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Home has the potential to be our greatest wellness tool, or it can be a stumbling block to keeping our minds at ease. By preparing a space that promotes relaxation and reduces stress you can maximize the potential your home holds for bringing balance, health, and happiness into your daily life.
Here are a few tips for creating zen in your den.
1. Serene Color Scheme: A serene color scheme is the foundation for creating a space that contributes to calm. Muted neutrals naturally evoke a feeling of tranquility, like the way the sand at the beach invites you to let anxious thoughts go and bring relaxing breaths in. Soft blues and natural greens are good colors to add to the space as a compliment.
2. Pillows and throws in denim blues and cute green succulents are a low-maintenance way to add more relaxing tones.
Bringing in clay hues will ground the space and give it depth. Try adding it to the room in a pretty area rug, floor plant container, or storage piece.
3. Natural Light: Exposure to the sun is known to increase the release of serotonin in your brain, which is associated with boosting mood and helping you feel calm and focused.
To increase the natural light in your home, be sure to use curtain rods that will allow fabric panels to completely clear the window when opened. Even better, take advantage of light-filtering shades for maximum privacy without keeping the light out.
Make use of reflective items like mirrors, and white vases to bounce the light that’s there around the room, and add landscape art to give the illusion of daylight through a view to the outdoors. A serene print framed in light natural oak would make a great addition.
If there is no source of natural light in the room, then opt for strip lighting tucked neatly under a shelf to give the illusion of sunlight. Soft Ambient Task Lighting Relaxing rooms always have impeccably soft ambient light sources.
Wall lamps, sconces, table lamps, under cabinet lighting, and recessed lighting all keep the glare to a minimum without making enjoying a good book or engaging in a little crochet difficult.
Keep table lamps at a height between 26-28 inches to cast the best arc of light for reading. Ceiling lamps with rattan or wrapped seagrass shades will cast a golden glow in a room that has little natural light to enjoy.
4. Green Plants To Improve Air Quality Houseplants add freshness and lush green color to your home, and they can also help you breathe easier.
If keeping them alive is a challenge, then try these easy care cuties! SnakePlantss and Devil’s Ivy may sound a little nerve-racking but don’t let the name fool you! They require minimum amounts of sun exposure and moderate watering. Dracaena and Bamboo Palms also make good low maintenance options that add terrific texture to the room without added maintenance.
You will need to keep the soil moist, but part of their calming effect is the routine that comes from committing to watering them every other day. Rituals bring an expected and predictable element to a world that has an ample supply of surprises. Taking care of them will have equally surprising benefits!
Creating an inviting and health enhancing home does not have to be complicated or expensive. Make the investment in your peace. You will be glad you did! It is the gift that keeps on giving and will positively impact your life for years to come!