Our homes are extensions of ourselves, a visual portrait of who we are, what we love, what moves us, what nourishes us, what sustains us-our heart center where we crash, cool off, converse, and charge up. A house can be built, but a home must be made, whether you have a small apartment, a starter home, a brand new home or a home that just needs a new spirit. Only you can choose the styles, colors and objects that exhibit your personal zone of tranquility and good feelings; however, there are 8 easy ways to follow to make any space shine with happiness.
1. Make It Light
More than 74% of people in a recent Houzz survey want a light house with lots of windows, which is not surprising as natural light is actually healing and relaxing, elevating our moods. With the onset of longer days and more light to love, we must have a dedication to also controlling the light to our individual happy levels. You know by now that window treatments do all of that but it is up to you to select the many ways to shower your home with natural sunlight and block it out when necessary. A few other tricks to create the illusion of more light is to paint a room yellow which reflects sunlight or add mirrors for even more reflective light. Embrace as much light as you can for a happy home.
2. Make It Calm
A calm home is a clutter-less home that is soothing and everything is well-placed and organized and pleasing to the eye. Comfy furniture enhances a calm home and 77% of people feel cheerful and happy on couches, beds and chairs that are soft and cozy. Studies show that a disorganized, messy home really makes us feel tired, anxious, fretful and nervous and even stirs up our appetite, making us eat more! Keep a calm home and happy on.
3. Make it Cool
I know that you have been told that the optimum temperature for sleeping is 65 degrees. Most homes that are over-heated, beckon lethargy, so to get pepped up, to be sharp and engaged, snuggle under a textured afghan when the days are chilly or keep a fan always circulating during warm and sultry days.
4. Make It Green
Real live plants do reduce toxicity in our homes and reduce carcinogens and other bad invisible stuff floating in the air and collecting in crevices. Detox with green plants and reduce stress by adding a bit of outside beauty, freshness and organic vibes, so essential to our ancestral outdoor spirit. Even one little spot of greenery brightens and banishes all the “naughties” invading our homes.
5. Make It Sound Good
Whether you are an urban girl or guy and savor the sounds of the city or you are tuned into nature or you are the family group leader or you are the resident DJ, energize your home with the centerpiece of sounds that make you happy. Whether it’s chirping birds, zooming traffic, beating music or just the laughing voices of your children and friends – find the ways to amplify the special music of your home.
6. Make It Smell Good
Who doesn’t love the smell of bread baking or chocolate chip cookies oozing goodness or spicy cider bubbling on the stove? Our personal holiday smells trigger happy, nostalgic feelings, so don’t desert family traditions that add good aromas in your home. If cooking is not your thing, fragrant candles can also do the trick and the easiest thing to do is throw open the windows, smell the flowers or cool rain and let the fresh breeze swish in to drive the blues away.
7. Make It Dreamy
Without a doubt, studies show that our favorite room is the bedroom, so make this room the barometer of ultimate happiness. Indulge in a really good mattress, the best pillows and the softest sheets, all topped off with a super puffy down comforter. Splurge here in this room where we spend a lot of hours each day. Remember that good lighting and window treatments that open and close perfectly are essential. Go for motorized window coverings so you don’t even have to get out of bed to operate the blinds or shades. Even though 16% of us prefer to skip making the bed, I think that a neat bed reduces sleepless nights.
8. Make It Harmonious
Sometimes we forget to purge momentos, pictures or objects that conjure up bad feelings. It might be a color we now loathe, or pictures of people we would rather forget, pink elephants or any other elephants that are roaming around our rooms, tromping our happy spirits. Keep only what pleases you and dump the rest; less is best!
Happy is the place you want to be.
