Our homes are our sanctuaries, or at least, they’re supposed to be. At some point in the last couple of years, our work and personal life merged into one. Now, as we return to the office, it’s time to untangle the two and make our homes spaces of wellbeing once again. Fortunately, no tectonic changes are required, just a couple of creative projects to keep you busy over the next few weekends. Once you have gone through these five renovation tips, you’ll be able to kick off your shoes and relax in your very own sanctuary.
Create a work-home balance
This piece of advice will come across as an unattainable ideal to most of us – something we strive towards but simply can’t seem to reach. However, with a few simple tweaks to the house, a work-home balance will be within reach, even for those working from home. The trick is to consciously divide your workspace from your living space. This means creating a designated work office, preferably in a separate room. Of course, this isn’t possible in every home. If you’re lacking room to turn into your office, reorganize your home into broken-plan zones. In other words, separate your work corner with large furniture or plants – even if it’s not separated by a wall, you’ll still know it’s not meant for relaxation.
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Embrace natural light
Open floor plans and French windows – a design that never goes out of style in any interior décor magazine. To a large part, the timelessness of this design comes from the use of natural light. Free-flowing spaces and grand windows maximize the amount of natural light that comes into our houses. As a result, our bodies produce additional amounts of vitamin D, which enhances our moods and overall health. Even naturally dark interiors can make small adjustments to increase the amount of light they let in. An investment like installing a roof window in the bedroom will make all the difference when getting up for work in the morning!
Rethink the space around you
At one point or another, we’ve all come across an article detailing the relationship between our surroundings and our wellbeing. Even though most of these pieces are written for clicks, there is some scientific truth behind them. Namely, our surroundings, and with that our living space, tend to have a great effect on our day-to-day mood. Because of this, many interior designers spend a great deal of time finding just the right wallpaper pattern for every room. Here, custom removable wallpaper can be of great help. Alongside a variety of patterns to choose from, it gives homeowners the possibility of changing the walls up every so often. Thus, when a room just doesn’t feel calm enough anymore, a removable nature pattern may do the trick!
Don’t overdo it
If we’ve learned anything from Marie Kondo, it’s that clutter is not our friend. Thus, while green spaces and nature-themed wallpapers are great ways of creating a peaceful environment, you’ll have to make sure not to overdo it. After all, you’re aiming for serenity, not a wild safari adventure. A simple trick to keep your home clutter-free is through statement pieces. This means limiting each room to one color pattern broken up by a few centerpieces. These may range from potted plants to patterned wallpaper – whatever helps you find peace.
Limit the use of chemicals in your home
If you’ve scrolled through social media recently, you’ve probably noticed everyone talking about the wonders our living environment has on our mental health. However, while this is undoubtedly true, it’s not the whole story. Namely, we seem to be forgetting about our physical well-being. More often than not, what we keep in our homes may be harmful to our health. Of course, first on the list would have to be cleaning products. While the bottle may say safe, these chemicals are by no means good for your respiratory system. Fortunately, more and more companies are coming up with vegan and eco-friendly alternatives for just about every cleaning product on the market. Once you switch to them, rubber gloves will no longer be a necessary part of your cleaning routine.
As you’ve probably noticed, the tips above don’t go into that much detail. No one tried to argue that one kind of plant brings about more well-being than the other. Rather, these suggestions offer a broad scope of possibilities. Be it an increase in natural light or animal-themed wallpaper, you know better than anyone how to achieve a sense of well-being in your home.
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