Your home should be a place where you can relax and unwind — where the worries or stresses of the day can melt away. The perfect place to do this looks different for everyone. Perhaps you enjoy sinking into a big, comfy sofa to watch the latest episode of your favourite show. For others, it could be curling up in bed with a book.
And while it might be tempting to give your space an overhaul—you don’t have to do a lot to create a serene space for yourself to retreat to. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
1. Create a Personal Retreat
The first thing you’re going to want to do is decide which spaces or rooms within the home will be your designated space. They’ll be stress-free zones dedicated to the things that bring you joy.
This could be a mini home library or reading corner, a meditation zone (the tips below will really amp up the relaxation in this space), or a room dedicated to your favourite hobbies, such as working out with your favourite reusable bottle or doing crafts with your favourite pieces. Designating your space is the first step to building your oasis.
2. Indulge the Senses With Aromatherapy
The way a space smells can have a bigger impact on the vibe than you may expect. The good news is that it’s easy to set the tone for a room, and you can even switch things up to match your mood.
If you know you’re going to want a particular scent in a space for a long amount of time, a simple reed diffuser is a good option. For those who want to switch things up, make use of electric diffusers and a few drops of whatever oil best compliments the activity.
For example, you may wish to have a blend designed to increase focus in your home office, while bedrooms are a great place to use lavender and other calming scents. The bathroom is a great place to make use of a diffuser where you can change scents easily, as this allows you to use an energising blend in the morning, and a stress relieving one at night.
Bonus points here if you add plants to really bring the space to life and add a sense of tranquillity. Snake plants are particularly good for this, as they’re easy to care for and will naturally purify the air.
3. Enjoy Textural Harmony
Texture plays a significant role in how a space can feel. If you’re looking for a sense of warmth and tranquillity, large plush rugs and soft fluffy blankets will do the trick. A refreshing and calming feeling, on the other hand, can be established with the luxurious feeling of linen sheets and marble or timber plant pots in the bedroom.
Playing with different textures and materials is also a great way to create a multi-dimensional oasis within your home. Wood and glass work particularly well together, as do concrete and metal, but you can mix things up however you please to create the perfect vibe that’s right for you.
4. Add Smart Lighting
If you’ve ever wished for more natural light in your space, or wanted to set a calming ambience before bedtime, smart lighting is your new best friend. Designed to provide full control over brightness and temperature (and sometimes even colour) smart lighting systems allow you to create indoor lighting that mimics natural light or sets a specific mood.
While some ceiling lights and lamps do have this functionality and are a great place to start, if you really want to customise your space, consider going for string or strip lights or sensors. For example, string lights (sometimes referred to as fairy lights) are a great way to add softness to a bedroom, while strip lights are ideal for outlining features within a space like a planter box or piece of art you really love. You could add a touch of magic to your hallways with sensor lights in soft comforting shades.
5. Use Water Features for Blissful Soundscapes
Finally, if you really want to take the serenity within your personal oasis to the next level, an indoor water feature is the perfect way to do so. This can be as simple as a small aquarium with a waterfall filter, or as large as an indoor fountain (this goes great in a meditation zone).
The sound of water can be incredibly soothing, so an aquarium works perfectly in the bedroom, and no matter what kind of water feature you choose, it will enhance the visual appeal of your space. Whether you want to meditate to the sound, or have it as your backdrop as you enjoy a cup of tea, there’s no denying the tranquillity a water feature adds to your space.
There are many ways to make a house feel like home, some may prefer a smaller space to cosy up in, while others might prefer a larger space to feel at home. Whatever you choose, it comes down to your own preferences.
