By Brian Acton
Home should be a place you feel safe, comfortable, and at ease. But when your job, family, or other responsibilities are stressing you out, your home may not feel very relaxing.
If your home isn’t providing any stress relief, some light touches can help transform it into a more serene environment. Here are eight tips to make your home feel more relaxing.
- Make a Good Entrance
The first thing you see when arriving at home should be pleasant and soothing. It could be a painting, pictures of your family, or another decoration. Whatever it is, a pleasant focal point near the entrance will create a good impression and help you ease into a relaxed mind state.
- Ditch the Clutter
If your home is covered in clutter that needs to be tossed out, donated, or put away, you may feel overwhelmed as soon as you walk in the door. Try to keep up with clutter and put it in its place on a consistent basis. While it may take a little time, it’s better than letting it pile up and create an overwhelming mess.
- Add Some Plants
Houseplants are good for the air quality in your home because they reduce carbon dioxide levels and remove pollutants from the air. They can also elevate your mood, as being around nature has been shown to reduce stress. Adding some houseplants to your home will lend some visual flair and help you relax.
- Focus on Memories
Photos from positive memories - such as family get-togethers or vacations - can easily give you a pleasure boost and help you forget your stress. Frame some photos to hang on the wall or display on bookshelves or tables. Just make sure that once you do, you actually look at them once in a while!
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Create a Tech-Free Space
Many studies have linked too much screen time to stress, poor sleep, and depression. While you don’t need to eliminate your screen time entirely, you should take a break from technology once in a while. Creating a tech-free area of your home can help. It doesn't need to be an entire room - it can be a corner with a beanbag chair and some books - but a space to get away from screens can help you unwind.
- Use Natural Lighting
A lack of exposure to natural light has been linked to higher levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) and lower levels of melatonin at bedtime. This can result in higher stress, poor sleep quality, and depression. Open your curtains and shades to let in some natural sunlight.
- Paint Your Walls Tranquil Colors
The color of your walls can affect your mood. If you’re trying to reduce stress you probably don’t want a lot of bold, striking colors in your home. Painting your home lighter shades of soothing colors, such as blue, violet, and pink, can create a calming effect.
- Make a Comfortable Bedroom
Your bedroom should be a sanctuary devoted to rest. The wrong bedroom setup can drastically affect your
ability to get a good night’s sleep, which in turn can raise your stress and leave you feeling exhausted. You may want to invest in some quality bedding, adjust the temperature of your bedroom, eliminate outside light, and take other steps to ensure your bedroom is optimized for sleep.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25424517
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban-mindfulness/200903/plants-make-you-feel-better
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mental-wealth/201211/screens-and-the-stress-response
