Create a Relaxing Home

 There’s so many of us that live with the perpetual stress and overwhelm of our work lives along with the horrific news we get on a daily basis. Your home should be your sanctuary. A place where you can unwind from a long and stressful day. So why not take the time to make your home into the haven you desperately need? It’s easy to create a relaxing home, just follow these five tips!

Turn Up The Texture

  

                               

Materials like wool, linen, and chunky knits will create a casual and relaxing vibe. Anchor your room with a wool or jute blend rug. When your feet feel relaxed, the rest of your body will follow suit. Linen blend pillows and drapes look refined, but casual and relaxed at the same time. Add in a throw with a soft spun luxurious feel and your home will feel more relaxing in no time.  

Incorporate Rounded Shapes

                            

Curves go a long way in creating a relaxed mood. That’s because rounded edges are more soothing to the eye than straight lines and sharp corners. Try incorporating some round edged furniture into your home. If you have a square coffee table, add at least one round side table.  Use round elements, like candles and large organic vases in your vignettes to break up all those (rectangular shaped) books.

Add Soft Colors

                         

Use color science to your advantage. Soft versions of blue and green are a great way to create a tranquil feel in your home. Check out this post with the greens of the year. If you don’t want to paint the walls blue or green, just add a few blue  accessories or some landscape art. Warm neutral colors and light wood tones will also go a long way in helping to create a casual and relaxing home.  

Use Calming Scents 

                                  

Candles and oil diffusers always help make a home feel more relaxed. “Smelling essential oils activates the emotional center of the brain. It may also affect hormonal levels and regulate the nervous system, leading to increased feelings of relaxation .”  

Most people use lavender for relaxation purposes. If you’re like me and you hate lavender, you can take the sharp edge off with a blend. Try lavender and vanilla or lavender and chamomile. If you’re still not into it, don’t worry. There’s other options out there to help you unwind…

• Like lavender, bergamot essential oil also contains linalool, which helps reduce blood pressure and anxiety.
• 
  
• Ylang-ylang promotes calmness and reduces stress, making it a good option for unwinding and de-stressing at the end of a long day.
• 
  
• Rosemary is associated with feelings of contentment, and it’s been shown to have positive effects on performance and mood. Rosemary can reduce cortisol levels, which can help relieve anxiety and stress.

Ground Your Space With Nature

                  

Nature has the ability to calm the mind like nothing else can. If you’ve got a backyard with ample foliage, clip some greenery and bring it in. It doesn’t even need to have flowers on it to be beautiful. If trees and plants aren’t accessible where you live don’t worry. There’s plenty of good fakes out there. 

It’s not hard to make your home feel more relaxing. Just consider adding texture, rounded edges, soothing scents, tranquil colors, and some greenery. It will get you one step closer to a home you love.

Wishing you a beautiful, and relaxing, week ahead.