Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by fluorescent lighting. I know I have. Here are eight excellent ways to make your home cozy and comfortable. This blog is focused on the needs of highly sensitive people, so my recommendations are tailored to that audience. However, that doesn’t mean these tips can’t be applied to any home or residence. We live in a highly overstimulating world, so these methods are almost guaranteed to make you feel more calm at home.
The best thing about these tips is that they are pretty easy to implement. Grab one or two ideas if you don’t have the time, energy, or funds to make all 10 happen. It will make a world of difference!
1. WARM LIGHT. The difference between warm light vs. cool light is no small potatoes. Consider adding flameless candles and fairy lights that flicker in the evenings. I found some flameless candles on Amazon that I recently added to my living room after Christmas was over to make it feel cozier and now my husband and I don’t even use our overhead light. Overhead lights and highly sensitive people do not mix (at least not for me!). If you have lamps, swap out the bulbs for warm bulbs.
2. Aromatherapy. I used to use highly fragrant candles and always wondered why my eyes burned or I had a migraine. Now, I opt for scentless candles, flameless candles, or simply an aromatherapy device with cool mist. Living in the far north of the US, you can never use a humidifier too much. Buy bulk votive candles and put them in adorable votive jars from your local thrift store.
3. Decluttering. Easier said than done. BUT if you can pick up the large items and wipe down your coffee table, I promise it makes a world of difference. It is so satisfying to cozy up on the couch after work with a cup of tea and a cleared off coffee table.
4. Nature. If you’re in the great north like me, getting outside when it is -10 degrees isn’t appealing. Bring plants into your home. Decorate with wood accents. Keep some crystals around, maybe on your windowsill. Name your plants because they are now your little family and don’t forget that they naturally purify your air for you!
5. Quiet spaces. My husband is a daily meditator. We don’t have a ton of space in our 2-bedroom house, but when the clock strikes 5 or 5:30, my office becomes the meditation room. It’s a good place for either of us to retreat if the other is watching TV on loud or we want to be zen.
6. Coffee or Tea Spot. Making comforting hot beverages is a spiritual experience for me. Designate a coffee corner or beverage station for yourself. Each evening, or on the evenings you are feeling down, put on some fuzzy socks and make a big to-do out of prepping some tea or hot cocoa. In the mornings, jazz up your coffee and get excited about the day ahead.
7. Cozy, Comfy Clothing. This isn’t rocket science. As a kid, I used to absolutely HATE long sleeves. My mom would desperately try to get me to wear them. Unless it was the perfect soft material, I wanted nothing to do with it. Find something soft and luxurious and keep it in the rotation.
8. Personalization. A home isn’t peaceful or comforting unless it has your stamp of you on it. Get your favorite photos framed and hang them up, perhaps on a gallery wall. Have something custom made for your home, like a custom family portrait or a cute drawing of your house. Etsy has so many to choose from!
There are many other ways you can bring a sense of calmness and serenity to your home! These are just a few that have worked for me and brought me back to baseline after a long day at work. I didn’t realize how much my environment was affecting me before I was intentional about these things.