At the end of the day, you want to come home to a place that lets you unwind. Some people have a knack for creating a relaxing atmosphere in the home, but the rest of us have to work at it.
We’ve put together a few of the best ideas for making your home more relaxing. Incorporate just a few of them into your design, and you should see – and feel – the results.
Get Rid of Clutter
This is hands-down the most important suggestion on our list. In fact, it’s not a suggestion. It’s a requirement. If your home is cluttered, you’ll have a hard time relaxing.
Tackle one room at a time. Get rid of anything you don’t use, then give everything else a place in the room. Storage containers are a lifesaver because they keep things organized. If you have kids, you should have a basket or two in every room where there might be toys. You can quickly throw toys into these baskets when you want to tidy up.
(If you want to get really serious about removing clutter from your home, you can check out our guides on how to de-clutter your bathroom, living room, kitchen and bedroom).
Let the Light Shine In
Lighting plays a very important role in creating a relaxing environment. During the daytime, you want a lot of natural light to come into the home. This casts a warm glow throughout the space. At night, think about how you can incorporate various forms of task lighting throughout. For instance, you probably want some bright lights in the kitchen when you’re doing the dishes, but it’s nice to have a lot of alternatives beyond a bright overhead light in the living room or bedrooms. Instead, use lamps placed around the room for mood lighting.
Take Away Electronics
Studies are showing that there is some correlation between technology use and stress. If you want your home to be a more relaxing place, you should do your best to minimize the use of electronics. For instance, you might put your TV inside a cabinet so that it’s not the focal point of the room. You could also set up a charging station for phones and other devices that are far away from your bedroom. Don’t feel like you have to completely eschew the use of tech, but give yourself other things to do as well.
Build Quiet Spaces Into the Design
Your home should have a few quiet spaces where each person can easily relax in the way that suits them best. This might be a large soaker tub in the master ensuite, or it could mean turning the bonus room into a library. It might just be adding some bean bag chairs into the kids’ rooms. Everyone relaxes in a different way, so respect those preferences.
Choose Colours that Relax You
Colours make a big difference in how you feel. In general, bright colours like reds, oranges, and yellows are energizing, so most experts recommend decorating in cooler colours, like pastels, or colours inspired by nature. However, this is a personal choice. For instance, if you like the boho look, you might feel relaxed in a space decorated in rich colours and mixed patterns that others might find too stimulating.
Select Comfortable Furniture
If you want to relax, you want furniture that you can really sink into. Modern furniture has sharp lines and compact cushions that few would call cozy. Likewise, it’s hard to curl up in an antique chair, no matter how well it matches the look you like. Instead, choose furniture based on its comfort factor. Take time when making your choices. For instance, don’t be shy about lying down on a couch in the store if you think you might take naps on it. Take your shoes off and sit on the couch with your legs tucked up the way you normally would. Only after trying things out the way that you expect to use them should you make a purchase.
Add a Layer of Warmth
When your home is cozy, it just feels more relaxing. Look for ways you can add some soft warmth. For instance, you could choose a home that includes a gas fireplace. You can easily relax by the fire without worrying about getting wood or waiting for the fire to go out before you go to sleep. Area rugs feel nice underfoot, especially in rooms that come with laminate flooring instead of carpeting. Having blankets on hand can also make you feel more relaxed on cold winter nights.
Making your home a more relaxing place requires conscious effort. Stay focused on creating a home that feels right for you, and you can’t go wrong.
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