If you own your own home, you have probably tackled a few renovations. And you more than likely have a long list of things that you would love to do once you have the money. Like the bathroom, or the kitchen or maybe an addition. And that is all well and good. Of course you want to beautify your home and help it retain or increase it’s value. But have you thought about the home improvements you could do that would promote your wellbeing and enhance your quality of life? Say what now?
The state of your home can influence your mood, impact your behaviour, and create or reduce stress.
You spend a huge portion of your life in your home, so it makes sense that your home environment can impact your over-all health, both physically and mentally.
So if you aren’t feeling quite right or you have been feeling down lately, try these budget friendly home upgrades:
5 Ways To Create A Healthy Living Space
1. Maximize the light
Natural light is a mood enhancer. It increases serotonin, the happy chemical in the brain, and can reduce depression and anxiety. So it is important that the place we spend the most time in, our homes, should get lots of light.
If your home is dark, there are a few things you can do to make it more light and bright, even if you have very few windows or they are all north-facing.
- choose light, airy window coverings and hang them on the outside of the window frames
- open those curtains during the daylight hours and clean the windows often
- do not place large objects in front of the window
- strategically place big mirrors so you can catch and rebound the light
- paint your walls a very light colour, the closer to white the better
- add a skylight
Besides improving your mood, natural lighting also increases productivity, helps you get a better night’s sleep, and leads to higher vitamin D levels in your body. So let the light in!
2. Declutter
Nothing is more stressful than a house jammed packed with stuff. It makes you feel claustrophobic. And you can never find anything when you need it! That can wreak havoc on your mental state.
If you have never done a purge before, it may be difficult for you in the beginning but trust me, decluttering gets easier the more you do it. Start with these 100 things to throw away and when you get good at making decisions, you can go through the things that you are holding on to from the past or that you have a strong attachment to.
Decluttering can be likened to meditation and can have the same long-lasting and positive wellbeing effects, such as reduced stress. So start today, get a bin bag, take ten minutes and throw away the old and make space for the new.
3. Fix or pitch broken things
Do you have chipped tableware? Broken lightbulbs? Dead electrical equipment? Why are you living in a house with so much bad energy? No wonder you feel down! Being surrounded by dead stuff is not good for the soul and can make you feel out of time and place.
Go through your home and make decisions about everything that is broken. If anything is irreparable, chuck it in the bin liner along with the rest of the rubbish. The items that are worth saving, fix them now. Having something fixed, will make you feel so much better and it will breathe new life into your home.
But be honest with yourself. When will you repair it? Is it more cost and time effective to just replace it? If you can’t honestly say that you will get to it within 30 days, you should chuck it or take it somewhere to get fixed. Invest in some Appliance Repair for the big stuff. Your enjoyment depends on actually being able to use your possessions properly.
4. Add plants
Plants and flowers are a great way to enhance your wellbeing. They are spirit lifters and are also air detoxifiers. Having plants will actually make the air you breathe healthier for you. If you are a solitary person, having something alive will make you feel as if you have some kind of company too.
Plants are also good sound barriers. So if you are sensitive to close neighbours or that barking dog, get a few plants to buffer a little bit of the noise.
5. Improve air quality
While plants are a good way to improve air quality, they don’t cover all the issues you may have in your home.
- Is it too dry? Dehydration makes you tired and leaves your skin and hair flaky.
- Is it too damp? Too high humidity can make your home feel hot and sticky plus grow mold.
- Is it smelly? If you are super sensitive to certain smells, you may feel nauseous.
The solution may be as simple as opening a window, even in the dead of winter. But more likely you will have to invest in a dehumidifier, humidifier or air cleaner to really solve your problem.
Your home should be your sanctuary and promote wellbeing. Make it so by choosing to do home improvements that will enhance your life both within it and outside of it.