Home, the place where you relax

PROPERTY NEWS - Due to Covid-19, our homes have become a one-stop shop. It's where we work, teach our kids and interact with friends and family.

Although lockdown restrictions have lifted and things are slowly returning to normal, many of us are still finding ourselves at home for the majority of the time and this can become overwhelming.

It's important for our mental and physical well-being that we make home a place where we actually want to be by turning it into a space where we feel relaxed, says Mike Greeff, CEO of Greeff Christie's International Real Estate.

This does not have to be a complicated or expensive process. Studies have shown that simply redecorating can have a positive effect on your mood.

Add meaningful touches
Add pieces of décor to your home that inspire you and make you feel good. For example, a bunch of flowers on your desk can instantly evoke a sense of peace, or a framed quote can keep you motivated.

It's also important to consider your senses:

What scents do you love?
What sights help you to feel calm?
What do you love to feel?
What sounds help you to feel safe and connected?
What do you love to taste?

Create a spot to relax
Creating a specific spot in your home solely for relaxation helps you to prioritise de-stressing at the end of the day. This space can be anywhere and can be anything you want it to be.

For example, it could be in a corner of your lounge and all you might need is just a few fluffy pillows and one or two candles.

Photo: www.minafies.com

Find your happy colours

Colour is the ultimate mood shifter, so never underestimate the power of colour in your home. Think about the colours that draw you in.

Yellow is pure sunlight.

It has the ability to raise energy levels and boost your mood. It is best used in studies / home offices as it stimulates the left side of the brain, therefore helping with logic, judgement and reasoning.

Green is the balancer.

It is the colour of nature and our eyes don't need to adjust to it, so it can help foster contentment and calm. It is best used in living rooms to ease stress and overload. It is also considered a deeply reassuring colour.

Blue is the soother.

This colour is used to calm the nervous system and, like green, can relieve stress. Think about shades of blue and its ''cousins'', i.e. soft indigo and gentle tones of violet, for bedrooms and meditation spaces.