There’s nothing better than coming home to a relaxing space after a long day on the road, running errands, or putting in some work hours. Your living room – perhaps the first space you enter as you open your front door – should be a sanctuary that exudes tranquility. Unfortunately, a disorganized, chaotic living room can ramp up your anxiety, and you may find it difficult to unwind. Don’t worry: there are a few simple steps you can take to ensure your space becomes a wonderful, harmonious place to relax! Here are our top 15 tips to help you de-stress your living room:
Clean Up the Clutter
Before you do anything else, take a look around and straighten up your living room. Those piles of papers? Chuck ‘em. Those tchotchkes from 1972 that are taking up space and collecting dust? Stick them in a box and donate them. Don’t forget cord clutter as well, which is a very common source of stress! Go through and organize your belongings, sort out the ones you want to keep or donate, and only keep the things that soothe or inspire you in that space.
Keep It Clean
A dirty space can make you feel tense and uncomfortable, whether you realize it or not. Now that you’ve kicked out the clutter, it’s time to do a little bit of cleaning (it’s always easiest after de-cluttering!). Grab a dust cloth, bring in the vacuum, and wipe down the windows. Once you’re done, light a lovely candle or diffuser to bring in a calm, refreshing scent.
Organize Your Bookshelves
Got bookshelves in your living room? Make sure everything’s in order! Donate anything you don’t want or haven’t touched in years and organize your books as you like – whether by author, by color, or some other way. If that’s too tough, you can always hide the bookshelves with a chic curtain.
Get Clever With Storage Systems
Those power cords, DVDs, and video games need a home, too! Hide them with a few storage boxes or baskets, or in a chest. You can also use storage ottomans to furtively stow your extra pillows and blankets!
Bring Home a Few Plants
There’s just something about plants that soothes us. Find a few cute houseplants and incorporate them in your décor! Pot a polka dotted plant, hang a spider plant, or place a rubber plant in the corner to bring serenity into your space. Not a fan of plants? Fresh-cut flowers or even artificial plants work just as well!
Choose a Relaxing Color Palette
The walls of your home can greatly influence your mood. If you haven’t already, paint your living room in a soothing color or a calming neutral. White can reflect natural light while grays and light browns can also be relaxing. Truly soothing colors like various shades of blues or greens do a great job in keeping you calm. Thinking about incorporating some art pieces to adorn your walls? Consider something soft and pleasing to the eyes. Watercolor compositions can make you feel lighthearted and at ease!
Upgrade Old Furniture
Outdated or old pieces of furniture can make us feel down or stressed. If your living room furniture has seen better days, take it from us – it’s time for something new! Swap them out for newer, brighter pieces that bring you joy, or go ahead and repair or refurbish your furniture to make it feel new again.
Clean Up Your Coffee Table
A cluttered coffee table can easily cause distress. If yours is covered with bills, notes, or anything else, clean up the mess to feel relaxed once more! At most, you should ideally keep 1 or 2 pretty magazines or cherished books on your table for visual interest.
Consider Your Layout
Sometimes moving the furniture around can solve all your problems, especially if your focal point is less than inspiring. Think about your furniture and your living room’s unique layout. What’s the focal point? Brainstorm a little bit and see what you can come up with – you might be surprised!
Introduce Calming Scents
The right scent can work wonders in lifting your spirits. Create a relaxing atmosphere with traditionally calming scents like lavender, vanilla, lemon, or rosemary. You can also burn candles in your favorite scents to get the same effect!
Keep Work Out of the Space
Have you been working out of your living room during the past year or so? You might have noticed that you’ve had a hard time relaxing there lately. Separating your personal and work life is essential if you want to unwind easily at the end of the day. If you can’t take your work into another space, even changing where you sit after work can make all the difference!
Incorporate a Rug or Two
There’s nothing like walking barefoot on the softest rug imaginable. Introduce supple softness and start feeling relaxed by adding an area rug underfoot. You can also incorporate other soft touches through additional textiles like linens, curtains, and cushions. Think velvet, silk, and brushed cotton!
Light Up Your Room
Don’t underestimate the power of good lighting! First off, throw open your curtains, shutters, or blinds and flood your living room with beautiful natural light. Don’t forget to include a few good lamps, a floor lamp, or even dimmers to help you unwind in comforting lighting after the sun sets.
Reconsider Your Noise Sources
We’re all guilty of leaving Netflix on while we do something else in the living room. Guess what? That background noise can contribute toward your stress levels! Be more mindful of where your sounds are coming from and pay attention to how they make you feel. An easy swap? Turn off the TV and play some calming music. Break out the record player or cue up a relaxing playlist to help you chill out.
Stick to a Few Easy Rules Every Day
If you want to relax more regularly in your living room, make it your mission to put everything back in its place once the day is done. This includes paperwork, books, bills, toys, dirty clothes, video games, and anything else you might bring in the living room. Another pro-tip: open your curtains or blinds every single day to take advantage of natural lighting!
Remember, Less Is More
You don’t have to go overboard with bringing in an array of relaxing items or rearranging your furniture. Just do what feels natural to you! What matters most is that your living room’s atmosphere feels inviting and relaxing to you. It absolutely doesn’t need to be a showroom! If you’ve found that you can’t find peace in your living room or throughout the rest of your home, no matter what you’ve tried, you don’t have to feel stuck or alone. Let the experts at The Massey Team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties help you find your perfect sanctuary! Call us today at (618) 791-5024 or (618) 791-9298 or check out our online listings to get started!