During this isolation period, the lines between work and home life are blurring by the minute. Once a refuge from the business of our demanding working lives, for many of us our homes have now become our offices and classrooms too. So, here are five elements in which you can restore calmness and relaxation in your home. Of course, these aren’t just for the isolation period – we encourage you to integrate these elements into your home long-term as well.
1. Declutter
Nothing makes our anxiety spike more than home spaces overflowing with mess and household items. Take this downtime to declutter your home. Tackle each room at a time, cleaning, throwing away any unnecessary items (hello Marie Kondo!) and organising each space to suit your needs. Having everything in its right place will encourage calm and clarity, as well as ensuring that there are no frenzied searches for necessary items (like car keys) in a hurry.
2. Opt for natural and mood lighting
Exposure to the sun makes us happier and brightens our mood. It provides tranquillity and makes a space feel far more welcoming and comforting. Now, more than ever, it’s crucial to have that exposure to natural light.
If you’re building a new home, ensure the design contains plenty of large windows to flood spaces with natural light. For those who live in homes and apartments where natural light is limited, consider incorporating reflective surfaces (such as mirrors) into your home to boost your exposure. Soft mood lighting can also help to wind down and relax in their home.
3. Incorporate indoor plants
There’s a reason millennial homes are congested with indoor plants: they’re good for your mental health. Gardening is therapeutic, indoor plants purify the air and most importantly a proximity to nature reduces stress. Indoor greenery is a calming agent crucial to the home, especially if your access to nature or leafy spaces is limited.
4. Colours are crucial
Colours have a radical effect on our mood. Bright, sunny colours like yellow can help boost happiness; while soothing, natural colours like sky blue and green can create serenity within the home. If you need more calm in your home, why not consider a brightly coloured feature wall, or a statement floor rug for a pop of colour? When adding colour to the home, it’s best to do this in the form of accessories or décor that can be easily replaced with your mood. Big investment items like furniture are best kept neutral so they can match whatever style you desire (and don’t need to be replaced every few years).
5. Design rooms for their designated role
During this period where home and work are intertwined, you should reassess and designate functions to each room in your house. You want to move with purpose throughout your home, and you’ll also want to try and create boundaries between work and relaxation. For instance, use a study or spare room to work in. That way, at the end of the workday you can physically and emotionally leave your work in the room and come back to it the next day. This will allow you to properly destress and unwind at the end of the day in a restful and tranquil space such as the living room or your bedroom.
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If you’re interested in learning more about creating a calming space, or are ready to begin design and construction of your dream home on the Sunshine Coast, get in touch with the team at SX Constructions today!
