Photo Credit: Daria Shevtsova, www.pexels.com

Many of us have ever-increasing schedules, which can often mean we are spending more time in an office rather than our own homes. With our fast-paced lives, we need to dedicate more time to consciously unwinding and no doubt one of the easiest way to execute this is to make some simple changes to your home to invite a more calming and relaxing environment.

Your home should be your sanctuary, a tranquil space to escape to after a hectic day. There is nothing worse than coming home to a space that isn’t inviting. The home should be a nurturing place, enveloping you with feelings of security and contentment and it’s clear that a hectic home that is full of clutter is not a relaxed one. To combat this, we’ve put together a few simple ways in which you can begin to make your home a more harmonious and peaceful space.

Bring the outside inside

Sometimes the best way to relax is to immerse yourself in nature. Placing some plants around your home can bring a breath of fresh air quite literally as they reduce levels of carbon dioxide in your home leading to cleaner air! Studies have shown that plants and their leaves absorb, diffract or reflect background noise, thereby making your home more peaceful.

Change up the lighting

When used correctly light can have a huge effect on our mood. Trade out stark white lights in your home for lights with a yellow hue. Yellow is a warming colour and can evoke feelings of happiness or joy. Yellow tones correspond to dusk and dawn, times when the body is generally more relaxed.

Optimise your bedroom for sleep

The room where you should feel the most relaxed is your bedroom. With our busy lives it can be hard to get enough sleep, so making sure your bedroom is cosy is key. Try adding some blackout curtains from Terrys Fabrics to ensure sleep isn’t disturbed. Blackout curtains can also help reduce noise from entering the room as well as protecting from unwanted light.

Try out some aromatherapy

Certain aromas can affect mood by eliciting a muscle-relaxing effect- so investing in some candles or diffusers can be a great way to unwind. Scents such as chamomile and lavender have been shown to reduce anxiety and create an overall feeling of calmness.

Create a reading nook

Try creating a reading nook in your house- a place that is technology free and away from work areas. Creating a reading a nook is simple, put up some bookshelves, get a cosy chair and add some fluffy blankets- hey presto you have yourself a reading nook. You could also purchase surplus items like a pair of glasses that is the height of fashion, a reading lamp, and the books that have been on your reading list for years, and it becomes a place that is so warm and welcoming. It suddenly becomes your go-to option when you need some time to yourself.  Spending some time losing yourself in a book is a great way to unwind.

Get rid of the clutter

Tidy house, tidy mind. Coming home to a messy home is unwelcoming. Regularly tackling clutter and throwing away things you don’t need will leave you in a better headspace. Try embracing minimalism. We don’t normally associate our physical possessions being linked with mental and emotional health however, the connection between the two is unarguable. Studies have found when we have clear-outs it has a massive impact on your mental clarity.