Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Your home should be your sanctuary, note the editors of House Beautiful Magazine. Walking through the door should be the first step in helping you shed the stress and activity of the day in favor of calm and peacefulness.

It isn’t always easy. But while you can’t abandon your household duties or dial down the family noise level, there are steps you can take to create a more soothing ambience and a relaxing space, however small, that you can call your own:

• Conquer the clutter – Clutter produces physical and unconscious chaos. Get rid of old newspapers and other clutter before you leave home in the morning – and if there are children at home, put a plan in place to have them pick up toys and other clutter before you arrive home in the evening.
• Choose the right colors – Color impacts us on emotional, physical and psychological levels. Begin to become aware of how different hues affect you before deciding what color to paint your walls.
• Play up positive vibes – Notice the items in your home that bring a smile to your face; vacation photos, perhaps, or souvenirs that remind you of fun and uplifting times. Give them a prominent place in your décor to help boost your mood when you see them.
• Go back to nature – No matter your décor, try to find a place for natural elements – pine cones, driftwood, seashells or whatever – that bring nature into your home and encourage a feeling of serenity.
• Try plant power - Plants not only bring nature into your home, they help to clean and re-oxygenate the indoor air and lend an air of freshness and comfort.
• Pick a spot – Put an armchair and reading light in your bedroom – or even in a corner of your tech zone. Wherever you put it, begin to regard it as your personal retreat. Close your eyes and count to ten every time you sit in it. You may find yourself able to relax with very little further effort.

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