Create a feel-good focal point
The first thing you see when
you enter your home should be something you love, whether that’s a piece of
art, a vase of flowers, or a special souvenir. A beautiful first impression
helps you relax.
Organize daily debris
If you see old newspapers on
the floor waiting to be dropped off, you’re going to think obligation, not
relaxation. Piles of stuff at your entryway send the message that there’s more
mess and chaos inside, and who wants to walk into that? Keep a designated place
for every item that enters and exits your house. Place a couple of chic
containers near the front door, one for outgoing items and one for incoming
things.
Create space
Our anxiety builds in small spaces
if there’s too much stuff. So in order to reduce the clutter and make the room
feel larger, one should ask if all those end tables or picture frames are
required and cut anything deemed non-essential. Consider painting a table or
bookshelf the same colour (or a similar one) as the wall it’s up against, so it
‘disappears’ into it. Painting walls white or a light colour will also make
smaller room feel more spacious.
Light up locations
Bright overhead light can make
it difficult to wind down at the end of the day. One should make use of spot
lighting for areas where one needs brightness, such as next to the sofa where
you read, and put overhead lights on dimmers. Also one can switch to
full-spectrum bulbs, which mimic natural light as they are better than standard
ones. Although they cost a bit more, they’re worth it because they create a
more soothing natural atmosphere.
Create pedestrian-friendly
paths
One should arrange the
furniture safely. If the path from the sofa to the door is cramped, rearrange
your furniture. Not being able to safely and easily move about produces
anxiety, not to mention an easy way to trip or stub toe.
Simplify your colour scheme
Use restraint with patterns and
loud colours. If you mix patterns, keep their colours schemes similar, and if
you like lots of colours, keep patterns to a minimum. If you have too many
bright colours or high-contrast patterns in a room, your eyes are going to be
drawn all over the place, making it difficult to relax. Simple designs and
colours, one the other hand, are soothing. The less-is-more rule applies to
shelves and tabletops too. Don’t fill them just because they’re there. Instead,
display just a few pieces that are meaningful.
Bring the outdoors in
Introduce a couple of
houseplants or hang a mirror across from the largest window to maximize outdoor
vantage points. If your view includes more building than trees, hang landscape
photographs on the walls.
Use soothing hues
Generally, we find cool shades
of blue and green and neutral earth tones to be relaxing because they remind us
of nature. If one is not ready to commit to new paint, one can incorporate a
few accessories, such as throw pillows, a quilt, or lamp shades, in calming
colours.
Switch off electronics
To rest easier, remove all
televisions and computers from your bedroom. The light emitted by these devices
signals the brain to stay awake, interfering with a good night’s sleep and
leaving you with elevated levels of stress hormones in the morning. If you must
keep these gadgets where you sleep, one can place the TV in a cabinet and
putting a screen between your bed and the computer.
Bring your fantasy to life
Think about what paradise looks
like to you. If it’s a tropical island, add sand and sea shades and tropical
touches, such as wicker side tables or a sea grass rug. Prefer a mountain cabin
or country home. The add colours, textures, and accessories to your bedroom
décor that call those setting to mind. Design is highly individual, so mine
your past experiences and flip through design magazines to identify what
elements make a room feel relaxing to you.
