to the color temperature of the light bulb. For bedrooms, bathrooms and other calming spaces, choose lights with a lower Kelvin rating. Additionally, you could also install adjustable LED lighting which lets you make the color temperature warmer or cooler, depending on your preference.
Eliminate Funky Smells
Nobody wants to be trapped inside a home that wreaks of leftover food, litter boxes and diaper pails. Get rid of funky smells by opening the windows and giving your home the deep cleaning it’s long overdue for.
Once your home is spick and span, use a candle warmer to fill your home with relaxing and homey scents. Experiment with different scents until you find one that makes you feel at ease.
Not a fan of strong scents? Consider using odor neutralizers in smelly spaces — like the room with the litter box, for instance — to eliminate odor without dispersing an unpleasant scent.
Decorate with Love
Many of us follow trends and outfit our homes with the latest furniture from big home furnishing stores. And if that brings you joy, then great! But if the shopping “high” you experience tends to fade quickly, try focusing instead on creating a space that is authentically “you.”
One of the best ways to make your house feel like you is by sprinkling your home with personal items. Displaying family photos, meaningful mementos and unique gifts from people you love could be all it takes to make your home feel like a true sanctuary.
Turning Your Home into a Stress-Free Refuge
Everyone should feel relaxed and comfortable in their own home. If your home doesn’t give you feel-good vibes, try putting these tips into action. With a little paint and some carefully chosen décor, you’ll be well on your way to creating a calming environment.