4 ways to make your home a happier place

By MiNDFOOD

Advice on maintaining houseplants
Easy changes you can make to your home that can improve happiness, vitality and general wellbeing.

In these simple steps, that take no time at all, you can transform your home into your full-time happy place.

Declutter yourself happy

Even some of the simplest acts, like keeping your bedroom tidy, can have the greatest effects on our wellbeing. According to the National Sleep Foundation in the US, those who routinely existed in a peaceful, clean and decluttered bedroom recorded higher levels of sleep, compared to those who slept in a messy room.

“Quite simply, being organised gives you more time for the things you want to do – cooking, exercising, family time, taking a bath – you time. That’s very important to mental health,” says personal organiser Kerri Rodley.

“To put it another way, decluttering is the number one step in the feng shui process because, if energy can’t flow freely, nothing else can begin to improve.”

Interested in decluttering your own life? Check out our tips from top decluttering expert – Marie Kondo – here.

Go green

Science is telling us to switch off and get back to nature for a more positive sense of wellbeing.

If you had any doubts about the real benefits of switching off and spending time in the great outdoors, science is now telling us to put those uncertainties to rest, as getting back to nature is proving to have a profound effect on our health and sense of wellbeing.

But not everyone, especially inner-city dwellers, has access to large, awe-inspiring green spaces. In this case, it is more important than ever to bring a bit of the outside – in.

Not only do plants inside the house add a beautiful aesthetic, plants act to promote wellbeing and purify the air.

Invest in these natural mood boosters by choosing plants that are specifically tailored to inside living, aka limited or dappled sunlight.

Try these plants that are both, impossible to kill, and act to purify the air around the home. 

Keep it pure

We all like it when our home can smell like a freshly baked apple pie, or a gardenia bush, but when these scents are coming from artificial fragrances, it can wreak havoc on our health. Chemicals such as phthalates, which are usually present in air fresheners, can cause migraines, headaches and hayfever-like symptoms. To avoid inhaling these unnecessary chemicals, opt for natural products that are made using essential oils and fragrances. Or, even better, make your own by filling a spray bottle with water and a few drops of your favourite essential oils or herbs (think lavender and rosemary) and spray away!

Embrace the sun

Does your house stay in the shadows for most of the day? Or are you lucky enough to enjoy sun-filled rooms throughout the day?

Either way, natural light does wonders for our mental health and general wellbeing. Maximise natural light by opening up windows, removing furniture if they are blocking the way and cover with light, natural drapes to allow the most amount of sun to enter.

If you live in a small apartment that doesn’t get much sun, maximise what little you receive, by putting up mirrors and utilising the power of reflection to create the feeling of light in darker areas.

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