How to turn your home into a wellbeing haven

Right now, more than ever, our homes are our sanctuaries. We're spending more time than usual in them, so they've become a safe haven, away from everything that's happening outside. 

I've always been a great believer in your home acting as a haven, somewhere you feel safe, which is particularly important for wellbeing purposes. I'm a home bird, so have tried to create calm, quiet spaces within my home. We all need a peaceful retreat, somewhere to escape the noise and stresses of the day. So if you're struggling with being cooped up inside, and want to transform your home into somewhere more relaxing, here's my top tips for turning your place into a mental-health boosting retreat.

Have at least one space that can be your relaxing escape away from it all. For me its the spare room, away from all the chaos. I can sit in here, close the door and escape into a book. Or just hear myself think, which is always fun. 

I'm very lucky that I've got this space in what's quite a small house - and have been spending lockdown clearing this out and getting rid of all the clutter that's accumulated in here recently (you can have a read of my top spring cleaning tips here).

Ultimately, I'd like to create a little home office in the opposite corner - as working from home from the dining table surrounded by all the toys is proving to be a bit of a struggle. If you do have somewhere you can claim as your own - even a little nook or corner, why not pop in a comfy chair, or desk from where you can craft? Choose colours that are relaxing, but reflect your personality - I've gone with pink (obviously!) in my spare room, and added some little touches of boho here and there.

In your bedroom, choose calming, neutral colours to aid sleep. If, like me, you're a terrible sleeper, you need your bedroom to be somewhere relaxing. Bright, clashing colours or prints isn't said to aid sleep. I shared some bedroom tips perviously here. 

Turn your bathroom into a spa-like retreat - you don't need a brand new bathroom to do this either, lots of beautiful smelling candles, cosy lighting and soft towels will do that. 

If your bathroom is taken over by kids toys, like ours is, have a basket you can throw them all into at the end of the day. Replace the rubber ducks with candles, and the room can quickly be transformed into a relaxing retreat. Don't be tempted to look at your phone (something I'm terrible for doing in the bath!), dim the lights, pop on some of that lovely spa music and give yourself 20 minutes away from it all.

I feel like I mention this in every blog post I write - but for me, its such a big one for keeping sane. Declutter. Storage spaces, surfaces, and shelves: keep as much of your home as clutter-free as possible. For me, clutter equals anxiety so things have to be neat and tidy. 

I've shared lots before about how I attempt this with a toddler and dog in tow - have a read here about my top decluttering tips. In all honestly, I feel like I'm constantly clearing out junk, but the more I do it the better I feel. You'll create much more space too - I recently was able to donating clothes I no longer wear.

The smell of your home is so important for aiding a calming mood (because nobody ever relaxed to the aroma of wet dog did they?!) Use air fresheners, reed diffusers, and candles to create an atmosphere - a flickering candle will instantly turn your living room from a soft play centre into a grown-up space, so I always save mine for when little lady's gone to bed.

Bring comfort into your home by layering up textures. Adding throws and cushions to your sofa will make it feel more luxurious and comfortable - somewhere to sink into at the end of a busy day. Adding seasonal pops of colour is something I've always done too - it'll have the effect of refreshing your home, without shelling out for a full re-dec. Something soft under your feet is always a good idea too, so pop a rug beside your bed for when you crawl out on cold mornings.

Inject some zen to your home by adding house plants. Not only do they look great, and add a natural touch to any room, but its literally their job to produce oxygen, so the health benefits are obvious.

When adding artwork to a space go for something calming in colour and style, particularly in areas like your bedroom, where you need to feel relaxed. I'm a big fan of a gallery wall to fill an empty space, however too many items can often look cluttered, and will distract from a calm energy. Choosing three or four prints in similar colours can have quite the opposite effect. I often find myself laying on the sofa staring at my mini gallery wall in the living room, getting lost in the beautiful relaxing images.

Natural light is always a big mood-booster, so its important to factor this into your decorating as much as you can. If you've not got an open plan home, or taking down walls isn't an option, then go for light, neutral colours (you can always add pops of colour through your furniture!) 

When considering window treatments, curtains or drapes let the maximum light into a room, and soft lighting such as table lamps will also add to a relaxing atmosphere. Our home is very small and dingy, so this has always been a struggle for me - I've previously shared tips on letting light into your home here.

Do you have a relaxing spot in your home? Do you find retreating there helps your wellbeing?

Thanks for reading,
Sam Xx