We’ve all said it before: “I just want to relax”. Whether your idea of relaxation is falling asleep on the beach, taking a trip to a spa, or camping miles away from civilization, everyone craves relaxation. Most of us can’t take a month-long trip to the beach or skip work for a deep-tissue massage, but a relaxing oasis really isn’t that hard to achieve. We’ve searched high and low to discover the best tips for creating a relaxing home environment. With these tips, transform your home into a magical, relaxing oasis that’s right at your fingertips.
COLOR
Color impacts most people psychologically, emotionally, and sometimes even physically. Studies have shown that colors can not only make people feel a certain way mentally, but can also change body temperature, appetite, and energy levels. While many follow a general rule of thumb for color theory (check out the color psychology chart below), the reaction each person has to color can be heavily influenced by their culture and personality, so you should try to think about how certain colors affect you as an individual before committing to painting your whole house periwinkle.
CLUTTER
Clutter = Chaos. Clutter is essentially the archenemy of productivity and relaxation. It not only makes it more challenging to find whatever you’re looking for, but it also creates a hazy feeling of unrest just being around it. Cleaning up clutter is one of the best ways to create a more relaxing home, but it can be a difficult task if you’re surrounded by clutter left and right. Try to break down your de-cluttering by room or section so the task doesn’t seem so big and daunting. Once one area is done, you’ll feel better and moving to the next area won’t seem so scary.
NATURE
Most of the human existence was spent in an environment where technology, sophisticated shelters, and artificial light were completely non-existent. The majority of our ancestors were completely surrounded by nature their entire lives. As a species, we’re used to nature, we’re innately drawn to it, and being around it makes us feel happier and more at ease. Bringing plants and natural elements into your home can foster a sense of inner calm and peace while helping to clean and re-oxygenate the air in your home. Some plants promote clean air better than others, so if that’s a priority for you be sure to do some research first. Here are a few known to help with toxins in the air:
POSITIVE VIBES
No matter how much cleaning, brightening, and planting you do, nothing will help you create a relaxing home if it’s filled with items that give you negative feelings. If you have bad memories attached to that vase on your mantle, and every time you look at it you get a traumatic flashback, get rid of it. Removing items that are associated with unwanted memories or feelings will help you attain that peaceful and relaxing environment in your home and your mind. Opposite to this, make sure you also pay attention to the items you own that have a positive association for you. Put those items that inevitably make you smile out in the open to bring out those positive thoughts more often.
LIGHTING
Natural light is one of the easiest and most peaceful types of light you can have in your home. Swap out your heavy, opaque curtains for something lighter and more transparent. Letting in that natural light will open up your home, make it feel bigger, and add a sense of breezy calm to the environment. When it comes to artificial lighting during overcast days or late at night, aim for smaller lights that have dimming options and give off softer ambient light. Try to avoid fluorescent lighting and consider using natural light bulbs in their stead.
FURNITURE
This very much boils down to personal preference. You want to make your home inviting and comfortable in order to achieve that peaceful, zen environment. But the comfort of a wool blanket and big armchair for some might be too heavy or claustrophobic for others. Take note of your personal preferences for fabrics, furniture size, and decor style. These may also change if you live in an area with drastic seasons. Summer preferences may lean more towards light and airy while winter preferences may be more about thick and soft. If you’ve noticed you have incredibly varied preferences depending on the season, pick out big furniture pieces (like couches and beds) that you can decorate either way and swap out your accessories (pillows, throws, etc) as the seasons start to change.
Have some awesome designs for a relaxing home that you’d like to present to your clients? Send us a message here and we can create a beautiful rendering that perfectly embodies your peaceful visions. Don’t forget to browse our Residential Gallery to see some relaxing home designs we’ve brought to life in the past!