A home that makes you feel good, shows off your personality and provides joy, isn't an indulgence, it is a form of self care. How we care for our homes often indicates how we’re caring for ourselves. When your spaces are well tended, they bring harmony and joy to your life.
Creating a happier, and more harmonious home is our guiding principle at Home Space Harmony. Below are nine small ways to tap into your inner voice and bring joy into your space.
Joy Booster #1: Declutter your excess stuff. You can add beautiful, meaningful items that bring you joy, but if you add them to a cluttered home they won’t ever shine. Consider containing the clutter in matched containers to elevate the space.
Joy Booster #2: Bring the outdoors in. Cut flowers or lush green plants add an extra element to a space that can’t help but make us feel good. Put colorful flowers in places you pass by to lift your mood. And don’t forget unexpected places like a bathroom counter or a bedroom nightstand. Another trick to connect to nature is to position furniture with a view to the outside.
Joy Booster #3: Display special, personal objects. Whether it be collections, hobbies, mementos, or photos, find ways to showcase and celebrate the things that hold wonderful memories for you. Blow up and frame that picture your son took on a vacation. Hang your grandmother’s china plates on the wall. Make your home a reflection of you and your family (past and present).
Joy Booster #4: Create a reading/meditation/chill out space for just YOU. Your home should be a calm oasis that feels like an escape from the outside world, so carve out a designated space in it for alone time. Fill it with candles, art and photos that speak to and relax you.
Joy Booster #5: Invest in “plushness” and layers. Choose textures your eyes will love to feel. Play with a variety of soft textiles by putting a shag rug under your bed, a cashmere throw over your sofa or a faux fur on a bench.
Joy Booster #6: Pull in natural elements. Add items made from natural materials, like jute, wicker, raffia or rattan. Small furnishings, accessories and decor made from materials found in nature are the perfect way to make your home feel more grounded and organic.
Joy Booster #7: Make sure your favorite color is represented. Color plays a huge role in how you see your space. Figure out what color excites you or gives you a sense of contentment. If cobalt blue is your favorite color, incorporate it into a piece of furniture or your front door. You could also invite blue into your home with pops of color in pillows, artwork, drapes and rugs.
Joy Booster #8: Harness the emotional impact of your favorite scent. Find scents that make your soul sing with joy. Burn splurge-worthy candles like these holiday ones from Nest. Use a Pura air diffuser to make your mudroom smell like evergreen, or spritz a little lavender on your pillows. The most beautiful homes engage all the senses so don't forget to make yours smell amazing.
Joy Booster #9: Invest in quality handmade pieces. Knowing what went into your home accents and who crafted them adds value to your space and reminds us of experiences Show off that wooden coffee table you found during a Vermont weekend or the coastal artwork you bought at a Cape Cod gallery.