Ask anyone to describe a relaxing home and they would use words like comfortable or peaceful or cozy.
Basically, a home that feels like the set of a Nancy Meyers movie.
When life is stressful or challenging (like an election year with major implications for the future) having a home that feels like a haven makes a huge difference in your overall sense of wellbeing.
Unfortunately, sometimes our homes are just another source of stress.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There are many simple ways to create a relaxing home environment where you can unwind and recharge.
Here are 7 secrets to creating a relaxing home.
1 | Get rid of clutter.
Clutter is a huge source of stress for a lot of people. You may not even realize that clutter is impacting how easily you can relax.
Disorganized spaces that are full of clutter signal that work must be done.
While you might be able to tune out the need to pick up or clean temporarily, you’re still aware that it needs to be done and that takes up mental space.
By dealing with the clutter, you eliminate the mental energy that prevents you from being able to kick back and truly chill.
Surfaces like counters, tables, and dressers are prime locations for clutter to build up.
Clean off those spaces and create a system to keep them free of clutter.
2 | Keep it clean (enough).
Just like clutter can prevent you from feeling calm, a dirty home can also make it hard to relax.
Does your home need to be spotless all the time? Definitely not!
But living in a generally tidy space will help you feel more at ease.
It’s hard to unwind when the sink is piled with dishes or laundry sits in baskets waiting to be folded.
To start, try doing a quick 15-minute clean-up before you go to bed. Load the dishwasher and clear off the counters.
Not only will you feel more relaxed, but you start the next day with a clean kitchen.
Get your kids in on the action. By getting school supplies and other belongings out of the main living area, you’ll be free to hang out instead of feeling annoyed that their stuff is all over the place.
3 | Use soothing paint colors.
You might think that painting your walls in your favorite colors is the best plan, but some colors naturally make you feel stressed no matter how much you like them.
Without even meaning to, you might be creating a less tranquil environment with the paint colors you choose. Because your walls take up so much visual space, the color has more of an impact.
This doesn’t mean that your walls have to be plain white or pastel colors, although neutrals often have a soothing effect.
Shades of blue and green tend to be calming in general. Think about how being outside, looking at the sky or ocean helps you feel less stressed.
In general, muted tones promote relaxation, while vibrant colors are less calming and more invigorating or even stress-inducing.
If you love bright colors, consider adding them to your home in areas where you want to feel energized rather than spaces where you want to relax.
You can also add bold or bright colors with accessories while keeping the walls more neutral.
4 | Bring nature into your decor.
Adding a little greenery to your space brings the peacefulness of nature inside, even if your plants are fake.
Faux plants are a great way to add some natural elements to your home if you’re less of a gardener and more of a plant killer.
If you want to try real plants, succulents are a good indoor option because they tend to be low-maintenance. Snake plants are also a hard-to-kill option in my experience.
Fresh flowers are another way to sprinkle some life into your home.
5 | Consider your lighting carefully.
Harsh or overly bright lighting can definitely make it hard to relax.
Installing dimmer switches makes overhead lighting adjustable so you can tone it down in the evenings when you want a more soothing vibe.
Table and floor lamps are also great options for softening the lighting in a room.
Lighting candles can help create a more relaxing home environment. Bonus points if they smell nice!
6 | Add cozy decor.
Soft blankets, throw pillows, and comfortable furniture all help to create an inviting and relaxing home where you can unwind after a busy day. This blanket is a favorite in my family.
Area rugs add texture and color to a room. They also help absorb sound in rooms with tile or hardwood floors and give your feet a soft place to land.
Family photos and personal mementos give your home personality and make it feel lived-in.
Just be careful not to overwhelm spaces with tchotchkes that make it feel cluttered and harder to clean.
7 | Manage your technology.
It’s hard to enjoy even the most relaxing home environment with the constant flurry of dings, chirps, and chimes that come out of our devices.
While it’s tempting to set your notifications so you never miss a thing, it also conditions us to be responsive and chained to our phones 24-7.
Setting boundaries with technology can not only reduce stress, but it allows you to be present in the moment.
A final note…
For a while now, minimalist homes full of neutral tones have been lauded as the gold standard. They look clean and spare and well, neutral.
But I don’t see any reason that a home with a more maximalist style of decor can’t be equally peaceful. There’s a difference between intentionally filling a shelf with collected decor and a pile of stuff on the kitchen island.
However, I know that for some people, any amount of stuff is distracting, intended or not. So the key is to figure out how much decor you can deal with and stick to that.
You can use any of these tips to immediately help create a more relaxing home where you can unwind.
Start with the spaces where you spend the most time and it will have an even bigger impact on your wellbeing.
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