Get It Done: How to create a home sanctuary
Posted by Chloe Hardie - 9 September 2020
Posted by Chloe Hardie - 9 September 2020
For many of us, much of 2020 has been spent indoors so perhaps it’s time we start making changes to the house by creating a space that feels more like a retreat than ‘the same four walls’. How can this be done? By making simple and meaningful changes throughout your home.
A great place to start when creating a home sanctuary is to find inspiration. What makes you feel calm, happy and safe? When you look around your home, how does it make you feel? What changes could you make to improve this feeling?
Pinterest and Instagram are great places to start when searching for inspiration, so take a look at how others have made their home a sanctuary to see if that can inspire you to make changes to your home.
For example, a great place to start investigating is colours palettes, as colours have a great impact on your mood. Blues, greens and yellows are fantastic colours to create balance, bring in calmness and raise your energy. You may feel a strong connection with particular colours that might be good to introduce into your home to help improve how you feel when you are in different areas of your home.
A super simple way you can make home feel more like a sanctuary is by decluttering. Clutter can fog the mind and make your home feel like a mess. Seeing piles of stuff in different spaces can be a constant reminder of the things you need to do, start or finish, so simply clearing this will immediately make your home feel less stressful.
Plants, greenery and light makes spaces feel calmer and more relaxed. Adding indoor pot plants and opening up the blinds will not only make your home look more appealing, but it will help freshen up the air and add a sense of serenity to your haven.
What smells bring you joy and put you at ease: Candles, incenses, baked goods? Smell is a great way to shift the mood and transform your home into your own personal sanctuary, so it might be time to order some new candles, essential oils or incense to add to throughout your home.
If you are working from home, the last thing you want is to feel like you’re constantly on the clock and can’t switch off, so to create a physical cue for when to work and when to relax, it is recommended you create dedicated work zone. This could be a corner of your bedroom, a guest room, the end of a dining table, your study, anywhere you feel productive. When you leave this space, you then know you can switch off, and only re-enter the space when you need to switch on again. This is a great way to ensure home remains a haven when you sign off from work.
Having a dedicated ‘spot’ or ‘space’ in your home where you can boost your mood can be a great addition to your home sanctuary. These spaces can include photos that make you smile, books you are reading, something cosy to sit on and relax into, artworks, flowers, candles; whatever it is that can boost your mood and help you feel at ease. You can have multiple happy spots or touchpoints throughout your home that allow you to enjoy some stillness surrounded by things that make you feel good to be at home. If we were to create a happy place, it would definitely be inspired by @rachelcastleandthings
The one room in the house where you can truly enjoy some alone time is no doubt the bathroom, so a great way to enhance your home sanctuary is to turn your bathroom into a spa. Stocking up on candles, bath bombs, face masks and other goodies can encourage you to take some time to yourself and enjoy a little TLC. If you can pamper yourself in this space at least once a week, this will help enhance your mood and most definitely give your home a sanctuary feeling.
