Make Your Home Your Happy Place

Never before have so many families spent this much time together inside their own homes. It’s no surprise that people are getting stir crazy. Some are discovering that their home is not as big as they thought it was. Or that a home office might have been a good idea after all. With few places to go, maybe it’s time to find ways to make your home your happy place. 

4 Ways to Make Your Home Your Happy Place

Tidy Up and Organize

Clutter is a major source of stress that’s often overlooked. That pile of junk distracts us and makes it more difficult to relax (whether we know it or not). Clutter causes that feeling that your work is never done. One of the most important ways you can make your home a happy place is to keep things picked up and put away. I’ll be the first to say, this is not an easy task!! Tackle the mess one area at a time, and don’t do the job alone. Come up with a system that works for you and your family, so you’re all working toward the same goal. Otherwise, you’ll be fighting a losing battle!

You may be realizing that you have less space than you need now that you’re spending more time at home. Tidying up will help make your home feel more open and spacious. As you’re picking up and organizing, make a donate/throw away pile. It can feel freeing to get rid of items you no longer need!

Click here to check out our Spring Cleaning Checklist.

Separate and Designate

Whether you live on your own or with a house full of family members, it’s easy to feel like the walls are closing in on you. Many of us aren’t used to working, home schooling, eating, playing and lounging all in the SAME PLACE!

We all learned very quickly that working virtually while listening to the kids play while staring at a pile of laundry is overstimulating for your brain. Here’s our advice. No matter how big or small your home is, find a way to designate separate areas for different activities. Find a productive workspace where you can focus on the task at hand AND disconnect from your work when you’re done with it. Having a designated workspace is essential for every member of the family. According to experts at the Meno Clinic, “Having a space of your own, and not allowing its boundaries to be overstepped, is important for your very sanity.”

You don’t have to go to another room altogether! Separating a space could be as easy as setting up a workspace by the window not facing the rest of the room. Or creating a work station with tv trays that gets put away when the work is complete. We’re all having to get creative!

The bottom line is, if you can avoid working and relaxing in the same place, your brain will thank you for it! This will help make your home your happy place!

Redesign and Refresh

Even if there’s nothing “wrong” with a space, if you’re in a place long enough, you just get to a point where you’re ready for a change. The process of redesigning a space will give you a creative outlet as you work on it and a sense of accomplishment when you’ve got it done. And the project can be as major or minor as you want it to be. A new coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to invigorate a room. If you want something less time consuming, substitute paint for new throw pillows, an area rug, curtains, or wall art. 

Another tip: Maximize natural light. Open up the windows and add reflective surfaces like mirrored, chrome, and glass elements. More natural light will make a space feel bigger than it is.

If you find yourself spending most of your time inside, bring a touch of the outdoors in with some plants. Add a potted plant, a bouquet of flowers, or an herb garden. This is a great way to bring in light, color, and some extra oxygen!

The key to not getting overwhelmed by a redesign project is to make small but noticeable changes. To get started, check out Your Home Decorating Resource Library.

Unplug and Unwind

Whether you’re binge watching Netflix, keeping up with TikTok, or sitting in on a Zoom meeting, we’re all spending way more time on screens than usual. At the end of the day, many of us are feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. We recommend planning out the time your family is going to spend on screens, and make it an activity you do together. Watch a movie, play an online game, catch another episode, but then take a break. Be present with others and take in the world around you. You’ll start noticing your home becoming a happier place. 

What should you do when you hear those inevitable words, “I’M BORED?” Embrace it.! According to Pediatrician Michael Rich, “Boredom is the space in which creativity and imagination happen.” 

What do you do to make your home your happy place? Comment below!