How to decorate your new home for positivity & happiness.
Posted on
It might have been an uninspiring year for many of us, but the lockdown is easing and you’ve finally moved into your new unfurnished home so it’s time to switch the inspiration tap back on.
Yes, you’ll need a bed, a sofa and a telly, but what about those personal touches that really turn a house into a home? Here are a few tips to help you create your very own safe haven.
Create a wellbeing space
In the words of organisation goddess Marie Kondo, create a space in your home that ‘sparks joy’. Whether it’s in the living room, kitchen or your bedroom, ensure there is an area just for you that you can associate with calmness and serenity.
Mark this area with interior flourishes that make you happy, like your favourite comfy cushion or a warm, welcoming blanket. For those that find joy in activities, keep your favourite wellbeing items within reach, whether this be your favourite book, a yoga mat or a dedicated playlist.
Declutter
Too much clutter can have a negative effect on your mental and physical health. Not only will the mass of unneeded stuff bring your mood down, it can also cause dust and mould which often trigger allergies and asthma.
Once you’ve cleaned and organised your new space, it may still feel a little cramped. The ‘cantaloupe rule’ is a great method to make sure your home doesn’t get too full of unnecessary items. To follow this interior rule, avoid buying trinkets for your home smaller than a cantaloupe melon. This will allow you to add a creative flourish to the space without it overwhelming you.
Natural light keeps you naturally bright
Where you can, embrace your home’s natural light. Exposure to a decent amount of vitamin D and serotonin has been linked to boost productivity, improve sleep and minimise depressive episodes.
Leave the curtains open and use mirrors to reflect the natural light from the windows around the room. Lighter colours will generally help lift the light of the room by giving it a surface to bounce off.
If you don’t have a naturally well-lit home, plan a layered lighting scheme with lamps. As well as maximising daylight, it’s crucial to focus on minimising light at certain times of the day.
Low lighting will help your mind and body to unwind in the evening and try to keep screens and blue light tech out of the bedroom.
Feng Shui
In practice, this ancient theology is ensuring the dynamic of a space is just right. In the home, this could be the way your furniture is positioned and how this affects the mood of the room.
If you have a space in your house you don’t enjoy but can’t put your finger on why, try playing around with its setup before making any drastic changes – it might just be as simple as the way you’ve angled that new sofa! Feng Shui could be the quick fix to a positive and harmonious space, with the added bonus of spending no money at all.
Bring the outside in
Indoor plants add so much to your home, without breaking the bank or taking up too much space. Scientists have declared plants can actually help you to de-stress – even the potting soil has anti-depressive qualities from its outdoorphins.
Indoor horticulture can even improve the air quality of the room, so contributing to your physical health too – something we could all benefit from in the midst of the pandemic.
Aside from plants, earthy tones bring a calming ambience into your living space. Dulux’s colour for 2021 ‘Brave Ground’ emulates this with its warm, natural shade; a toned brown with a hint of beige – in a year when we need serenity and peace more than ever.
- If you have any questions related to lettings or property management please call us on 01793 299135. We love to talk.