Creating a Calm Home for Busy Families- Part 3
Creating a calm and cozy atmosphere in your home is not as difficult as some may think. If you want your family and guests to feel as if they are being hugged every time they enter your home, you need to remember to appeal to as many of the senses as possible (sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound) without being overwhelming.
It really is that simple.
1. Consider your lighting.
Overhead lighting can use useful if you need bright light, but it is overbearing and can come off as harsh and overstimulating most of the time. Instead, use lamps and twinkle lights to create a warm ambiance. Softening your lighting goes a long way towards creating that calm cozy feel you want in your home.
Think beyond ordinary table lamps. Add small lights to a bookshelf, kitchen counter, or an entry foyer to bring a warm glow to darker corners of your home. Think battery powered LED candles with automatic timers.
2. Make use of the sun.
Opening the curtains and allowing the sun to flow in during the day creates a cheerful, warm environment. Bonus: it’s free!
3. Remove clutter.
I’m a firm believer in the idea that “cluttered surroundings make for a cluttered mind”. Keep surfaces like the countertops, end tables, and the coffee table free of too much stuff.
If clutter constantly collects in your house (as it does mine!), and you don’t have the time right now to go all Marie Kondo with your clutter, make use of storage bins and baskets to, at least, keep the clutter in designated spots in the house. Plus, storage baskets are cute and inexpensive.
4. Make your beds.
Keeping your beds made during the day is one of the simplest ways to make a bedroom look more inviting and relaxing. A neat and tidy bed, along with soft lighting, makes the bedroom a nice place to retreat for a few minutes when the kids are driving you crazy, or you just need some time alone.
5. Diffuse Essential Oils.
Skip the candles and diffuse essential oils instead. It’s safer especially with young children around and the you reap the health benefits of the oils themselves. There’s just something about essential oils that relaxes the mind and are also a great way to appeal to the sense of smell.
6. Keep bathrooms clean.
Adopting a clean as you go routine in your bathroom keeps them looking nice and inviting. Wipe down the counter every day, keep towels neatly on a rack, and keep shower curtains closed. If you have young children you can start training them on cleaning up after themselves every time they use the bathroom. With my own kids, I find a towel ring for the hand towel by the sink works better than a towel bar and we use hooks for our bath towels.
7. Add fresh flowers.
Bringing fresh flowers inside immediately brightens your home. You don’t need to buy expensive bouquets. You can just use what is in your yard if you’re lucky enough to have flowers in your landscape. I like to cut a bloom or two off my big, peony and lilack bush and place them in a big bowl of water. They add a light scent to my home.
8. Make use of music.
Keep soft music playing in the background while cooking in the kitchen. Not only does this appeal to the sense of sound, music has been proven to calm the mind. By playing the right kinds of music, you can actually create a peaceful feeling in your home. We have music playing in the background of our home all the time.
9. Tame the messes.
Beyond the clutter issue, we often just have to deal with regular messes. Don’t keep dirty dishes in the sink. Wash them as soon as possible, or put them in the dishwasher. Keep clothes in the closet, dresser, or the hamper… never in a pile on the floor. Keeping the mess at bay lends itself to that calm vibe we are going for in our homes.
10. Keep floors clean.
Admittedly, as I stated in an earlier in this series, my husband is in charge of our floor cleaning. I sincerely believe that at least 50% of a room’s cleanliness is based on how clean the floor is. Vacuum, sweep, and/or mop regularly to keep rooms looking tidy and neat. This is a great task to delegate to your children too!
If you hate cleaning floors, consider investing in a robotic vacuum that cleans carpet and hardwoods.
11. Have a place for everything.
“A place for everything, and everything in its place” should be the mantra of anyone looking to create a calm home. This goes along with keeping clutter at bay and cleaning up messes immediately. But, having a place for everything also saves your sanity.
Have a place for the scissors and put them back as soon as you’re finished. Next time you or someone in your house needs them, you will know where they are.
12. Add greenery.
Live plants work well to bring the outdoors in which gives us a sense of calm, creating a softer feel to your decor. If keeping plants alive isn’t your thing, simply add smaller bunches of greenery to your room. Wreaths and smaller greenery bunches work well for wall decor.
13. Simplify your color palette.
Too many colors in a home can create visual chaos. On the other hand, using too few colors can create a stark, cold monotone. Find a nice balance, using a good neutral base tone on your walls like Revere Pewter. Use solid color sofas and chairs, but add pops of color with pillows and throw blankets. By building color intentionally in any room, you can create a lovely, but not over-bearing feeling. Don’t forget to add texture with throws, pillows and rugs.
14. Keep your own attitude calm.
You can decorate all you want. Your home can be magazine photoshoot ready, but, at the end of the day, if you exude tenseness, bitterness, and a curt attitude, your home will feel tense and uncomfortable. The quickest way to lose the calm feel of a home is to have a bad attitude.
Does the idea of designing your home around your kids and pets overwhelm you?
Do you fear buying that piece of furniture or rug thinking it will end up being ruined? At Marsha Sefcik Interior Design, we are excited to announce the launch of BRING CALM TO CHAOS BY DESIGN. Together we will create the family friendly home you’ve always wanted that will better serves you and your family.
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XO,
