How to design your home with stress in mind

Today is Stress Awareness Day, and you can battle stress right at home by turning your space into a hub for tranquility and calmness with some simple design tips.

• First impressions matter: the first thing you see when you open your front door, should be something you love. Wherever your focal point of entry is, add some flowers, a photo you like, a souvenir, etc. This should help set the tone of your mood right off the bat.
• Control the clutter: what you might think is “controlled chaos” could be having a negative affect on your mindset. A pile of recycling that needs to go out, or laundry that needs to be folded, just reminds you of your obligations. Deal with your things as soon as you can, so you don’t let jobs pile up, or let your place get messier.
• Less is more: when it comes to living areas, the more things we have, the more cramped we can feel. Give yourself and your mind more space by getting rid of things that aren’t really necessary for a room, or that you definitely no longer need.
• Focus your lighting: many people don’t realize it, but using the main lights to brighten up a whole room, can make it harder for your eyes and brain to relax. Instead, opt to just turn on lamps where you need light, rather than keeping beaming lights on.
• Simplify your colour palettes: using paint colours that are too bright can strain your eyes a bit. Another thing to note, is that using too many different colour schemes in different rooms can add additional work to your brain and makes it harder to relax. Focus on a more streamlined colour palette for your home. Neutral shades are easier on the relaxation process.
• Use nature: bringing outdoor elements inside, like plants, has been proven to improve quality of life. Not to mention, it certainly improves indoor air quality. Find some creative ways to incorporate natural elements like flowers and plants.
• Turn off the screens: one of the biggest culprits of eye and brain strain, and insomnia, is electronics. Make sure you take time before bed or when you want to relax, to steer clear of screens (TVs, iPads, smartphones, etc.). Staring at screens makes it harder to sleep as well, so opt for a book instead.
• Get inspired: an easy way to create a relaxing abode, is to mimic what your perfect place looks like, right at home. For example, if the most relaxing place you can imagine is on a beach, pick a room to incorporate beach elements in (seashells, blue hues, etc.). You’ll be surprised how soothing simple changes can make!

Do you have some more stress-reducing tips for the home? Please share them with us on Twitter!