Your home should feel like a sanctuary, a place where you can leave behind the stresses of work and worries of the world. Sometimes, home doesn’t feel all that relaxing, however. It’s time to change that. Here are four ways you can create a more relaxing environment at home:
1. Keep things tidy and clean.
Organization and cleanliness can help you feel relaxed at home. Research shows that people with cleaner homes are healthier and less likely to experience depression and fatigue. A cluttered home also cuts into a person’s ability to concentrate.
Your home doesn’t have to be perfect and look like something out of a TV show, however. You just want to be able to sit in it without feeling like you’re in the midst of a mess, which is often a visual reminder of other “to-dos.”
Cleaning can be difficult for people with disabilities and the elderly. Hiring house cleaners is one option, if it’s financially feasible for you. Using products that can help people who have trouble cleaning is another option.
2. Be strategic about furniture placement.
Feng shui, an ancient Chinese belief system, provides instruction on how to arrange your home in a manner that allows positive energy to flow throughout the home. You don’t have to become a feng shui guru to arrange your furniture in a way that creates a relaxing environment, however.
Make sure your entryways and hallways are clear and easy to walk through. Place your furniture in places that make the most sense in terms of how you use the space. If there is a coffee table that you always bump into, move it! The best furniture placement is the one that best fits your life.
3. Use calming colors in wall paint, furniture, and decor.
Scientists have studied the effects colors have on humans for decades. It has become common knowledge that red and similar shades such as orange and hot pink are more arousing, while cooler colors like blue, pastels, and neutral shades are more relaxing.
You can still use warm and bright colors as you decorate. Limit warm and bright colors to accent colors. For example, if you want red in your living room, the room will likely feel calmer if you stick to red throw pillows rather than painting the walls red. Finally, keep the boldest colors out of the rooms you want to feel most relaxed in, such as the bedroom.
4. Use houseplants to create a peaceful yet lively ambiance.
There are many good reasons houseplants are trending right now. Plants act as a natural air purifier, which is just one way they are good for health. Plants can reduce stress, and caring for plants can make you a more caring person in general.
Taking care of houseplants, also called “horticulture therapy,” may also be a way to treat severe mental illness and physical illness such as cancer.
Have fun using these tips to turn your home into a relaxing oasis!
Bio: Erin Keong is a passionate lifestyle expert with FamilyLivingToday.com. With a passion for interior design and for budgeting, Erin is passionate about making beautiful spaces on very little money.
