Wellness-First Organizing Creating Spaces that Soothe

How would you complete this sentence: “I want to live in a space that feels .”

There isn't a single correct answer to that sentence. It’s personal. Your home can be, in part, an extension of your identity. The type of home you live in, how you furnish it and decorate it is up to you. Do you get feelings of anxiety, stress or restlessness in certain rooms in your home?  If so, there are many simple ways to alleviate those feelings.

Studies show that there is a strong connection between an organized home and overall well-being. Researchers at the Princeton University Neuroscience Institute published a study (The Journal of Neuroscience, 2011) which analyzed the effects of uncluttered and organized living. They found that when your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.

Conversely, living in a less cluttered, more organized space has been shown to lead to positive behaviors, such as improved sleep, healthier choices, increased productivity and healthier relationships.

Sounds appealing, right? The first step is Identifying what constitutes clutter in your home. Generally speaking, clutter is items that accumulate where they don’t belong. This could be the mail and other things that are dropped on the kitchen island, shoes by the front door, piles of clothes and toys scattered around the house.

Think of decluttering not as a task, but a form of self-care. Most of my clients express immediate stress relief after their home is decluttered and organized. While you are decluttering, take a moment to notice things in your home that give you positive emotions and any objects that are unsettling or cause negative feelings. It is very common to hold onto things that you are no longer using as well as sentimental items. Sometimes, we get so used to looking at things in our home without considering why we are hanging on to them!

No home is perfectly organized. Every home will have some level of clutter. Start small and engage in small tidying tasks every day, rather than trying to tackle everything at once.

How can you create a more soothing environment in your home? Consider how your home can appeal to all of your senses.  Here are strategies for designing spaces to create positive energy in your home:

• Open windows to let in fresh air and sounds from nature.

• Remove clutter from your entryway.

• Keep your home clean.

• Open your curtains or window shades to bring in more natural light.

• Add fresh flowers.

• Use mirrors to lighten up the space and make it appear more spacious.

• Arrange furniture to promote natural flow and avoid blocking walkways.

A favorite method of mine for creating ambiance in a room is to turn a dull, flat screen TV into a stunning piece of artwork or a scenic view accompanied by soothing or upbeat music. Alternatively, you can select an image and play your own music in the background. To achieve this, simply visit YouTube TV (no subscription needed, simply sign in as a guest). Next, search for "TV Art" on the left side of the screen and choose the image you like best.

Design Tips to promote a soothing environment:

• Resist the urge to fill every wall and every surface with objects. Your eyes need empty spaces to “rest.”

• Add soft textures such as throws and rugs to warm up a space.

• Add natural elements such as wood to make a room feel more grounded.

• Use the “rule of three” when arranging objects. Odd numbers are more interesting to the eye than even numbers. Three objects allow for a focal point while still creating a natural sense of balance and depth. 

• Add plants to lower cortisol levels, the hormone our bodies produce when we're under stress.

• Use soft lighting and candles to create a sense of warmth and calm.

• Infuse calming scents such as lavender. It boasts many benefits when inhaled, such as improvement in short-term memory, stress relief and relaxation.

• Play calming music.

• Incorporate relaxing zones, such as a cozy reading nook with a soft blanket or a rocking chair on the porch.

By implementing regular decluttering and setting up daily routines to stay organized, you can create a soothing, relaxing environment that you will look forward to coming home to!  You can also hire a professional home organizer to help you tackle clutter and create systems that work best for you and are easy to maintain.