For most of us, the living room is the hub of the home and a place where we spend a great deal of time. From putting our feet up and watching the telly to curling up with a good book or having an afternoon nap, it’s a place where we come to relax. As such, a living room should embody a sense of serenity and be the ultimate household haven; an escape from the toils and turmoil of the daily grind. With this in mind here are 5 IDEAL ways to make your living room more peaceful.
REMOVE CLUTTER
Is your living room full of ‘stuff’ that doesn’t appear to have any proper home? It’s all too easy for this busy space to become cluttered and messy; a dumping ground for the bric-a-brac of everyday life. Indeed, we’ve all been guilty of leaving last weeks newspapers piled up on the sideboard or forgetting to take our half drunken cup of tea back to the kitchen.
Unfortunately clutter can play a huge role in how we feel about our homes and a messy room can leave us feeling anxious and overwhelmed, adding to the stress in our lives. Indeed, a disorganised, chaotic living room is not conducive to relaxation; make no mistake. As such, it’s important to minimise the clutter in our homes.
To create a sense of space and serenity, start by reviewing the knick-knacks and accessories that you have in your living room; remember that less is more and too many trinkets covering every surface of the living room can be overwhelming. And for all of those piles of newspapers and letters strewn all over the place, consider a magazine rack and get into the habit of recycling the paper in it every week. But be warned, if you don’t recycle, a magazine rack itself can become the ultimate clutter collector.
The ultimate way to reduce clutter is to have a place for everything and proper storage should reduce the effort needed to put things away. That said, there’s no harm in having a junk drawer to throw stuff in when you can’t be bothered to be neat and tidy – you’re only human after all.
ADD SOME PLANTS
When it comes to turning your living room into a soothing place a little greenery can go a long way. Plants can bring a natural calmness to your space; not only purifying the air that you breathe by removing the toxins that linger in houses, but also – as research has shown – making you happy too. Indeed, studies have shown that by having houseplants in certain rooms of your home, you are able to reduce stress, increase positivity, boost your mood and even reduce the risk of fatigue or anxiety. Whilst it may not seem like your plants are having much of an impact on your health, there’s a high chance that they will be, so there’s never been a better time to find some beautiful plants to make you feel more zen.
ADD A MUSIC SYSTEM
If you’re after a simple and effective solution to create a peaceful and soothing living room environment, then consider adding a music system. Indeed, the soothing power of music is well researched and documented. Music can trigger a variety of chemical reactions in our brains that contribute to relaxation; it can reduce stress hormones and stimulate feelings of happiness. In addition, music has loads of other beneficial effects on our physiological functions including slowing the pulse and heart rate and lowering blood pressure. However, it can be quite challenging to find a good music system for your living room. Luckily, Speaker Champion has great guides and ideas on music systems that will help novices and experts alike.
LIGHT SOME CANDLES AND USE SMELLS
Simply lighting a candle or burning an essential oil is one way to create a peaceful atmosphere in your living room almost instantly. It’s been scientifically proven that candles soothe us and the mesmerising flicker of the flame is the ideal aid for relaxation. Moreover, the power of aroma should not be underestimated – it can effect your mood almost instantly working on both an emotional and physical level. And if you’re wondering what scented candles or natural oils to burn, then we’re here to help. Essential oils in jasmine and lavender offer a wonderfully soothing scent, both of which have calming properties and making use of them is a great way to transform your living room into a peaceful place.
USE COLOUR WISELY
The right selection of the colour palette can dramatically change the feel and look of your living room. Some colours are naturally more soothing than others. You’ll find it much easier to relax in a room that is decorated in soothing light pastel shades, for example, than one adorned with dark, bold tones. There’s always something to be said for giving a room a fresh lease of life with a lick of paint too. A tin or two could be the key for helping your room to feel cleaner, fresher and more relaxing.