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Create a Calm and Stress-Free Home – BHGRE #HappyHome

The colors and décor you incorporate throughout your home are important when creating a soothing and calming environment. Discover what the best colors are for different rooms and learn how to create different vibes. Learn about which textures, scents, and décor will make your home feel warm and inviting.

Color

The colors you choose for your walls and accessories throughout your home can set the stage for a soothing or calming space. Certain colors can elicit specific emotions in us, so whether you’re redecorating or want to bring a certain energy to a room make sure you choose the right color scheme.

Soft pastels and light colors: Soft pastels and lighter colors can create a serene space and even lower your blood pressure. Considering your bedroom is where you want to unwind after a long day, we recommend aiming for a soft or light blue.

Warm colors: Warm colors such as yellow, orange, and red often make people think about sunshine and joy. These colors are also usually stimulating, so we recommend using them in rooms with lots of activity. For the kitchen, a place where people often gather and eat, consider a light yellow to create an uplifting and happy feeling.

Cool colors: Cooler colors such as certain blues and purples are known to be calming. They are also great for making a smaller space feel larger. Blue is used to treat pain and inspire feelings of security and serenity. Purple is known for making people feel creative. Aim for a soft lilac or lavender to create a calm space. The color green can help reduce anxiety and clear your mind. Green also provides an outdoorsy feel and is associated with nature, making people feel calm. These colors are great to use in bathrooms and bedrooms where you want to relax and unwind.

White and neutral colors: Painting your walls white is an excellent way to make your home feel spacious and open while leaving people with a clean and pure feeling. White rooms have also been known to reduce stress levels. If you want a light neutral paint color, a light taupe can make a space feel elegant and provide an airy feel. A light gray is another excellent alternative that can make a space feel fresh and bright. A cool gray can create the appearance of a larger room but still feel cozy.

Texture

Discover how to make your house feel like a home by incorporating various textures to create a sense of coziness. By layering and combining different fabrics, you can transform your home into an inviting space. Textures also add movement to a room, which makes spaces feel more balanced. When trying to make a warm space, use soft items. Since soft items don’t contain hard lines, they visually have a relaxing effect. Keep in mind, when creating your homey atmosphere, touch is also an important factor to consider. Whether you want to update your furniture or add different accessories, make sure you enjoy touching the material. A few great material options include:

Velvet: Due to how soft velvet is, it’s the perfect material for couches and pillows. It has a luxurious feel and adds a touch of sophistication and glam to any space without sacrificing comfort. Considering velvet’s popularity is rapidly increasing, there are a wealth of options and finishes to choose from.

Knit: Chunky knits and throws are great way to increase the cozy factor. Add one or two knit pillows to your couch for optimal comfort.

Silk: Silk, being shiny and soft creates a delicate look.

Faux fur: Fur accents can invigorate a space by adding warmth and dimension. Not only is it comfy, but there are also a ton of different types and colors available.

Chenille: Chenille is a plush fabric that is not only soft to the touch but has a characteristic look. Since Chenille is also versatile, it’s an excellent fabric for creating cozy comforters, bedcovers, cushions, or even headboards. Luckily, it’s also a durable fabric.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when working with textures.

Don’t be afraid to layer! A vital room to focus on is the bedroom because we all need a cozy and warm place to unwind and get a peaceful night’s sleep. Beds that people want to curl up are usually layered with sheets, quilts, and soft blankets. The layering of fabrics often looks comforting and warm.

Natural and earthy looking materials such as wood and stone can also make a space feel more welcoming. When looking for different textures, play with ones that feel like you’re bringing the outdoors in.

Mix textures to create an attractive contrast, such as a soft rug over wood flooring. Rugs are not only visually appealing but keep your toes nice and warm and even help dampen sound.

Scent

Lavender: Lavender is a multipurpose plant and a go-to scent for relaxation. The scent can help calm not only the mind but your body as well. Lavender is commonly used in aromatherapy since it helps promote calmness and wellness. The fragrance is also used to help treat insomnia. Before you go to bed, massage lavender oil to the ski or try spraying lavender on your pillows before you go to sleep. Eucalyptus: Eucalyptus can help you destress, clear the mind, and even help with breathing. Keep a piece of Eucalyptus in your shower so you can inhale it and relax. The steam releases the scent of the Eucalyptus oil and can be revitalizing. Make sure your pets cannot reach the plant.

Jasmine: Jasmine is known to alleviate stress and reduce anxiety. The sweet and flowery fragrance can also help the body unwind. It has been used for centuries as a remedy for depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The scent directly impacts your brain’s central nervous system chemical known as GABA, which results in the calming of nerves and is soothing. Scientific studies also show indulging in the scent can soothe nervous tension, promote feelings of contentment, boost concentration and lower blood pressure.

Gardenia: The light, beautifully scented gardenia oil offers a host of benefits, from boosting your mood to fighting off colds. Adding a few drops to a diffuser can help clear stuffy noses so you can breathe easier. The floral scent can also induce relaxation and reduce stress. You can also mix a few drops into your bath.

Vanilla: The smell of vanilla, or vanilla bean, can elevate your mood and make you feel relaxed. Vanilla scents are known to evoke feelings of happiness and have a comforting scent, many love. Vanilla essential oils are said to have numerous benefits, including lowering your blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and helping fight depression. Smelling vanilla also has the ability to lift your mood. You can’t go wrong with a sweet-smelling vanilla candle or incredible smelling essential oils.

Light and Ambience

Research has shown that receiving an adequate amount of light is critical during the day. It not only improves your mood and energy levels but can also affect concentration. However, if the lights in a room are too bright, it can intensify certain feelings, so it’s better to incorporate warm lights at home and avoid intense lighting.

Warm light bulbs and light boxes: Light bulbs that simulate natural lighting are a great choice, especially since many of us are spending an unusual amount of time indoors. It can help ease depression, make people feel happier, and even help create a cozy vibe. A light box should be placed nearby where you work or spend most of your time. If you’re attempting light therapy, it is usually the most effective in the morning to mimic the sun’s natural cycle and help keep you aligned with your circadian rhythm.

Dimmer Switches: Sticking to a schedule and using dimmer switches can help you maintain and regulate your body’s sleep cycle. To help your mind and body wind down each day, dim the lights as the sun goes down. While you’re dimming the lights, try to avoid staring at bright devices with blue lights.

Natural Light: Design your home in a way that allows you to let in more natural light. Letting in more natural light can stave off depression and help keep your serotonin levels up. Position mirrors across from windows to bring in more sunlight or hang a mirror across from your favorite view, so it brings the illusion of a second beautiful view.

String Lights: String lights are an affordable and easy way to add ambiance or mood lighting to any space. They are easy to move around and hang wherever you’d like. You can also place them inside an empty wine bottle or lantern.

Decor

Room decor: When decorating your home, it’s important to surround yourself with items and things that make you feel happy and relaxed. Go from room to room and remove items that merely add to the clutter. Ask yourself how you feel when looking at each item, and if it doesn’t make you feel happy, get rid of it or donate it. Keep the things that make you feel more serene. Don’t feel guilty if you spent a lot of money on it or it was a gift, just focus on how each thing makes you feel.

Artwork: Choose artwork and photographs that have a calming effect on you. Many people find quiet nature images and landscapes to be soothing. Even displaying a painting that uses calming neutral palettes like colors from the sky can make people feel calmer.

Plants: Having plants around your home has numerous positive side effects. They can improve your concentration, make you happier, provide comfort, and even lower your blood pressure. Start placing them around your home in order to create an indoor oasis and reduce your stress levels. Numerous studies have shown that plants can also help reduce anxiety. Even caring for plants offers psychological benefits.