Almost a year ago, our lives changed drastically. The pandemic forced us to stay at home most of the time. We have had to adapt to working and studying from home.
Faced with this unexpected change, many of us have had to adapt our homes to establish offices, classrooms, and gyms.
Since 2020, work and personal life have become intertwined. We work in the same space where we rest and relax, making it more difficult to leave behind the stress and pressure of our jobs.
While we stay at home, we must develop new ways to separate the different areas of our lives.
Now more than ever, our house needs to feel comfortable, safe, happy, and inspirational. By designing a calm and joyful environment, we can thrive in our daily tasks and wind down when work is done.
Discover 5 simple tips to improve your home and turn it into a pleasant and organised place.
Choose calming colours
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A nicely coloured room is not only aesthetic but can also have a positive impact on your mindset. Research suggests that some shades stimulate the brain while others have a stress-reducing, calming effect. For instance, natural shades like blues, greys, greens, whites, and beige are great choices for a peaceful home.
Thus, a home office featuring greens will increase concentration, while light blue tones have a calming effect. You can even decorate your walls with shelves or photographs without the risk of overloading the space.
There are two simple ways to redesign your home’s colours and turn it into an oasis of peace and joy.
The first option is to identify the most used areas; commonly the kitchen and the living room. Selecting gentle, neutral tones such as white or beige for these spaces will make it easier to create a cohesive look when selecting colours for other rooms.
The second approach is to begin
Let the sunlight in
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Natural sunlight will brighten your day and uplift your spirits.
Place your office near a window to make the most of the natural light and enjoy a view on the outdoors. This will help keep you feeling awake and relaxed during your work day. It’s also nice to keep curtains pulled to the sides during the day and let the sun shine inside your home.
Since we can’t leave the house as much as we did before, opening windows and letting fresh air into your house can provide a feeling of freedom. Additionally, opening windows helps maintaining good indoor air quality and increasing ventilation. Crisp, fresh air can help you feel calm and relaxed.
Keep your home tidy
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If you want your home to be a retreat from stress, you need to get rid of the clutter. A messy house can be a huge stressor and create anxiety and exhaustion.
If you’d like to start organizing your home, there’s plenty of resources for you. Whether it’s books, blogs or even Netflix shows: just choose your favourite way to get inspired! Alternatively, you can simply start by sorting your belongings into three groups: things to keep, things to recycle or donate, and things to throw away.
Decorate with plants and flowers
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Flowers placed in a pretty vase give any space in our house a relaxing and pleasant effect, for the eyes as well as the nose. Studies have found that potted plants can reduce stress and make people feel calm. A Harvard University study has even found that women who surround themselves with plants live longer and happier lives.
Some specific types of plants are known to lower stress levels. Some of them, like peppermint, chamomile, jasmine, and lavender can be incorporated inside the house as well as in a garden.
Although it may seem challenging to keep indoor flowering plants, some of them require less time and care investment. For instance, geraniums, orchids, jasmine, and peace lilies are low-maintenance plants that boast beautiful blooms and are easy to grow indoors.
Add cosy accents
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Throw pillows and blankets placed strategically in every bedroom and the living room give each space a softer, calmer, and more relaxing appearance. This will help you to rest whenever you feel tired or stressed. Plus, they’re also really comfy!
Additionally, using throw pillows and blankets is a simple way to add pattern, colour, and warmth to any room. It’s an excellent way to create a modern-looking, cosy home.
If you work from home but don’t have a designated office, they can also help separate your work space from your living area. Keep your desk and surroundings crisp and clean to promote concentration. Decorating the other spaces like bedrooms and the living room with cosy accents will help you relax while watching a movie or reading a good book once your work day in done.
Create your dream home now!
The new normal has pushed us to transition to new ways of living, working, learning, and having fun. Our lives have changed, and we are still adapting to these changes.
Making a few small changes to transform our homes can truly help us create peaceful and comfortable spaces where thrive and, above all, take care of our well-being, keeping us happy and relaxed until these pandemic times are over.
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This post was kindly submitted by Rocio Espinosa
About Rocio: I