Embrace these easy tips to make your home a happier, healthier place to be
Image: Marks and Spencer
The rise of Marie Kondo and the houseplant revolution has taught us one thing: the decoraton of our homes directly affects how we feel – and we all hold the power to change it for the better.
This guide contains five tweaks to boost your home’s positivity and create a restful and restorative sanctuary that not only helps melt away the stresses of modern life, but mentally prepares you for each day in a positive, uplifting way. Let’s get started.
Rethink your lighting
Image: Sainsbury’s
Natural light is one of the most important elements of your home’s wellness – make sure you maximise it.
Quick fixes like installing a curtain rail that extends far enough past the window so the fabric can be pulled back fully, without obscuring any glazing, can make a significant difference to the light of a room. You might also consider replanning your furniture to face windows, installing slimline blinds or shutters instead of curtains, or – the age old trick – hanging a mirror opposite the window.
Also, you can easily transform dingy, cramped rooms into bright, fresh spaces by just checking the type of lightbulbs you have. For a living room or bedroom you need 10-20 lumens per square foot (a measure of brightness, stated on the bulb) and a bathroom or kitchen requires 70-80.
Tidy every space
Image: IKEA
It’s the buzzword everyone’s talking about: tidying. Read our interview with Marie Kondo for her top tips on getting started, and check out Ikea’s IVAR storage range for modular designs that you can combine into bespoke, customisable furniture.
Create a tech-free zone
Image: John Lewis
Every home needs one area which is completely screen-free. It could be your bedroom, it could be a she-shed, or it could be a little window seat reading nook.
Having a spot purely dedicated for rest and relaxation will help calm your mind – and also looks great, too.
Find a place for a wellness activity
Image: Liforme
Yoga doesn’t need to be performed in a sweaty, packed studio. Practicing at home (or even just meditating) is a simple joy that can combat stress and improve your wellbeing.
Mats with feet and hand markings take the worry out of “doing it wrong”, as you always know that your alignment is correct so you can concentrate on enjoying the poses. This one from Liforme costs £100, is planet-friendly (it’s even biodegradable!) and features a special GripForMe material so you won’t slip and slide.
Decorate with plants
Image: Oak Furniture Land
The healing power of plants has been well documented, as has its metioric rise to mega home trend, with hashtags like #urbanjungle containing over two million posts.
