by Catherine Collins: For many people, the idea of a stress-free home goes hand in hand with a clean home…

Awaken

Too much stuff lying around, piles of bills on the tables, magazines, scattered toys and bits and pieces everywhere can stifle the space and weigh you down. The more stuff there is, the bigger the burden you take on.

The easiest path towards a clean and stress-free home is one step at a time in the direction of decluttering, simplifying your home décor and minimizing the amount of things you have. The result will be a home that feels cleaner, lighter and more relaxing.

Here are several tricks and tips how to turn your home into a lovely oasis of calm and serenity.

Declutter

Decluttering a home can seem daunting but if you start small and persist each day a bit, you’ll have a clutter-free zone that spreads out to the entire home. Start with smaller areas, such as a side cabinet or a counter and make a rule it’s always clear. As soon as something is there but not in use, remove it. Slowly but surely, move to other areas and surfaces and declare them clutter-free zones too. Step by step, you’ll get to a stage where most flat surfaces in your home are clear and clean.

Chuck-it-basket

A quick and easy strategy to keep your home tidy is to have a handy chuck-it-basket that you can use for a speedy clean up. Anything that is out of place, scattered or lying around can be put there and chucked aside. It’s still there to be used later, but it’s out of sight and the space is rid of unnecessary distractions.

Bring nature in

Nothing speaks calm more than nature itself so try to bring it indoors as much as you can. It could be in the form of fresh flowers or house plants that will breathe in life simply with their splashes of colour. Growing indoor plants has enormous health benefits as many of them naturally purify the air and they can even reduce fatigue, headaches, drowsiness, allergy and cold symptoms.

The bedroom oasis

It’s important to have one room in the house that is your go-to-place to escape all the noise and fuss of daily life and usually, it’s the bedroom. Make it a serene place that doesn’t only provide refuge and comfort at night, but also a place where you can take a break during the day. Therefore, make sure its design is bright, airy and inviting, but also treat yourself with a high-quality, comfortable mattress to give you proper support when you rest and sleep.

Soothing colors and fresh smells

Colors and smells can be a powerful tool in creating a stress-free environment if used correctly. Studies show that using soothing colors to unify the rooms in the house can help you feel more relaxed and clear-minded. It’s recommended you keep home design simple and cohesive, with minimal color clashes and palette choices.

Find out what works for you. If you need to feel motivated and inspired, go for bold colors and statement pieces, but if your aim is a calm haven, this would only bring chaos and headache. In that case, choose more relaxing and milder colors and use them consistently throughout the house. With flat, matt finishes, this will create a soft tone and a sense of serenity.

Just like color, the sense of smell is very powerful in creating mood and evoking pleasant memories of the past. You can use essential oils, air fresheners, candles or potpourri to set the tone of each room in the house.

Plan a cleaning scheme

Eventually, the whole plan of keeping a stress-free home is maintaining its cleanliness. It can be overwhelming at times, especially after a long day at work and dealing with the kids and meals, but try to be realistic and keep things in perspective. Make a clever cleaning scheme that doesn’t put pressure on you to clean the whole house in just one weekend! Jot down an afternoon a week for each room and get your family on board.

Take 20 minutes a day to stay on top of things so the clutter doesn’t get out of control. For instance, while you’re waiting for the pot roast to get done, clear out the countertops, reorganize a cupboard or store away the groceries you bought that day. It’s amazing how much can get done in 10 to 20 minutes that adds up immensely to a clutter free home.

By following these quick and easy steps, you’ll be able to create a home that is clean, peaceful and enjoyable for the whole family.

Catherine is a passionate home design consultant from Melbourne. She loves making homes beautiful and buildings sustainable, but she also like sharing her advice and knowledge with people. That is why she is also a regular contributor to the Smoothdecorator blog. Besides all this, she loves reading and enjoys a superhero movie from time to time.

Source: AWAKEN