A Home You Want to Come Home To

Just as taking care of our Physical Wellness (for instance, stretching first thing in the morning or eating nourishing foods) positively affects our Emotional Wellness, practicing Environmental Wellness can yield similar benefits for our moods and energy levels. With the amount of time we spend in our homes, it’s important to make these spaces inviting and comfortable. There’s nothing worse than needing respite and relaxation after a long day at work but dreading going home because you don’t feel good there.

Our homes are the places that are truly our own. This is your space to personalize. You might find yourself living in an apartment with completely bare walls or with a set of hand-me-down furniture that doesn’t suit you but still be wondering why home is such an un-appealing place to be. Here are a few things to think about when creating an inviting personal space.

Color choice is an integral part of creating a home that enhances Environmental Wellness. The right color scheme in a room can create the perfect ambience for whatever typically goes on there. You can get as involved as painting the walls and replacing carpet, flooring, furniture or fabrics. But you may rent your home and not be able to actually alter the structure, or you might not have the time or money to do such an extensive overhaul. Simply adding a few elements of the right color, such as an oversized vase or a sofa slipcover, can be just as refreshing and effective as a complete redesign.

Color preference works the same way as wine and fashion – there are some widely accepted guidelines about what tends to work, but in the end, it’s all about what you love. So, for example, think about which colors would make you feel great about being in your kitchen and dining room. A cheery shade of orange in the dining room might stimulate your family’s appetites while adding a tone of warmth and playfulness. Complimentary colors always work well together, and orange’s compliment is blue. A pale blue kitchen could be just the place to have a moment of peace along with your morning coffee. Plus, it’ll be so great gazing through one room to another, a work of art you created yourself!

Scented candles and aromatherapy oils are also easy, inexpensive ways to make your home feel welcoming and, well, homey. Vanilla and cinnamon are warm, delicious scents that can instantly create an ambience of safety and coziness. A few vanilla candles in the kitchen, and you might suddenly find yourself inspired to whip up something delightful for dinner, or just dessert. And there’s nothing like the aroma of cooking to make any house (or apartment) feel like a place you want to be.

Eucalyptus is a clean, invigorating choice to freshen up bathrooms and laundry rooms, while lavender is incredibly sensual and relaxing for bedrooms. Again, this is all about what works for you, so sniff out your favorite scents and place them where they feel appropriate to you. Aromatherapy is a proven way to enhance mood and productivity, so take advantage of how easy it can be to make your home a feast for the senses.

It’s easy to get started if you want to pay more attention to the area of Environmental Wellness. Begin by looking through decorating magazines and home improvement web sites.

What color schemes naturally appeal to you? What styles of furniture and decorative accents do you instinctively gravitate toward? Of the items you already own, which ones do you love the most, and how can you display them in pleasing ways that reflect your personality? Are there particular scents that just make you feel good when you smell them? Do you like silence, music (what kinds?), or just the soothing din of the dishwasher as you sit at the kitchen table? People who are most satisfied with their homes are the ones whose homes accommodate their schedules, their special needs, their preferences and their passions.

Setting up your home with an eye toward comfort goes a long way too. Although it might be nice (and pleasing to the ego) to have a house that looks like a model home or a decorator’s showcase, that’s not realistic for most families. Actual human life has to take place in your home. And everyday human life can get messy. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a beautiful, elegant home. But being realistic is imperative. You can absolutely have a lived-in, comfortable home that also emphasizes open space, tons of light and clean lines. Besides, who wants to live in a house where your guests feel like sitting on the sofa will upset some delicate balance or set off a museum alarm?

Making an effort to create a functional, soothing living space is a way of demonstrating to yourself that you’re worth it. For those already dealing with depression and anxiety, a messy, disorganized or cheerless house can be yet another source of stress, creating feelings of inadequacy, guilt and uselessness. But with just a little time and creativity, your home can easily become the haven it should be.

Author: Liz Davis
Website: http://www.123FeelBetter.net/