Dedicated space. Carve out your space for relaxation – no matter how small. When you are in that zone you know that is your arena for relaxation. Let everyone, including you, respect the space.Comfortable furnishings. You definitely cannot relax if the sofa, chair or bed is not comfortable. Bear in mind that what is comfortable for you can be very uncomfortable for me. The key, therefore, is the test drive of the furniture before you purchase. That could simply mean that you lie on the bed or sit on the sofa for just a few minutes to see how your body feels. The fewer pieces the better. Aim for quality, not quantity.Colour. Select colours, materials and finishes that you are drawn to and love. There is nothing worse for stress than trying to lounge in a sofa that you absolutely hate. If the chair is comfortable and the colour irritates you, consider reupholstering or slip covering it. Select a colour scheme that is soothing – cool, calm colours. Earthy colours such as neutrals, chocolate brown, sky blue, white, sand or leafy greens are also relaxing. Save the exciting and stimulating colours for accents or eliminate them entirely. Use simple colour schemes. Colour has to do more than coordinate or be trendy. Your colour choice must make you pleased. You should use colours that you absolutely adore.
Lighting. Dimmers on the lights – that's a must. Plus, you must be able to draw the drapery. Choose black-lined drapery for that cocoon effect. If you read to relax, get a good reading lamp. You should not have to strain your eyes to read. Also, use targeted lighting where you need bright light (such as your reading area), but put the general lighting on a dimmer. Try using full spectrum bulbs that imitate natural light or daylight. Natural light is less jarring and more soothing.Temperature. I do not know about you, but I love a cool room to relax. Heat is not my thing, so my space will have to have natural ventilation or be cooled by a fan or air conditioning.Declutter. Less is certainly more. Have a place for everything. I cannot relax in a cluttered and messy place. Chaos and relaxation do not belong in the same space. I have to have a clutter-free space. This does not mean sparse at all. It just means clean and organised.
Soothing Sounds. Try water. A water feature will give out soothing sounds. But, you can also try soothing music. See if you can get some spa music or recordings of rain forest sounds. No need to sing along or dance. Just unwind. Your relaxation space can also be your bathroom. If you have the finance, install a spa.Introduce Nature. Wood flooring, sisal or rush rugs, bamboo furniture, metals, silk or cotton textiles, plants, stone walls, running or falling water or sounds of the ocean, etc., are all natural elements that promote that Zen feeling. Try adding a vase of fresh flowers. If your room can open to the outside, incorporate the outdoors into your décor. Use nature themed art. Lastly, you can even open up the windows.
