10 Things to Make a Room Relaxing. Or option two (likely the less deadly option): Create a mossy terrarium on your desk. What kind of vibe is your bedroom giving off these days? When you’re looking for desk accessories—whether they’re necessary or just purely for fun—keep color in mind. Smells can be a huge annoyance when you’re attempting to focus in on your work—so, instead of suffering in silence, create a counteracting aroma that not only clears the air, but could also help calm your senses. You want to shut out the negativity and foster a sense of peace and prosperity in your own sanctuary space. These days, life is pretty stressful. We asked Holley Simmons—owner of the DC terriarium-making business Sill Life, an interior landscaper, and an all-around plant guru—how to get started. Tikva is an editor at Hometalk, the largest home and garden how-to community on the web, where millions of people share ideas and advice. (It’ll make you even happier to know a portion of sales goes to animal rescue.) Bold and motivating? For example, research shows that blues and greens can make you feel calm and relaxed, while yellow increase your happiness, and red energizes you. How To Create A Peaceful Space Around You Tip #1 | Clutter-Free I like to say that clutter is the enemy of calm, so start out by decluttering your space. The … Changing your job might not be an option if it is a high-stress position by nature, but you can still optimize your workspace to make it a more relaxing place to spend your time and do your work, in turn reducing your stress levels and increasing your productivity. • Are there strategic spots you recommend putting plants around the house? Flowers are incredibly soothing both visually and aromatically. 1. Use cotton sheets. another question for you. Dust, mop, vacuum, and wipe-down the windows. While it’s not very realistic to try to change your office environment, you can make some adjustments to turn your own workspace into a peaceful sanctuary. If you can’t put down Twitter no matter how much it’s raising your blood pressure, consider her suggestions. "Color may be one of the easiest tools for manipulating mood within a space," says Mann. Right now, we seem to be in a fiddle-leaf-fig period, and while I love those plants, I find them to be very finicky. A meditation space can be as simple as setting out a cushion (or more for your friends) in a favorite room of your home where you always feel peaceful. If you don’t have an entire room to dedicate to meditation, Hanessian recommends a shoji screen to divide a room, designating a space for meditating. You won’t be tempted to actually use your peaceful backyard space if you have to drag out the lawn chairs every time you want to have a seat. You can’t set up your office at the garden or near some plants, but you can always add some greenery in your office space and make it more peaceful and calm. A home space that is visually peaceful provides homeowners with a retreat from their stressful workday worlds. Imagine the scene: You’re trying to finish crunching the numbers on your latest project, when someone walks by your desk wearing squeaky shoes, carrying his lunch—a pungent tuna salad—and calling out loudly to a co-worker. Though softer colors such as these are often associated with peaceful environments, Liess advises clients to use whatever hues they love most: “It’s just how you put it together. Want to create a similar space in your home? Whether it’s your living room, bedroom, desk or another space you spend a lot of time in, declutter to get rid of anything around you that doesn’t need to be there. colors to your walls can make a statement. If you use bold, harsh or vibrant colours then you are going to make the mind more active rather than relax. • Designate a central spot where you can charge your phone as well as store mail and other paperwork. At the moment, the designer is getting her own crash course in figuring out how to find sanctuary at home. Paint the Walls the Right Color The paint color you choose for your bedroom walls will set the tone for the entire space from the second you walk in. • Dedicate a drawer for phones. They’re the most eye-catching and are often the best bang for your buck. They’re a far cry from what I call “mall plants,” that drab family of low-light plants you’d see in a mall or sad office building. Between all the noise—the closing and opening of doors, the phone calls and conversations, the traffic sounds from the street many people find it very difficult to get work done on time and at the desired quality. Brighten a bare wall, plus support the local art community, with a colorful piece by DC artist Lanie Mann. • If you can’t resist constantly scrolling through Twitter or Facebook, remove the apps. Be honest with yourself about what’s working. As you're making changes to create a peaceful home environment, factoring in a little feng shui (or a lot) can bring long-term benefits, as once you incorporate the stress-relieving elements of feng shui, you don't have to constantly maintain most of the changes—they're just part of your decor. Select Your Props. I want to keep the desk so that I have a place to do my artwork, but I feel hemmed in. Basement Remodels Are Hot Because of the Pandemic. If you need a little calm in your life, a couple of colors you can try are blues, violets, warm whites, yellows, or grays. When that’s happening, I feel like I have it together.”. The Zentangle Method of drawing and coloring has shown to increase focus and motivation, and the outcome is a pretty piece of decor, so what could be more right? Great spaces don’t happen by chance. Create a space that beckons you to leave the warm nest of your den for a plant-filled, private oasis in your own backyard. Keeping your home organized would make it a peaceful and relaxing space, and this would definitely add to your productivity at work. Plus, according to research, stress can make your muscles ache. She and her husband, David, welcomed their fifth child in August. Install dimmer switches. How To Create A Peaceful, Relaxing Meditation Room. First and foremost, your room should be clean. Really treat your room to a proper deep clean. Staub cast-iron teakettle, $170 at Williams Sonoma. Leave your screens (cell phones, laptops) at the door, and make sure you have a demarcation between work and sleep environments. Reducing some of the stress in your body, especially your shoulders, can help relieve tension and zero in on what you’re working on. While many people claim that they thrive in high-stress environments, others work best in some place that is relaxing and tranquil. thank you for your advice. • What are your favorite plants for creating a happy environment? Make your own bed feel equally indulgent without spending a mint. Rather, it requires both reflection and intention. You can even get a little crazy with pinks or greens! 5 Ways to Create an At-Home Relaxation Retreat. Invest in 100-percent-natural-fiber sheets such as cotton or linen (they're soft, breathable, and long-lasting) and new pillows every year or two. Well, change that. Sort the paper items into folders marked “to do,” “to read,” and “to shred.” When you plug in your phone, grab something from the “to do” or “to read” file. Just as in fashion, there are trends in plants. It is therefore important to take the following steps to make your home more relaxing: 1. Next, “decide whether you feel more comfortable with your back to a window, a wall, or a corner.” You’ll arrange the rest of the space according to how you’re oriented. The workday can be long, and stressful, and did I say long? All you need is a few minutes and set of headphones. One thing people forget is that allergies can affect sleep. • Why should stressed-out Washingtonians add plants to their homes? However, that isn't ideal if you want to create a peaceful vibe, according to Barnard. Create a cozy space with a few inexpensive patio chairs and side tables so that you can have somewhere to sit and relax whenever the mood strikes. 5 Stunning Airbnb Cabins to Snuggle Up in This Winter, Look Inside My Home: This Couple Added DIY Built-Ins and Molding to Give Their Stafford New Build a Historic Home Feel, Check Out These DIY Backyard Glow-Ups Done During Quarantine, Look Inside My Home: A Renovated “Fixer-Upper” Rowhouse in Burleith With DIY Statement Walls, Look Inside My Home: A Logan Circle One-Bedroom With a Turquoise Couch and a Dachshund Mix Named Gus, These Super-Luxe Closets Are Full of Ideas for Decluttering Your Own Space, These Ex-Teachers Design Adorable Playrooms That Promote Better Child Development. A what? She was a 2020 Livingston Award finalist for her two-part investigation into a possible wrongful conviction stemming from a murder in rural Virginia. Flowers. Whether a corner, room or outdoor area, consider these guidelines in designing a space that inspires peace, harmony and joy: So, give your muscles a soft and soothing rest while you work your brain with a homemade aromatherapy pillow. Bring some of the outside in. “And then just some really great woods with different finishes. Vifa “Helsinki” bluetooth speaker, $449 at vifa.dk. The color of your walls could help to create a more peaceful environment. “This quiet space doesn’t have to be specifically for meditation but can be thought of as a kind of personal comfort zone to reclaim peace and tranquility,” says Hanessian. How to do it on a budget: One great solution is Meditation Trainer, a site that automatically provides an immersive meditation experience every time you visit. These six cheap and easy DIY projects will help you to create a corner of calm to settle your thoughts, strengthen your focus, and increase your productivity. With its sleek glass container, it’ll look more like decor than your typical desk plant, and it’s easier to care for, too. After a hectic day, you need a welcoming place to relax and unwind, not another source of stimulation or stress. Peaceful Practice: How to Create a Home Yoga Space. If you’re worried about missing an emergency, you can adjust the settings to allow some contacts to get through (e.g., your kids) or to notify you if the same person tries calling twice. I’ve got my eye on majestic palms. Building and conversion techniques have developed to a point where almost anything is possible, and inventive uses of space continually evolve. Forget how it’s has been feeling. Make Home a Refuge: 4 ways to create a more peaceful space. Here are six ways you can create consistent harmony in your home so that love and peace are the norm and chaos and friction won’t be welcome. Whether your goal is to tie a room together with a neutral area rug for a peaceful look, or make a valiant statement within your home, an area rug will make any space more relaxing. I’m all about dialing up the drama, so I love tall, towering plants. Previously she was the the Style Editor at The Local Palate, a Southern food culture magazine based out of Charleston, South Carolina. That was key in all of the spaces.”. You can either purchase one—or go above and beyond and create a Zentangle supply box. Kashino lives in Northeast DC. Food, a glass of wine, my kids and my husband, having music on. “Define your calm space in three adjectives: How do you want to feel? 1. • Designate a central spot where you can charge your phone as well as store mail and other paperwork. Your favorite playlists and a smartphone are all you need to give your morning an extra boost or to ease into your nightly wind-down. Get the tutorial here. How to Create a Peaceful Space at Home. 4. (But, err on the side of caution and ask your colleagues to be honest with you if the scents are getting to them.). • They say it takes at least 30 days of building a routine to turn it into a habit, so start slow. In the case of this serene Clarksburg house that Lauren Liess designed for a family of four, the starting point was “on the water.”, “That’s where the inspiration came from—they love to travel, and they love adventure,” says Liess. Subtle Colour Scheme. Decorating with plants can make a space more peaceful. Sydney Hale candle, $30 at Salt & Sundry. Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 as a staff writer, and became a senior editor in 2014. As long as you don’t suffer from a diagnosable sleep disorder, you can improve your bedroom’s slumber power with some relatively easy fixes. When put in the right pot and setting, they can be just as classy. Life is hectic, but don’t forget to carve out small moments for reflection. In general, darkness is good because it lets the brain secrete melatonin. Blackout curtains can make a big difference for people who live in the city, where light can otherwise be inescapable. Recharj senior meditation instructor Lu Hanessian offers these steps. Most patients report their ideal temperature for sleep to be between 65 and 70 degrees, with 30 to 40 percent humidity. OK, you don’t have to put your chosen mantra everywhere (that’d be overkill), but staying positive at the office will actually boost your productivity, so it does help to have some smile-stimulators within eyesight. The problem is, you don't exactly have that quiet, peaceful … As if a new baby weren’t enough, HGTV just ordered a full season of a renovation show starring the couple. Option one: Buy a plant. How To Create A Peaceful Bedroom In 11 Easy Steps . Home should be a place where your family feels at peace. Price on request at laniemannart.com. I live with my daughter and son-in-love, and care for my 6 month old granddaughter. We'll help you live your best #DCLIFE every day, Gorgeous Photos That Prove Every Room Looks Better With Plants, 5 Things to Know About Ella Emhoff, DC’s Newest Fashion Icon, There Were a Lot of Fashion Moments at Today’s Inauguration. Let’s focus on how you want it to feel. If you have a room that you can dedicate to meditating, try removing most of the furniture and knickknacks from the space. To help transition from wakefulness to sleep, create an environment of semidarkness to more darkness to complete dark. To make a study space, start by setting yourself up with a sturdy desk or table, and a comfortable chair in a spot with good lighting. Swap out carpet for bare-wood floors wherever you can. Your sacred space can be as small as the breath taken in during prayer, as large as a cathedral or as expansive as an ocean view. Colours such as red and bright orange are more likely to give you headache. After your om-mazing zen makeover, don’t be surprised if you feel a little less inclined to rush home at the end of each work day. The only space I have for my laptop and desk and everything else, is my bedroom. While it’s not very realistic to try to change your office environment, you can make some adjustments to turn your own workspace into a peaceful sanctuary. Integral garages are a popular way to create the space needed, a key advantage being that the relaxation area is still connected to the house in general. Then add pieces that represent a sense of calm—Hanessian likes including a blue vase or a fresh sprig of lavender in a bowl. Peaceful color schemes will instantly transform the mood in your home. One way to put a little joy into your home? Work on the Lights Since plants always increase freshness and peace in any atmosphere, you can try adding a floor or a desk plant and make your workspace a lot more productive and peaceful. She currently resides in College Park. Ask a Vet: How Cold Is Too Cold to Let a Cat Stay Outside? If you suspect you suffer from them, buy bedding in hypoallergenic material and wash your sheets—especially pillowcases—at least once a week. So I always include natural elements to ground whatever color palette is going on.”, In the Clarksburg house, Liess layered on the natural materials—sisal rugs, linen upholstery, plants throughout. Discover how-tos and inspiration to help you better your home. Then you might want to incorporate these nine ideas and design elements into your sleep space … Finally, select pieces that “promote a sense of well-being through association,” she says. Don’t bring work into the bedroom. And, the hope is that if you DIY this motto up, you’ll feel doubly inspired. "In today's frenetic world, it is more important than ever to create a calm and peaceful space that allows you to recharge." If you don’t have ample natural light—usually strongest in south-facing windows—then I recommend snake plants or ZZ plants, which are incredibly resilient, low-light-loving, and stylish. Even better if you can do it over a hot cup of tea. As a plant parent, nothing compares when you see a little bud or signs of a new leaf. While you can’t move your computer to a grassy field, you can do your best to infuse your work space with a touch of the outdoors. romakoma/Shutterstock Technology is an integral part of most of our lives, and most of us have multiple electronic devices in our living spaces. • After 8 or 9 PM, put your phone on “do not disturb” mode, which silences calls, texts, e-mail, and other alerts. Amid her crazy schedule, Liess says, “When I can get time with the family, that’s my happy place. Color helps create a mood that ties together a space. Create a spa-like atmosphere with simple additions like a stack of fluffy towels or a few candles, then take advantage of the space to soak away stress with a bath. By the time he’s passed your desk, there’s no way your brain’s still focusing on those numbers. These Luxury DC Hotels Are Offering Over-the-Top Inauguration Packages, Home for the Holidays presented by Stella Artois, How Jake Blount Is Using the Banjo to Explore Black Roots Music. It’s a simple idea: Think of where you’re happiest, and bring elements of that place into your home. Remember that co-worker with the tuna salad? These days, professional organizer Rachel Rosenthal says, clients aren’t just fed up with messy closets—they also want help letting go of the technology cluttering their lives. Sort the paper items into folders marked “to do,” “to read,” and “to shred.” When you plug in your phone, grab something from the “to do” or “to read” file. No need to add “water plants” to your to-do list. If you walk by, you won’t have any visual temptation to log on. Go through your home and gather pieces that represent these feelings.”, Test It Out. This will provide a sense of safety and enable you to grow climbers for year-round scent. Ask a Vet: Why Does the Cat Poop on the Bed? It’s so rewarding to tend to plants and, if you choose the right ones, not at all overwhelming. Do you want your bedroom to feel as peaceful as falling asleep on a pillow of clouds overlooking a dewy meadow? Hayley is an Associate Editor at Washingtonian Weddings. The whole point of meditation is to remove stress from your life, so don’t create extra stress by trying to perfect your meditation space. Follow these steps to establish a peaceful garden space with amazing scent. Free Event on 2/4: How to Land a Job in Data & Analytics |. Any style home is a candidate for a serene decor. Force yourself to go to a computer—or at least take the extra step of logging on through your phone’s browser—to check social media. Set Aside a Space. Add Natural Elements To The Space Not only will you accomplish something, but you might actually forget about your phone for a while. She oversees the magazine’s real estate and home design coverage, and writes long-form feature stories. Also, adding silky white textiles will bring more elegance and serenity to your bedroom. Stock up on a few varieties of these Virginia-made soy candles so you can pick scents to match your mood. These six cheap and easy DIY projects will help you to create a corner of calm to settle your thoughts, strengthen your focus, and increase your productivity. Invest in blackout curtains. Make a patio a place where you would want to spend time, perhaps relaxing in the sun, practicing yoga, reading, hanging out with friends—whatever your pleasure. "Clear out the kids' toys, grab your favorite book and take back the bathroom as your own for a few quiet moments of solitude," suggests interior designer Kate Lester. He suggests that color can operate on mood in "obvious" ways; bright colors are energizing, while muted colors are calming. Now, more than ever, having a peaceful and blissful living space to retreat to is essential. Caroline Cunningham joined Washingtonian in 2014 after moving to the DC area from Cincinnati, where she interned and freelanced for Cincinnati Magazine and worked in content marketing. That’s really the determining factor when you talk about placement. Set the thermostat and humidifier. Consider adding personal touches that make it uniquely yours. You can follow her on instagram @wandertaste. Plus, because they’re so trendy, they can demand a high price. The easiest way to create a relaxing living space is to keep the colours light and subtle. Ask everyone to store them there during mealtime so you can actually, you know, talk to one another. Here’s a Really Good One. Choose an area that has a solid structure behind it, for example a wall or a fence. A space that is meant solely for yoga reinforces the importance of your practice and can help you establish a more consistent practice routine. Fashion finds and deals, and the latest trends for you and your home. 2. Arrange the objects in whatever way feels best. In Best House on the Block—which starts production in March—the Liesses will help Washington homeowners transform their spaces. I wanted to create a cool & peaceful space, that is also a touch of formal. You can include a daffodil shade to add the needed exuberance to your living space. A luxurious throw makes just about any spot more comforting, whether you’re relaxing on the couch or need an extra layer while working at the dining-room table. 6 Ways to Create a Peaceful Home. Then, stock your space with supplies you may need, like notecards and highlighters, and use folders or binders to organize your study materials. • If your home is large enough, store your laptop in an office or other room where you can shut the door. Creating a tranquil abode goes beyond your design aesthetic and objects within a space; it starts with simple, mindful practices that allow you to feel stress-free. Start dimming your lights even before your natural bedtime. Reduce allergens. Part of the reason people sleep poorly is because of that lack of boundary. For example, these DIY lavender sachets smell great, and likely won’t offend anyone sitting near you. Emily Belle Freeman shares four ways you can make your home a refuge. 1 min read. But oftentimes, stress takes over and leaves your space feeling a little less than peaceful. While you may know that mindless activities like coloring are good for you, you probably don’t have a coloring book within reach. I guess its a choice between terracotta tuscan style or more cool contemporary feel. “Even a few minutes a day can change our perspective.”. Lighting, lighting, lighting. The body’s internal temperature has to start dipping before we fall asleep. September 24, 2019. Dr. Vivek Jain, director of George Washington University’s Center for Sleep Disorders, has the following tips. Perhaps you already have a special peaceful place set up in your home, but if not, consider challenging yourself to create one. Slightly messy and a little sad? Do you have any suggestions. Create a comfortable meditation area by bringing in a plush rug, a floor pillow, a padded mat, and a table. With its soothing lighting and total silence, the DC meditation studio Recharj has the ideal setting for finding Zen. This article appears in the January 2018 issue of Washingtonian. “The couple spent a year on a boat when they were younger.”, The designer worked within a palette of soothing green, blue, and ivory.

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