We can see a light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic and lockdowns, but we’re all still so stressed from the year we’ve been through. Stress is incredibly harmful to your health and we must find ways to reduce it as much as we can. Did you know your home’s decor can help you fight off that anxiety and fear? I have 4 great tips to help you destress your home and create a sanctuary for you and your family.

1. Use Calming Colors

Color psychology is nothing new, but in 2020 a large-scale study was done in Europe to look at the impact color has on stress levels. Very pale blues and greens were not only soothing, but they also created a sense of peace. Warm whites and sand tones offered a calming effect and also felt uplifting to the study’s participants. One surprising note: Grays were seen as sad if the undertones were too cool. Keep the grays on the warmer side of the scale, and the result is more serene and positive. Avoid bright reds and yellows, though. Even though those colors can be seen as happy hues, they also create excitement and a tenseness that is not good for reducing your stress levels.

2. Reduce Clutter

Marie Kondo was definitely onto something. Visual clutter can raise our stress levels significantly - and that is again backed up by science. According to a study in Psychology Today, clutter in your home overwhelms the senses with too much stimuli. That makes it difficult to relax, either mentally or physically. It stops our creative process in its tracks, and it creates overwhelming feelings of guilt. If you create a well-ordered space with everything in its place, it allows your mind to focus on other things. And it gives you a physical environment that’s more calm and ordered. It’s what your body craves to help it relax.

3. Soften Up

Did you or your child ever carry a soft blanket around with you? There’s a very good reason for that - soft textures soothe us, even when we’re adults. This is a growing area of study, with certain manufacturers even beginning to develop pyschotextiles. That isn’t as scary as it sounds. They are designing fabrics that are meant to soothe us and create calm. Think about your favorite cotton t-shirt or those flannel PJs that have been washed so many times that they’ve achieved softness perfection. Scientists want to offer those soothing fabrics for any application to help calm our frazzled nerves. So in your own home, bring in velvets, cashmeres, deep faux furs, and any other texture that will make you want to snuggle up.

4. Go Natural

Biophilia is becoming a big buzzword in the design world. It’s the idea that humans are hardwired to make connections with nature. And a 2015 study found that caring for indoor plants and cut flowers reduced stress in study participants. In some cases, it even lowered blood pressure. So bring the outdoors into your rooms with plants, floral arrangements, and small trees. An added benefit is that those plants can also help filter your air and create more oxygen.

Try these tips to create a calm oasis in your home. And if you’d like to take the stress out of designing your interiors, give us a call. We take care of every single detail. All you have to do is sit back and relax while we create your dream home!

All the best,

Kara