Over the past few years, most of us have spent more time at home than ever before. As our lifestyles evolve, our homes have become increasingly important. Many of us now use our homes as bases to work, socialise, entertain, exercise and study, as well as eat and sleep. Most people long to have a nest that makes them feel safe, secure and comfortable, but what if your home isn’t a haven of peace, happiness and relaxation? In this guide, we’ll outline some simple modern home decor to turn your home into your happy place.
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Colour
We tend to think about the impact of colour on the aesthetic of a room but the colours we choose in our homes can also influence the ambience and vibe. Some tones boost our energy levels and energise us while others have a calming effect. When you’re browsing colour charts for modern home decor or looking for decorative accessories, consider the mood you want to create as well as aesthetic appeal. In bedrooms and bathrooms, for example, it’s a fantastic idea to opt for soothing shades, which induce relaxation, such as neutrals, pastels and hues of green, blue and purple. In social spaces and busy areas, such as the kitchen, go for brighter tones and flashes of vibrant colours like yellow and orange. If you don’t want to paint every wall or go crazy with colour, you can use accessories and accents to inject pops of colour. You could also design a feature wall using printed or patterned wallpaper or bright, dark or bold paint.
Personality
Your home should be an extension of your personality. If you’re planning a revamp, or you’re decorating after moving house, celebrate your personal style and design rooms that make you feel happy. It’s great to get ideas and inspiration from social media, glossy magazines and places you’ve visited, but don’t feel that you have to copy popular posts online or follow certain trends just because they’re in fashion. There’s nothing wrong with mixing and matching styles or going against colour recommendations because you prefer shades that aren’t currently en vogue. Channel your inner interior designer, have fun and be proud that your home is unique.
Temperature
There’s a huge amount of discussion about the weather at the moment. Many of us are thinking about how to keep warm without breaking the bank during the winter, but in a few months, we may be contending with record-breaking heat waves again. Maintaining a comfortable temperature is essential for feeling happy in your own home. Nobody wants to be freezing when they’re trying to relax in front of the TV after a long day or struggling to get to sleep because it’s boiling. If you find it hard to get the temperature just right in your home, there are some simple solutions.
During the winter, it’s a great idea to try to improve insulation and reduce heat loss. You can do this by using DIY methods or investing in cavity wall or loft insulation. You could also consider replacing old windows and doors. These options will save you money in the short and long-term by reducing energy consumption and they will also add value to your home. If you’re looking for budget-friendly alternatives, use draught excluders to keep warm air in, heat the rooms you use most frequently and fill holes in external walls and gaps between window and door frames. Hang thick, lined curtains and add soft furnishings, such as rugs, blankets and cushions. Setting a thermostat is a simple way to boost energy efficiency and regulate the temperature inside your home. Once you’ve set the temperature, your heating system will come on to warm living spaces up and shut off when the temperature is right.
In the summer, you can keep cool by turning your heating off, opening doors and windows during the late afternoon and evening and circulating air using ceiling or tower fans. Water air conditioning is a brilliant option for small spaces and it’s also energy-efficient. As temperatures rise year by year, air conditioning is likely to become more popular. Compact units and systems cool homes without taking up a lot of space or producing a lot of noise.
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Tranquil zones
Most of us have moments when we crave downtime. If you’ve been at work all day, you’ve had a busy week or you feel like you’ve been rushing around, it’s important to be able to wind down and relax. Creating tranquil zones in your home with modern home decor is a brilliant way to boost mental health and reduce the risk of stress and burnout. Even if you only have a small space available within a living room or bedroom, you can design an area to retreat to when you need five minutes of peace or you want to read, listen to music or meditate. Opt for soothing colours, add soft furnishings to help you get cosy and comfortable and remove devices. Choose soft lighting or candles. If your new haven is within a larger living space, add privacy with a screen or section off an area using furniture.
The most important tranquil zone in our homes is the bedroom. There are multiple factors that impact and influence sleep quality, including our sleeping environment. If you find it hard to sleep, or you usually get into bed feeling restless, sprucing up your bedroom is a good idea. Choose calming colours, make your bed look inviting, block out light and noise and declutter. Add plants and soft lighting and create a cosy, snug feel with throws, cushions and rugs. Invest in a good-quality mattress and pillows and try to keep tech out of your bedroom. Allow yourself 30-60 minutes to relax before you get into bed. Read a book, watch TV or run a bath. This will help to get your body and mind ready for sleep.
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Making space for hobbies
The average person spends around 36 hours per week at work. If you add other commitments to your working hours, you may find that you have hardly any time available to indulge hobbies and interests, hang out with friends and family and enjoy high-quality downtime. If you struggle to find time for hobbies, try to make space within your home to relax, learn, get creative or broaden your horizons. From baking and painting to yoga and writing, adjusting your home can make it easier to devote time to pastimes and interests. Having a hobby can be hugely beneficial for mental health and well-being and it can also be great fun.
Addressing problems
Owning a house or an apartment has lots of benefits but it can also be a lot of work. When you become a homeowner, you quickly realise that there are always jobs that need doing or problems that need addressing. It can be tempting to ignore issues or keep moving them down the list, but if they’re stressing you out or preventing you from enjoying and making the most of your home, it’s wise to be proactive. Write a list of the tasks that need doing in your home, divide them into DIY and professional jobs and highlight priority issues. Whether you’ve spotted damp patches on the ceiling or missing roof tiles, or you’re gathering clutter because you haven’t got around to hanging shelves or building a storage unit yet, ticking jobs off your list will make you feel better and enhance the look and functionality of your home. It’s important to remember that some jobs are best left to experts. If there is a risk of danger, or the task is too complex for amateurs, seek advice from professionals.
Natural light
Studies show that natural light boosts productivity and it can also lift our mood and increase energy levels. Maximising natural light in your home will make small spaces look larger and brighter. You can add light by fitting extra windows or skylights and lanterns but you don’t have to invest in large-scale renovations to make a difference. Simple modern home decor changes like avoiding clutter, opting for light colours on the walls and floors, hanging mirrors on the walls and angling chairs and couches towards windows and doors can all help.
Plants
Houseplants are a very popular design feature but they also offer a wealth of benefits for health and well-being. Plants purify the air and they’re also proven to reduce stress. You can choose from a huge range of houseplants for every room. From tiny cacti and potted succulents to towering palms, adding greenery will create vibrant, welcoming living spaces in an instant.
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How do you feel when you arrive home at the end of the day? If you don’t feel your shoulders drop and your heart rate slow, or you don’t look forward to sinking into the sofa or curling up in bed, it’s time to make changes. Your home should be your happy place. To promote relaxation, reduce stress, enhance comfort and boost well-being, follow these steps. Think carefully about the colours you use, create tranquil zones and showcase and celebrate your personality. Get the temperature just right, create inviting, cosy spaces and maximise natural light. Add plants, make space for hobbies and interests and write a list of problems and DIY jobs you need to address.
