Home is where the heart is, and it’s the place where all of your stress goes away. Does this sound like something you would say? If the answer is no, it may be time to make some changes. Everyone has some type of stress in their life, whether it be with work, a relationship, or money issues, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t deserve a break from it. Your home should be a de-stress zone, a place where you can relax and be calm. Here are a few tips to make your home more Zen.

Declutter and Clean

If your house is full of clutter and things are constantly in a state of disarray, your mind will be the same. Take all that stressed out energy and put it to something useful. Tidy up your home, organize your closets and pantries, get rid of unwanted junk, and find a place to display your favorite items. Think of decluttering as de-stressing because in all actuality, an organized and clean home can boost your mental health. 

Paint

While funky patterns and wild colors can definitely show off your personality, they don’t tend to lend to a peaceful state of mind. Colors have an impact psychologically, emotionally, and even physically, so if you’re looking for less stress, you’ll want to stick with a calming color wheel.  Soft shades of blue are said to calm your mind, lower your blood pressure, and reduce anxiety.   Pale greens and yellow-greens symbolize nature and are therefore comforting, allowing you to stay calm. Pale pinks promote tranquility, while white symbolizes purity and freshness. There are multiple colors to choose from, so take a look and see what you like to help keep you low-stress.

Adjust the Light

Natural light and Vitamin D definitely can have an effect on your mood, so open up those curtains and let the sunshine in. Darker spaces tend to alter your mood to a dark and gloomy state, which isn’t going to help your stress levels. Utilize the natural light that you have and enhance it with table and floor lamps.

Bring the Outside In

There are certain plants that have proven to reduce stress, so why not add them to your home?  Caring for your plants and watching them grow can take your mind off of other stress related topics and the plants themselves are natural stress remedies. Grow some peppermint and trim some off for tea, or add it to your bath water. Chamomile is known for its anti-anxiety effects and is a sleep aid as well, while lavender is often used in treatment for anxiety and depression.  There are many plants available to brighten your home and relieve your stress, so bring the outside in and watch your blood pressure resume to normal.

Make Your Bed

While this may bring back memories from your childhood and seem simple, making your bed everyday does actually boost your mood and your motivation. You spend a third of your life in your bedroom and as mentioned before, the appearance and organization of your surroundings has an effect on your mood. By making your bed each morning, you start the day off completing a task and improving the vibe of your space to make it feel complete, put together, and inviting.

Stress is inevitable at times but there are steps you can take to alleviate it, and de-stressing your home being one of them. With these tips, you’ll be able to have your sanctuary and your place where the stress goes away. You owe it to yourself to have a stress-free zone.