After a long day at work, it's understandable that you're going to want to kick off your shoes, pour yourself a nice glass of wine, and catch up on your favorite shows or even check your messages on some dating site. These tips will give you the peaceful haven that you've been dreaming of, without breaking the bank!
The Entry
1. Create pleasing focal point. The very first thing you see when you walk through the door should be something that makes you happy that you're home. It could be something as simple as a bouquet of your favorite flowers or maybe a piece of art that just speaks to you.
2. Organize your daily odds and ends. Whether it is your daily newspaper, your junk mail, or odds and ends that accumulate around the front door. Maybe you have some packages that you need to send out but haven't gotten a chance to. If there's anything cluttering your entryway, you're not going to be able to relax because you'll feel like you should be doing something. You can help organize your entry way by having a designated spot for mail, keys, book bags, purses, and other things that would normally get left by the door. Not only will this keep your family organized, but it'll be nice and neat.
The Living Space
1. Declutter. When a space is too full, we have a tendency to get anxious and feel like the world is closing in on us. To get rid of some of that claustrophobia, declutter! If your space is too small for large furniture, consider getting rid of a few pieces, or downsizing to a smaller living room set. You can help make the space look bigger by painting the walls a light color, have a few mirrors throughout the space, and use light colored curtains.
2. Be strategic with your lighting. Instead of using the harsh overhead lighting from the track lighting or ceiling fan, turn on one or two lamps. You don't want to light your whole space, just the areas where you're relaxing. If you want to use the overhead lights, install dimmer switches so that you can control just how bright the light is. Another great tip is to use full spectrum light bulbs because these will mimic natural light than other types of light that give off a yellow hue.
3. Create safe walkways. We've all been in that home where it doesn't seem like there is a clear path to walk because either there are toys in the way, furniture is blocking part of the walk way, or there isn't enough room to comfortably walk. It only takes about an hour to rearrange a coffee table, pick up toys, and organize your furniture in a way that allows for safe walking.
4. Choose a simple color palate. Avoid turning your living space into a Hodge podge of colors and patterns because this just makes everything look chaotic and just thrown together. Instead, choose one or the other. If you love patterns, keep them within the same color family. If you love color, avoid using too many patterns. When you have too much going on, it's going to be harder to relax.
5. Get in touch with nature. When you have nature inside, be it plants, flowers, or driftwood, they bring a peaceful element to the home. If you don't want plants in the house, you can bring the outdoors inside just by hanging a mirror in front of a window. If you don't have a nice view outside, you can also hang photographs of nature.
The Bedroom
1. Use muted, calming colors. In most homes, you'll find the bedrooms are painted a soft shade of blue, green, yellow, or other neutral tones. These are more relaxing because they remind us of being outside in nature. If you don't want to be committed to a wall color, you can use your bedding and accessories to bring color into your bedroom. What's nice about this is that you can change the color palate when the mood strikes you!
2. Turn off all electronics. We are glued to our phones, tablets, televisions, and laptops. However, the bedroom is a place where you go to relax and unwind. Make it a point to not allow any electronics in the bedroom (you can keep the cell phone in there, as long as it's only to be charged). If you have trouble falling asleep, have a book on your bedside table.
3. Make your bedroom reflex what you love. If you've always dreamed about going to Morocco, decorate your room to reflect that. If you've always wanted a beach house, add some wicker touches to your room. Your bedroom should be a place where you can surround yourself with things that make you happy. When you're happy, you can relax so much easier!
What do you do when you want to relax once you get home? Leave some of your tips and tricks on relaxation and what design style relaxes you the most!
