No matter how much you wish it weren’t true, stress is unavoidable. That doesn’t mean you have to let it get you down. Instead, use these simple tips to create a zen spa retreat in your home where you can escape, destress, and recharge to face a new day.
1. Streamline Your Decorating
While many people associate homey decor with comfort, a true luxury spa experience is more likely to be streamlined and minimalist. Take a cue from leading Utah home builders and opt for clean lines and soft hues with luxury touches that really pop.
To get started, include plenty of storage options. Giving everything in your home a place to go make sit more likely you’ll pick up clutter instead of leaving it lying around. If adding storage doesn’t;t help, you may need to undertake a larger decluttering effort. Turn to the internet to find pros that can help you wade through belongings if you really struggle in this area.
2. Bring Nature Indoors
There are so many great reasons to bring nature indoors, that it’s hard to imagine skipping this step. For starters, spending time in nature has been shown to produce a calming effect. Some research has even shown it to help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Natural surroundings also promote healing, which is central to a relaxing spa experience. Here are a few ideas to help you bring natural elements into your home:
• Use natural materials, such as wood, cotton and linen materials, and pottery
• Add a few houseplants to the decor
• Use natural sunlight to brighten interior spaces
• Open a window or door to draw in the fresh air and natural sounds
• Add a small fountain to provide a backdrop of water sounds
3. Choose Restful Colors
There are good reasons why experts recommend changing wall color as a quick, inexpensive way to completely transform a room. The color that you choose will greatly influence the statement your room ultimately makes. It pays to invest a little time choosing the right shades to help create a calm, centered feeling. Color psychology can help you do that.
Color psychology — the science that looks at how colors affect people and their emotions — tells us that certain hues will evoke a calm response. In many cases, those will be lighter, gentle colors, such as whites, pale blues, and creamy yellows. However, there are some bolder colors, such as deep blues, that also promote calm and centering.
4. Splurge on Lighting
It is all too common for people to add lighting as an afterthought in a room design. That is a big mistake. How you illuminate a space can make or break its overall appearance and the feeling it gives off. Harsh, overhead lighting can create a sterile and unwelcoming feel while softer light is easy more relaxing.
Shop around for a varied lighting approach as you are designing your space. It’s fine to include overhead lights, but you will also want to have other options for when you want to relax and unwind. Wall sconces are an excellent way to do this. Spotlights are excellent for highlighting pieces of art.
5. Create a Private Space
You might want the entire house to feel warm and welcoming, but that may not be a possibility. Differing schedules, a home office carved out of the dining room, and any other number of things can interfere with your attempts. Instead of giving up, carve a special place out of the larger house for your retreat.
It is common for people to turn their bathrooms into spa retreats, but they aren’t the only option. A reading corner in the bedroom or a small yoga corner in the family room can serve the same purpose on a smaller scale. Add a few personal touches and an essential oil diffuser with some lavender and you are ready to relax in a miniature oasis.
You don’t have to do an entire house renovation to create a spa retreat in your home. Bringing nature indoors, carving out a personal area in the house, and investing in soothing colors and lighting can make a big difference quickly and easily.
