words Alexa Wang
A lot of people like to be around other people. Meeting new people, spending time with family and friends – are all experiences that can give us great joy. But, it’s also nice to have some alone time sometimes.
Alone time allows you to relax for a bit without having to worry about anything else (unless you’re taking care of someone else, of course). Many people don’t know how to make their homes more relaxing and often feel that it’s not worth the trouble. However, there are ways to achieve a relaxing atmosphere at home, and they’re actually pretty easy to do.
1. Plants, Flowers, And Wax Melts
Having a nice, green plant in the corner of your room is a great way to add color and make your home feel more relaxed. Fresh flowers are also a nice addition to the atmosphere, but they can put a strain on your budget since they have a short lifespan.
While making your own little indoor garden is always rewarding, it can also be a bit frustrating if you don’t have a green thumb. On the other hand, the people at Balneaves recognize that there’s nothing quite like comforting fragrances to make you feel relaxed at your home. Wax melts can be a nice, relaxing way to fill your home with a pleasant smell, ranging from warm and woodsy notes to the more floral and fruity aromas.
Having a combination of plants and wax melts is a good way to make your home feel cozier.
2. Art
It’s often said that art is just another form of expression. Some people like to express their creativity through writing, others through music, and some simply need to paint or draw something beautiful.
Art doesn’t always have to be pretty or decorative, but it does help when you’re trying to nail the relaxing atmosphere in your home. While it can get a bit pricey, there are ways to introduce affordable art into your home without breaking the bank. Having a few pieces up, whether you draw them yourself or purchase the work of others, can make your house feel more alive and give it a sense of history.
Creating a gallery of favorite pieces on your wall is also a great way to create a focal point in your home and to give it a bit of character.
3. Personal Touch
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box (or inside the box, as it were) when it comes to decorating your home. If you have a favorite piece of fabric or even just a well-styled pillowcase, use that instead of purchasing an expensive duvet cover.
Looking at other people’s homes can be beneficial if you’re not sure how to come up with something yourself. Don’t try to make your home look like it just came from a catalog, though, because that can actually be a bit boring. There’s nothing quite as relaxing as knowing that you’ve added something personal and unique to your home, so go ahead and make it yours!
It can be something simple like a framed picture, or something more complex like a new piece of furniture that you’ve had tailored. Either way, this is another simple step towards giving your home that relaxing atmosphere.
4. Soothing Colors
When choosing colors for your home, you might want to consider the colors that make you feel relaxed. Some people like to go with earthy tones, such as greens and browns, and others prefer more calming colors, such as blues and purples.
Now, that’s not to say that there’s no place in interior design for bold colors. On the contrary – you can pretty much use whichever palette you like, as long as you have something to balance out the harshness of the dominant color out. For example, if you like the black and white look, try adding a blue or light gray accent to offset the starkness of the two colors.
A lot of people like to contrast bold colors with softer ones, and that’s a good way to create some visual interest in your home, and make it relaxing instead of overwhelming.
5. Less Is More
One of the best ways to create a relaxing atmosphere at home is to have space for everything that you need while minimizing clutter and unnecessary items. If you have an overabundance of knick-knacks, go through them one by one until you find some that are meaningful enough to keep, and those that have to go.
This will help immensely when it comes time to sort through your various items and find out what needs to be dusted more often, as well as everything else you might need during a certain season or just due to your own personal preference. It’s also a good idea to take the time required for deep cleaning once in a while.
6. A Thoughtful Mix of Patterns and Textures
When choosing different textures for your home, it’s important to put some thought into the balance of your interior design. It might be tempting to throw in some furry pillows, but you’ll want something smooth and sleek on the other side of the room so that there’s some sort of visual balance.
As for different patterns, you want to choose complementary ones that don’t overwhelm each other or make your space look busy. Think about subtle details that give your home a sense of novelty and creativity, without being too disagreeable. Adding patterned area rugs is an easy way to achieve this because you can put it depending on the season. A thicker rug usually goes as the bottom layer, and a thinner one that brings more pattern into the mix usually goes on top. You can switch this up however you like, though, just make sure that the pattern and colors you choose aren’t too loud for the room.
Whatever patterns and textures work for your home, be sure that there’s some sort of balance between them so that it looks intentional instead of like you forgot to finish designing one area before moving on to another. While it might take a bit more time than just throwing everything together, it’s nice to have a relaxing atmosphere at home that you can enjoy throughout the year.
Creating a relaxing atmosphere in your home is not just about what you create in it, but also how you use the space in order to feel more relaxed and rejuvenated when you’re at home. Some things look nice in pictures, but a relaxing atmosphere comes from practicality too. Always think about what you can do with your space instead of just how it looks, and remember that it’s important to dedicate time for cleaning so that everything always looks ready to welcome you home.
