There’s no place like home – especially when you’re dealing with the monumental stressors that today’s life hurls at you. But if your home isn’t a place of peace and is, instead, a place that’s cluttered and dingy, it won’t bring you much happiness. Find out how to de-stress your home for a more relaxing and stress-free environment.
It can actually stress you out to have a home that you don’t enjoy being in. Just a few tricks can turn your house into a sanctuary that you love to come home to and spend time within. Our homes have also become a place where we work more and more, so it’s important to have a nice environment so that the stress of working from home has less of an impact on us.
Visual Cues That Remind You of Happy Moments Can Help You Destress
A quilt that your beloved grandmother made, some pictures that remind you of loved ones and paintings that you cherish can turn a place into a real home that you can be proud of and love coming back to.
Use colours and images you love rather than cave into trends. Keep in mind that hot tones like orange, red and yellow can agitate you and raise your blood pressure. Colours such as green, blue and purple are calming.
Get rid of things past that you don’t enjoy seeing anymore. Things like pictures of relationships that ended badly and reminders of unhappy times should go in the bin.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on visual cues that can help to destress your home. Flowers from the supermarket, plants and design items that you love to look at can make your home a place you love to unwind, colourful cushions and throws for the sofa.
We’re now spending more time in our homes than ever. Winter months are especially gloomy if you don’t have a home that’s bright and peaceful. A plush throw on the sofa and small, glowing lamps placed around the room can help you recharge from a hectic day of work.
When you return from work, change into something comfortable that’s both pretty and soothing.
The perfect wine glass or mug can also be a visual cue that your day of stress has ended and now you get to enjoy the peace and quiet of your home. At the end of the day, keep technology out of sight – and out of mind.
Have a place where you can store computers and other electronic devices so you don’t have to look at them and be reminded of work. If you must keep your phone by your side, turn it down and decide if you really need to talk to the person at the other end if it rings.
A cosy rug can add colour and soften up a room – and it’s wonderful to sink your bare toes into. And a small water feature that fits on a table or in the corner of a room is peaceful to look at and listen to.
Take time to look around your home and think of what touches you might add (or subtract) that would make it more of a sanctuary than simply a place where you hang your hat.
It doesn’t cost much to cosy up a room and make it a bright and cheery place for you to look forward to coming home to. In fact, you may be tempted to take more days off and enjoy the tranquillity you created.
Have a Place to Store Technology
Too many gadgets and tight spaces can be a major source of stress. They’re always on your mind because they’re never out of sight, so you don’t connect with loved ones – or yourself — as much.
Today, there are ways to store your technology gadgets so they’re out of sight and out of mind until you need them again. Headphones are easy to lose and sometimes get tangled and difficult to tuck away.
Install a simple coat hook under your desk and tuck away the earbuds and headphones so you’ll always know where they are, but they’re out of sight. You can also use an old badge clip to keep the earbud wires from venturing apart.
Storage experts such as IKEA offer some great ways to tidy up your workspace. One is a monitor shelf with pull out storage beneath. You can store all your peripherals in the cabinet and not have to constantly view the tangle of wires.
If you have tons of electronic devices, but no central place to charge them, consider a power station where you can plug in charger cords for all your phones, cameras and other devices. If your wires keep falling on the floor a simple way to keep them in place on a desk is using simple cable clips.
The three-socket power strip lets you juice up a printer, phone and computer at the same time. Cable storage is another problem that can turn a tidy home into a mess of wires and clutter.
A simple and inexpensive solution to hide cables is to get a cardboard box that fits beneath your desk. Cut two openings on the sides and slide the cables inside the box.
If you really want to get creative, use empty toilet paper rolls to organize and store wayward cords. Tuck them all into a box for easy identification and compact storage. You might want to commandeer a drawer in a desk or hutch.
Fasten a power strip to the back of the drawer and then plug in items such as a computer, iPad and mobile phone. Shut the drawer and you won’t see them again until you’re ready to use them.
Use stackable shelves to store routers in the same way you could store other gadgets. They’re out of sight and plugged in neatly with the creation of a small space in the back of the shelf where the wire can fit through.
Another way to hide an unaesthetic-looking router is to take the pages out of an old and unused book and store your router between the covers. Printers can take up a lot of space on a desk or dresser.
Hide it in a drawer by transforming the front panel of the drawer into one that you can open and close. It’s easy to install hinges that let you open and close the front panel for easy access. You’ll also need to drill a hole for the wire connection in the back of the drawer.
There are so many ways to get rid of unsightly wires and electronic devices. Many can be found online and are easy to assemble. A little ingenuity goes a long way and does a great deal for the organization and decluttering of your home.
De-stress with Cosy Spots for Rest and Relaxation
There’s nothing better than having a special place to curl up with a good book or listen to music while you unwind from a hectic day or week. A personal space for creating your own joy and peace can be a boon to your relaxation process.
Inside and out, relaxation spots created with just you in mind and where you alert others that you don’t want to be disturbed can work wonders in reducing stress in your life. Save another area of the home for stuff you sometimes dread – like bills.
No matter what the size of your home, you can find a cosy space to relax and enjoy with a little creativity. Do you have a corner that’s unused or cluttered? Transform it with a comfy chair, appropriate lighting for reading or sewing and a small table for tea or a glass of wine.
Comfortable seating and good lighting are essential elements for your nook. It doesn’t have to be a large area and you don’t have to spend money on furniture. Use floor cushions and pillows for seating.
If you have a bit of a larger area, try a rocking or lounge chair and a standing lamp. Many homes have small loft or mezzanine spaces that you can turn in to a reading area. Get some shelving for books, a lamp and some cushions and be inspired to relax.
A small area that’s filled with natural light is the perfect spot to unwind. Add an indoor plant or two and it becomes your own happy place. Blocking yourself off from others or distractions is also simple.
Get creative by hanging a bed canopy from the ceiling so it drapes down over your lounging area. It’s also a good space for kids if they have trouble studying or reading. Decorative pillows and a comfortable throw are inviting and get you in the mood for relaxation.
You can also create a rest and relaxation spot outdoors. Patios or balconies can be made cosy and inviting with plants, fountains and other landscaping ideas. Surrounding yourself with nature is good for you, both physically and mentally.
Give yourself and comfortable place to sit with cushions and pillows and add some string lights and a fire pit for mood-lifting. Outdoor art such as a sign saying relax is a good way of reminding you why you created the spot.
Use other art that you enjoy to help you relax. A stone or clay fountain or gentle chimes can create beautiful and relaxing sounds that help you unwind from busy days or weeks.
Comfortable hanging chairs are like swings, but can also let you curl up with a good book or enjoy a glass of wine while outdoors. Or, try a hammock for relaxing. The gentle movement may lull you to sleep.
Pools can be relaxing and also good exercise, but if that’s not in your budget, consider a spa or spool (small pool) area just for dipping in, cooling off and relaxing. A peaceful place to dwell and unwind helps us to recharge our inner batteries for the future.
Don’t Ignore the Ambiance of Your Bedroom to Reduce Stress
Even though you might be the only one who sees your bedroom, you spend a great deal of your time there. So, it makes sense to make it comforting and inviting. Making your bed each morning helps to invite you back home from a long day’s work.
You may be the only one who sees your bedroom, but it’s important in the scheme of things for you to look forward to entering it. Natural light is a good thing to welcome into your bedroom, but to maintain a normal, rhythmic body clock, you may want to consider roll-up blinds and use them when you’re sleeping.
You’ll want to declutter your bedroom as much as you can to make it a more relaxing space. An organized bedroom where clutter is either put or thrown away allows you to de-stress and make relaxation and sleep easier to come by.
Rethink your bedsheets and coverings. When possible, purchase natural-fibre sheets at a minimum of 400 thread count.
A relaxing and beautiful bedroom is the perfect setting for a night of restful sleep. There are also relaxing oils you can use in the bedroom. Lavender is an oil that is known to help people relax and clear their minds to make way for a good night’s sleep.
Candles can also add ambience as you’re lying in bed and listening to soft music or a podcast designed to help you relax. Be sure to snuff them out before you go to sleep. Use a combination of texture, colour and pattern to create a relaxing design.
Let nature inspire your bedroom by painting it a soothing colour such as light green. Add window treatments that create an airy feel and bring in green plants and a small, tabletop fountain to relax you even further.
Visit showrooms and thumb through decorator magazines to find the perfect bedroom ideas for your home. No matter how you decorate, be sure you choose the correct lighting.
Experts say that pink light bulbs are the best choice for the bedroom, and you can add dimmer switches and wall lights to create an even more relaxed ambience. You can play up the visual details of your bedroom by adding some extras.
To play up your bedding, add some interesting textures and shapes such as pillows or a throw. Beaded or velvet pillows are a nice touch to any bed and can cosy up any room in an instant.
Treat yourself to some amenities in your bedroom like you would find in a five-star hotel. Perhaps a pretty bed tray to enjoy a morning cup of coffee and a tea-set to serve it in can help bring a relaxing moment to the beginning of your day.
Your bedroom should be the ultimate sanctuary in your home – a place that draws you to it when you’re tired from a stressful day and need a place to retreat and relax and sleep peacefully.
Bring Elements of Nature Into Your Home
Most of us don’t choose to live totally outdoors because of its fickle nature, but you can bring the elements for nature into your home and your life to create a calm and serene environment.
Greenery is a good way to bring nature indoors, improve the air quality in your home and help you relax. Water features can also be brought indoors. The sound of water has always been considered a soothing way to relax.
There are so many designs and sizes of water features to choose from that you shouldn’t have a difficult time finding one that appeals to you. Besides greenery and fountains, there are other ways you may not have thought of to bring the outdoors in.
Placing a hammock in a sunroom, or other well-lit areas of the home can be a relaxing place to sit when it’s raining or cold outdoors. When you close your eyes, you’ll feel like you’re gently swinging outdoors, but you’ll be safe and warm inside.
Fragrant herbs in containers can bring in scent and beauty to your kitchen and make it a very pleasant area to be. It’s also great for cooking dishes that are so much better when using fresh herbs.
Natural textures, fibres and patterns that recreate the outdoors are helpful to create the ambience of nature. Rattan, jute, wicker and rattan can create an oasis indoors. Adding baskets and rugs that imitate nature will also bring the outdoors in to create a space for you to relax.
Colours inspired by nature such as the browns of earth and green of grass and plants are relaxing and blues that reflect the water and sky are wonderful and soothing. Neutral tones make the indoors feel natural and clean (white and tan).
You can use such colours as paint on the walls and also in your window coverings and various elements of décor. Wood, cork and bamboo as flooring is warm and inviting choices rather than the coldness of man-made fibres and materials.
Also, use nature in the decorations you choose. Seashells, interesting pieces of wood, rocks and sand are inexpensive and add depth to any room. Use photographs of these elements if you don’t have real items.
Scents that bring the outdoors in invoke feelings of calm. Woodsy and floral scents can calm and relax. Don’t forget the sounds of the outdoors too. You can download apps that recreate the sounds of wind, rain or waves and others.
Let natural light flow in from all your windows and open the windows when nature cooperates to let in the fresh air rather than running the air conditioner. Fruits and vegetables are also elements from the outdoors.
Lemons, limes, oranges and mint can bring fresh scents and nature’s colours to your indoor areas. Fill bowls with them and enjoy the good health benefits when you consume them.
Even if you’re on a tight budget it’s easy to bring the beauty of nature inside. Get ideas online or from magazines and most of all – use your imagination. Nature calms the mind and body and you can’t find anything that beats its colours and designs.
Think outside the box when bringing nature indoors. It will help you feel comfy and at ease in your home and you’ll gain many wonderful benefits from nature’s soothing effects.
Home should be a place that you enjoy being in. By making it tidy, peaceful, light and colourful it will help your stress levels to lower and let you breathe!
