How do you feel when you walk through your front door? Are you instantly at home, or is something just a little bit off? Do you like the place where you live, but wish it were somewhat more serene? In the interest of perfect domestic relaxation, we are pleased to present a selection of super-savvy tips and tricks that can make your home a whole lot more comfortable.
A simple sanctuary
Conquer clutter, ditch bad mojo, and remember that every room in your house counts. Clean and organize one space at a time, and don’t become overwhelmed. Such is the advice given by design pros at Veranda magazine. When your space is disorganized, feelings of chaos are bound to arise. Don’t allow your home to become a hodgepodge. Tackle tension when you define orderly spaces where you can live, play, and make yourself utterly at home.
Stash away your tchotchkes and replace them with simple things that inspire you. In lieu of a frantic display of dust-hungry Pez dispensers, place a lovely potted plant or a vase of freshly cut flowers. Green plants are imperative to a restorative, nurturing home environment. Plants provide health-giving oxygen as well as something peaceful to see.
Allocate spaces
A home that is gracefully laid out to include defined spaces for specific activities offers a sense of calm one never finds in a disorderly house. Consider the things you do in your home, and design a space for each of them. A harmonious balance of work, play, and relaxation spaces is sure to make you and everyone who enters your home more comfortable and relaxed. A carefully designed, ergonomic layout with defined spaces gives subconscious clues that it’s time to engage and succeed in a particular activity.
Make room (and time) for meditation. Crucial to a serene life, meditation is best accomplished in an uncluttered space devoid of distraction. If you think you can’t find a few minutes to clear your mind and decompress, please think again. Even twenty minutes of daily meditation can make you more awake, more present and more open-hearted in everything you do, according to the New York Times.
Pale walls, tatami mats, a beanbag chair and ottoman foot rest, a few floor pillows, and incense burners can be harmonious additions to any meditation room. If you’d like to know more about super comfy beanbag chairs, discover more at www.fombag.com/Fombag_Ottoman_Foot_Rest.html.
Consider color
Believe it or not, the paint and fabric colors in your home profoundly affect your mood. Certain shades send subconscious clues that let your mind and body know whether or not it’s safe to totally relax. Color choices are subjective, of course. Opt for wall and upholstery colors that cause you great calm.
According to people who study such things, the color red is psychologically associated with danger and desire. Red walls may increase respiration rate and boost blood pressure. Conversely, tones of verdant green suggest stability and safety.
To improve tranquility, choose soothing grays, peaceful blues, and cool greens. Neutral tones of ecru and beige are also quite soothing. Generally, you’ll want to stay away from vibrant, “hot” reds, oranges, and yellows. While perfectly nice in a floral arrangement, too many highly energetic colors can make it hard to kick off your shoes and relax, advise design experts at Freshome magazine.
Keep things clean and simple
Wash your windows ‘til they sparkle, and be sure to open them each and every day. Refreshing the air you breathe inside your home can improve concentration, boost energy, and contribute to a better, more serene sense of well-being. Sweep floors daily and never, ever leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight.
Remove every vestige of clutter from the room where you sleep. Keep only the essentials on your bedside table. Put worn clothes away or in the hamper before you turn in for the night, and never leave the house without making your bed. Invest in first-class, soft pastel bed sheets with a super high thread count. Replace the TV with an inviting beanbag chair and ottoman foot rest. Place a soft rug beside your bed for peaceful wake-ups.
No matter how grand or how humble your digs, the place where you live should always feel like home to you. Read a book about feng shui, purchase a dozen white candles, scrub your floors, and learn to relax at home better than you ever did before.
Holly Robertson is an interior designer working to make her client’s homes look fabulous. She shares some of her design and decor tips online too with her articles as well as in online discussions.
