The last few months have seen many of us spending an increasing amount of time in our own homes. And, with the winter months ahead of us, this is a trend that looks set to continue. If you fall into this category, then you will likely want to make your living space as relaxing as you possibly can.
Whether you are looking to update your bedroom or create a dedicated chill-out room, there are several techniques that you can use to make it conducive to kicking back and relaxing. In the article below, we outline a host of tips that you can employ yourself.
Ready to relax? Then let’s get started!
Choose Your Color Scheme Wisely
The colors that surround you in a room can make a big difference to how relaxing it feels. For example, soft and natural colors have been shown to help promote relaxation. Anything that’s too harsh and bright can end up having the opposite effect, so these should be avoided as much as possible.
Popular choices include blues, whites, and creams – perhaps with some greys, browns, or greens mixed in. Alternatively, if you are looking to create a more warming environment, you could always go for pink or yellow hues. Experiment with some different options before you settle on the ones that are right for your space.
Surround Yourself with Softness
Soft textures are your friend when you are creating a chill-out room, so you could put in something like a big bean bag chair for a group of you to relax on! Click here to see what kinds of beanbag options are available.
Also, cozy woollen blankets are ideal for curling up underneath. Plenty of pillows are also an ideal addition and can provide you with additional support wherever it is needed around your body. As much as possible, you should try to avoid anything that is too hard and angular as this can end up having the opposite effect to the one that you were intending.
Lower the Lighting
What you don’t want in a relaxing room is lighting that is too harsh or blinding. Keeping the lighting soft can be achieved through a range of different techniques. A dimmer switch is perhaps the most obvious option. Avoid putting a big light directly overhead as this can feel like a spotlight. Instead, a few lamps will give you the opportunity to light up certain areas of the room without needing to do too much. Choose the lighting areas strategically, particularly if you enjoy reading and want to create a little nook area in the corner.
Reduce the Clutter
There is nothing that can kill your sense of calm and relaxation than clutter that’s strewn all over the place. So, start by decluttering and throwing away, selling, or donating anything that you no longer need. There is also likely to be plenty that can be put into storage, whether this is in your chill-out room or another space that you have available. It is also worth putting in some creative storage solutions in the room itself. This way, you are not going to end up creating clutter all over again.
Decorate with Memories
There are plenty of décor tips that can help you to create a more relaxing space, but one of the best is to use your memories. For example, a few treasured pictures or some holiday mementos will continually remind you of happy times, which is ideal for creating the kind of relaxing environment that you are looking for. An alternative to this is to put up pictures of places that you have booked to see (or hope to go to) in the future to give you something to dream about.
Create Pleasant Aromas
So far, we have talked about positive aspects of the room that largely relate to your sense of touch and sight, but don’t forget about creating a pleasant experience for your other senses, too. There are plenty of ways to create the aroma that you are looking for such as putting in oil diffusers, incense, or potpourri. Scented candles can also create a pleasant smell, but you need to be very careful that they don’t pose a fire hazard.
Positive Musical Vibes
When it comes to your sense of hearing, there is no better way of giving this a treat than putting on some positive musical vibes. Everyone has their own set of personal musical preferences, so choose the playlist that works for you. Not everyone enjoys ‘spa-style’ music. If you find heavy metal relaxing, then go for it by all means! There are plenty of affordable Bluetooth and smart speakers that give you the opportunity to put on music easily.
Bring in the Natural World
All too often, our indoor environments can be negatively impacted by not having a connection to the outdoor world. Nature has a positive impact on both our physical and mental health, so it makes sense that you bring it into the space as much as possible. A few potted plants are the most obvious way of bringing in the natural world into your environment. Alternatively, you could install a fish tank and bring in some marine life. Of course, this creates the need to care for your underwater friends, but they can pay you back by giving you peace and tranquillity.
Make it Warm
Warmth is a state that we naturally associate with comfort, so making your relaxing room nice and toasty is certainly worthwhile. If you don’t have a decent heating system, you could always get a space heater or two to enhance the warmth of the room. Also, you could put in a kettle or coffee maker to prepare some of your favorite beverages — and don’t forget blankets and soft furnishings, as they can make such a difference to a space.
Using all these tips or just a few of them can help you to create a relaxing chill-out room, so why not put them into practice yourself?
