If home really is where the heart is, then taking care of your home and taking care of yourself are one and the same. And, let’s face it, if there’s any time when we could all use a bit of self-care, it’s right now.
It’s a stressful time to be alive. Every day, we’re facing a barrage of stressors. We’re assaulted by a 24/7 news cycle — almost all of it bad. Workplace digitization means most of us are carrying our offices around on our mobile phones, no matter where we go. And now our worlds are grinding to a halt as we collectively confront a global pandemic.
Now more than ever, we need our homes to be a safe haven. This article provides some quick and easy tips to help you transform your home into the sanctuary you and your family need to make today’s life stresses melt away.
Get the Junk Out
If you’re looking to transform your home into a stress-free zone, the first and most important thing you can do is put the kibosh on the clutter. After all, how can you possibly feel calm when you’re surrounded by chaos?
Of course, decluttering doesn’t mean taking a backhoe to the entire house — even though it might feel that way at first. What it actually requires is strategy and deliberation. It means figuring out what you actually want and need and nixing the rest.
This way, when you come home, you’re going to find yourself surrounded only by things that are useful or, more importantly, particularly meaningful to you. So when you look around your home, wherever your eye may land, it’s going to land on something good.
Set the Scene
Once you’ve cleared your home of everything that’s insignificant or inessential, you can now get to the fun part: tricking out your home to be the beautiful, serene oasis you’ve always dream of.
It starts with color. Choosing cool tones in complementary shades of blue, green, yellow, or purple can create a sense of peace of calm. On the other hand, rich, warm tones give a feeling of comfort and luxury.
And, if you’re looking for that feeling of inviting coziness, think beyond the earth tones and add some natural features into each room to really ramp up the serenity factor. Consider installing a water feature to infuse your room with the sounds of a murmuring brook.
Likewise, a gas log fireplace will not only add warmth on a cold winter’s night, but it will also illuminate your home with a soft, comforting glow. Best of all, you can choose the style that best suits the look and feel of your room, from a lush wooden mantlepiece to a sleek and modern iron inset.
Strategic Stress-Free Room Design
Another great way to make your home an oasis of peace is to ensure that your rooms are functional, dedicated spaces that serve you and your family’s needs well. Focus on designing, decorating, and stocking your kitchen, for instance, in a way that makes cooking and dining as seamless and stress-free as possible. This includes keeping your cabinets stocked with the things you need, and making sure your ingredients and your tools are easily within your reach as you cook.
It’s also a great idea to create a room dedicated solely for relaxation. This might mean tricking out your bathroom to resemble all the amenities of a luxury spa. Or, better still, it can mean creating a room for reading, napping, meditating, or doing gentle, calming exercises such as yoga or tai-chi. No matter how you choose to use this room, though, it should be a strictly no-fret zone. Ideally, when you walk into this room, all your worries will simply melt away!
The Takeaway
Now more than ever, we need our homes to be our sanctuary. If world events are teaching us anything right now, it’s the value of the peace and safety of home. So taking the time to transform your house into a refuge is far more than worthwhile. And it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money — just a bit of strategy and know-how. From decluttering and selecting the perfect paint scheme, to installing natural elements and creating designated spaces for relaxation, you can transform your home into the ultimate escape from the troubles of the outside world.
Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.
