Design Your Life with Beauty--For You, Your home, Your Environment
Learn to make your surroundings more peaceful and calming so you feel at ease all day and night long.
Here are some decorating ideas that will soothe all of your senses.
The way we design our home and work environments can have a dramatic impact on our stress levels and emotions. In my work, I help you use your senses to create a space that is specially made for you and your needs. This will carry over to when you are ready for sleep and make it easier to slip into slumber.
Visual Techniques
1. Opt for warm colors. Warm colors tend to advance toward your eye to create a more intimate feel. Colors have different degrees of warmth, depending on the shade you pick. Warm colors will help to heat up adjoining cool colors. This means you can include any of your favorite colors as long as you pick the right shades and coordinate carefully.
2. Get organized. Clearing away clutter will instantly make any space look more serene. Plus, it won't cost you a penny! Return everything to its proper place. Sell or donate stuff you no longer use.
3. Layer your lighting. Take advantage of as much natural light as you can get. Trade in your harsh overhead lights and high-wattage bulbs for a variety of floor and table lamps that provide a softer effect. Mirrors will also brighten things up.
4. Work with the space you've got. If you need to tie together a big area, consider decorating with patterns. A striped couch will make your living room look cozier. On the other hand, when you're trying to feel less cramped, select furniture with legs and cutouts and clear tops to maximize your air space.
Sound Effects
1. Get a water fountain. The sound of running water has appealed to people for centuries. You can even get desktop fountains for your office or solar-powered versions for your garden if you want something environmentally friendly.
2. Put up chimes. Try hanging a few on your back porch. If you prefer a bird song, put out a feeder. You'll get serenaded every morning. 3. Play digital files. Wherever you live or travel, you can now access pleasant sounds with your laptop or any media player. Browse online or buy a CD full of recordings of falling rain, splashing waves, or the natural music of the Florida Everglades.
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Scent Appeal
1. Pick up a diffuser. Diffuser kits with natural reeds will disperse scent for months. That way you can avoid the safety risks of leaving burning candles unattended.
2. Rely on traditional scents. Oils like lavender, chamomile and sandalwood are old favorites because they work well for calming the mind. If you have a green thumb, try some living herbs. Lavender is easy to grow yourself and requires little maintenance. Just cut a few sprigs and take them indoors whenever you need to bring freshness to a room.
3. Experiment with new fragrances. If you want more variety, shop around for new oils. Neroli is becoming increasingly popular. This fragrance is produced from Bitter Orange blossoms and has a subtle but complex flowery aroma. I do this when I blend oils for clients. It's a joy to find that perfect scent that sets the mood for calm and relaxation.
Textural Elements
1. Put something unusual on the walls. There's more to wall art than framed paintings and photographs. Try an unusual object that will make you want to touch it, like a twisted rubber sculpture. This of course depends on your taste but it is fun to explore with wall art.
2. Pay attention to your bedding. You spend quite a bit of time sleeping (and if you don't, you should), so turn your bed into a comfort zone haven. Stock up on wonderfully cloudlike bedding, soft flannel sheets and plush comforters. There is a whole world of bedding to discover and I'll be sharing more on this in the near future.
3. Use accent pieces to add interest. Unusual and inexpensive accent pieces can add textural interest to any room. Knit your own throw blanket for a sofa or make small pillows covered in soft velvet or chenille. I invite you to visit my indoor decor pillow store for inspo!
Transform your home and office with design choices that will help you breathe easier and reduce your stress levels.
Especially if you're coping with a demanding schedule, create rooms that accommodate all your senses and help you feel composed.
Taste, Yes Taste
Food and taste are part of your senses. So yes, let's talk about taste. Bring into your space food and flavors that are both healthy and enhance your life with pleasure. I have a thing for chocolate, but maybe you like tea, or organic veggie chips, there are so many wonderful choices. I'll tell you a secret no one shares too often, you don't have to choose one over another as long as you eat and drink in balance.
You CAN bring peace not only to your home but everywhere you go.
Wishing You Wholeness
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