20 Ways to Make Your Home a Happier Place to Be
Our guide to creating a home that you truly love living in
What does your home say about you and your life? Is it dark and cluttered or light and airy? Here, we show you how to transform any space around your home so that it’s a brighter, more welcoming and happier place.
2. Adopt feng shui practices
Use feng shui to improve the quality of your life. Arrange your home to help you attract success, energy, love, joy and wealth. The two most important areas to get right are the entrance to your home and your bedroom.
Use feng shui to improve the quality of your life. Arrange your home to help you attract success, energy, love, joy and wealth. The two most important areas to get right are the entrance to your home and your bedroom.
3. Create a mood for each room
Make your home a sanctuary. Whether you’re designing a new house or are in the process of renovating, now’s the perfect time to think about the mood you’d like to foster in every room. Do you want your living room to be a soothing, calming part of the home or a bright lively space to entertain? Use colour, lighting, furnishings and details to help dictate the mood you’re after in each corner of your home.
Make your home a sanctuary. Whether you’re designing a new house or are in the process of renovating, now’s the perfect time to think about the mood you’d like to foster in every room. Do you want your living room to be a soothing, calming part of the home or a bright lively space to entertain? Use colour, lighting, furnishings and details to help dictate the mood you’re after in each corner of your home.
4. Use a vision board
Before you take on your next home project, consider creating a vision board. Collect images, photographs and drawings of spaces you like the look and feel of and add them to a pin board. Vision boards are essential tools that can help you clarify your true vision and focus on what’s really important. It’s also an easy and cost-effective way to rule out what works together and what doesn’t before you start.
Before you take on your next home project, consider creating a vision board. Collect images, photographs and drawings of spaces you like the look and feel of and add them to a pin board. Vision boards are essential tools that can help you clarify your true vision and focus on what’s really important. It’s also an easy and cost-effective way to rule out what works together and what doesn’t before you start.
5. Know how your house will serve you
Consider the life stage of the home you’re in or are looking to buy. Then think about this in relation to the needs and requirements of you and your family – it’s important that your house grows with your needs.
Consider the life stage of the home you’re in or are looking to buy. Then think about this in relation to the needs and requirements of you and your family – it’s important that your house grows with your needs.
6. Play with colour
Plants and flowers help to bring a splash of colour into your home. If you find yourself questioning a colour palette for a room, why not try displaying a bunch of flowers? Find some that match the colour you like and see how it works for you and the space over the next few days.
Plants and flowers help to bring a splash of colour into your home. If you find yourself questioning a colour palette for a room, why not try displaying a bunch of flowers? Find some that match the colour you like and see how it works for you and the space over the next few days.
7. Welcome flowers
Flowers can instantly shift the mood of a room. Red and purple flowers represent passion, yellow and orange are upbeat and friendly and the softer shades of blue, pink and white give more of a gentle and healing energy.
Flowers can instantly shift the mood of a room. Red and purple flowers represent passion, yellow and orange are upbeat and friendly and the softer shades of blue, pink and white give more of a gentle and healing energy.
8. Display art
Choose art that portrays whole images and serene or inspirational subject matter. Above all, you need to love what you are putting on the walls, so don’t just settle for a piece just because it may be an investment.
Choose art that portrays whole images and serene or inspirational subject matter. Above all, you need to love what you are putting on the walls, so don’t just settle for a piece just because it may be an investment.
9. Light up your home naturally
Take advantage of natural light wherever possible. Generally, the more we can bathe in natural light, the better we feel. Avoid harsh fluorescent lighting which can make you tired and irritable. Try to add more light sources in the way of floor and wall lamps, dimmer switches, candles, and so on.
Take advantage of natural light wherever possible. Generally, the more we can bathe in natural light, the better we feel. Avoid harsh fluorescent lighting which can make you tired and irritable. Try to add more light sources in the way of floor and wall lamps, dimmer switches, candles, and so on.
10. Use the bedroom as a bedroom
Remember the bedroom is for two things: sleeping and romance. Electrical devices are major sleep disruptors, so keep your electric radio (opt for a battery-operated one instead), mobile phone, TV, laptop, iPad and the like outside the bedroom.
Remember the bedroom is for two things: sleeping and romance. Electrical devices are major sleep disruptors, so keep your electric radio (opt for a battery-operated one instead), mobile phone, TV, laptop, iPad and the like outside the bedroom.
11. Dress up your view
The view from your bed influences your view of the world. It’s what you see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If your bedroom doesn’t look out to a peaceful setting outside, try dressing up whatever is in your line of sight. If it’s an empty, bare wall, add a painting, a collection of photo frames or something else that makes you smile on the inside.
The view from your bed influences your view of the world. It’s what you see first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If your bedroom doesn’t look out to a peaceful setting outside, try dressing up whatever is in your line of sight. If it’s an empty, bare wall, add a painting, a collection of photo frames or something else that makes you smile on the inside.
12. Create purposeful rooms
Develop spaces the whole family can enjoy and where the fundamental purpose is for group unity and gathering. This might be your kitchen, an outdoor room or living space where you can all enjoy being together.
Develop spaces the whole family can enjoy and where the fundamental purpose is for group unity and gathering. This might be your kitchen, an outdoor room or living space where you can all enjoy being together.
13. Develop a quiet corner
Find a ‘space of your own’ in which to relax and be renewed. It can resemble a little reading nook or a space where you can practise yoga uninterrupted.
Find a ‘space of your own’ in which to relax and be renewed. It can resemble a little reading nook or a space where you can practise yoga uninterrupted.
14. Use natural materials
Build a non-toxic, safe home for your family. Choose natural fixtures, fibres and surfacing materials. Try to steer clear of synthetic materials – these are often made with toxic chemicals and are non-recyclable.
Build a non-toxic, safe home for your family. Choose natural fixtures, fibres and surfacing materials. Try to steer clear of synthetic materials – these are often made with toxic chemicals and are non-recyclable.
16. Boost the first impression
Design the front of your home so that it not only welcomes guests but welcomes you home, too. It should act as your transition area from the outside world into your own personal space.
Design the front of your home so that it not only welcomes guests but welcomes you home, too. It should act as your transition area from the outside world into your own personal space.
17. Connect spaces
Try merging the living zones of your house with the outdoors to create one big space to entertain friends and family.
Try merging the living zones of your house with the outdoors to create one big space to entertain friends and family.
18. Go green
Going green at home has never been easier with hundreds of ideas circulating. Inside, consider installing low-energy lighting, replacing conventional taps with water-efficient fittings and only cleaning with natural products. Outside, think about installing a rainwater tank and growing your own herbs and vegetables.
Going green at home has never been easier with hundreds of ideas circulating. Inside, consider installing low-energy lighting, replacing conventional taps with water-efficient fittings and only cleaning with natural products. Outside, think about installing a rainwater tank and growing your own herbs and vegetables.
20. Surround yourself with things you love
The objects we choose to surround ourselves with contribute in a very real way to our feeling of wellbeing. Choose only what you love and what suits your style of living. Toss out the rest.
TELL US
What makes you happy in your home? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
The objects we choose to surround ourselves with contribute in a very real way to our feeling of wellbeing. Choose only what you love and what suits your style of living. Toss out the rest.
TELL US
What makes you happy in your home? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
Clear clutter and simplify your space. When you live in a clean, uncluttered home your mind should be free and clear.