Wellbeing and the home: 5 ways to create a tranquil living space

We’ve all spent a lot of time in our homes over the last few years, and many people are enjoying giving their living spaces a makeover for the new year. If you’re thinking of a refresh, Sarah Hastings from RW4Y shows you how to make your home feel more tranquil.

Self-care is very important to maintaining your mental and physical health, and one aspect of this is making sure that your home is a comfortable, relaxing place to be — especially after we’ve all spent more time in our homes over the last few years. With the new year often comes a clear out, a redesign, or even just a tidy, so here we’ve brought together some tips for creating a tranquil home.

Separate working and living

If you haven’t already got separate working and living areas in your home, this is a great place to start. If you work from home, consider a dedicated home office room, and if you don’t have space for this, then make an alcove or corner specifically for working. This will provide an important separation in your mind between work and down time, and ensure that you can enjoy your time off without thinking about the tasks for the next day.

Personal areas within your home

Those with busy houses might benefit from having a personal corner to relax in and be away from the hustle and bustle of the day. This might be a comfy armchair next to a bookcase in the living room, a bedroom with a window seat or alcove, or even a separate sitting room. However much space you have, carving out a little place to get some quiet time can be extremely relaxing.

Bespoke storage solutions

Installing storage that fits the room and is designed to look good with the rest of your décor, can be a real gamechanger. A cluttered space can lead to a cluttered mind, and this study found that women who described their homes as ‘cluttered’ exhibited higher levels of stress, so decluttering can really make a home more tranquil. Having things neatly packed away means you’ll be able to find everything you need without a hassle, and it also makes a room look instantly bigger and more polished. So, consider built-in storage to make your house more organised and relaxing to be in. Areas where this can be particularly helpful are the kitchen and bedroom, as there are typically a lot of items kept in these rooms which can be stored away.

Different areas for different generations

It can also be helpful to create different spaces for various generations to feel comfortable and to enjoy their hobbies. Younger people might love a dedicated gaming room, or at least an allocated gaming space within the family living room. Older folks might enjoy creating a tranquil patio space that overlooks the garden, or transforming the balcony into a relaxing garden where they can grow plenty of flowers and herbs. A good start can be to ask the members of your household what they find calming and what they enjoy doing in their spare time, as then you can see how to incorporate it into your home’s design.

Incorporate natural light

One thing that you might not have considered, is how much of a difference natural light can make to any room. Having sunlight in our living spaces helps regulate our circadian rhythms, which influence how awake we feel throughout the day, and when we feel like going to sleep. An academic study has found that sunlight can improve sleep and wellbeing in office workers.

Natural light can also lift people’s mood and means that you can grow plants in your home, which improve air quality and add a relaxing atmosphere. So, think about installing more windows if this is possible. If vertical windows aren’t an option, it may be possible to add roof windows or include a light tunnel, which can bring more sun into darker rooms with minimal wall space.

Having a relaxing living space is crucial for maintaining mental and physical health, and by making some of these changes, you can make sure that your home is a haven of tranquillity. Letting in more light, maximising space with storage, and keeping your living and working spaces separate can do wonders for creating a home that is enjoyable and calming.