Focused Living: A Practical Approach to Interior Design

Setting up clear boundaries while living in a world that requires a lot of attention is necessary, and this can be done by defining your home as a sanctuary. Sanctuary is a place one seeks to escape in order to relieve themselves from stress and chaos which is highly prevalent in the outside world. Your house is more than just a building, it is an embodiment of yourself, an embodiment that promotes relaxation and comfort. Irrespective of whether you live in a large mansion or a small apartment, the goal remains the same; create a space that nurtures you mentally, physically and spiritually.

The very first thing that needs to be contemplated is the fact that a personal retreat needs to be constructed which would also mean that the overall space, its designs and other aesthetics would need to be structured in accordance with your needs and personal requirements. Some people prefer stark structures with a straight line approach, blank shades along with minimal designs while some people find themselves drawn toward a multi array of vintage and colorful decor. Your retreat should be designed as an extension of your personality that should make you feel comfortable the very moment you enter it. The way to go about them would be by first gauging the aspects that you feel comfortable in. For example, would you be comfortable if the decor was themed around nature, or would you prefer intimate settings that radiate warmth? Understanding which setting provides you maximum comfort would help you design the ideal tranquil environment.

Using colors in your home is one of the best ways to ensure that there is peace in the house. That is because colors have a psychological impact on emotions and the surroundings of the house colors can affect its atmosphere. Pastel blues, greys, and whites are soft colors that are frequently considered to elicit calmness, and are thus typically used in bedrooms and living rooms. Warm neutrals such as beige, taupe, and deep browns can help to make a space feel cozy and welcoming as well. Furthermore, green can be suggested to represent nature and thereby help to convey a sense of calmness as well as a new start to a person’s emotions. If you love color, warm shades of navy, burgundy, or forest green can be applied in small doses as accent pieces to give a sense of comfort, security and stability.

Moving on from color, another feature that is necessary to bring about a soothing aura is the lighting. The mood of a room can hugely vary and be altered due to the presence of adequate lighting, and the presence of the adequate lighting can change a space into a relaxing atmosphere instantly. Arguably, the best form of lighting is natural light as it enhances a space visually as well as improving the mental state as well. But if you are one of the people who are lucky to be under the presence of a lot of natural light, then consider the use of sheer curtains, mirrors and light colored furniture and walls in order to enhance the effect. For the place which don’t have a lot of natural light, use warm bulbs, table lamps or floor standing lamps in order to have soft artificial lights. Do not light tubes that provide fluorescent lighting as they will make the space feel distorted and or too sterile. Combining an array of light sources: ambient, task and accent lighting can assist in achieving a more layered and rich sanctuary.

The furniture you opt for is another critical aspect while designing a sanctuary for yourselves. The furniture picked, should have a good look while also providing comfort and utility value. You should have pieces that aid in relief and comfort. An inviting armchair, an attractive sofa, or a soft and comforting bed could be the centrepiece of the room. Also take into consideration how the furniture was placed in relation to the design- how it would allow people to move around and feel more spacious. Do not overfurnish the rooms as too much furniture is detrimental to what you want to achieve since it distracts from the environment. Instead, use the few exceptional items in a space that you enjoy and that serve a purpose. In most cases less is more and this holds true in many instances with a sanctuary as it gives more peace.

Textiles are a key ingredient to the crafting of a tranquil centre. Fabrics like velvet, linen, cotton and wool are warm and soothing and invite you to relax. Try using different fabrics as visual and tactile decoration elements for the room. Super-soft cushions and plush throw blankets, furry rugs and fabric curtains are nice features that add comfort and texture to the sanctuary. Such materials can also enhance the sense of opulence in the place and turn your house into a retreat. There are certain locations, for instance, the mid- to late-leisure zones – a bedroom, a sitting room, or a reading spot – where the use of texture is especially recommended.

In a room designed for relaxation, everything should encourage positive emotion, whether it be the furniture or decor. The pieces of furniture and ornaments one selects should be of central importance in further strengthening the ambiance you wish to achieve. Don’t fill up the room with numerous accessories rather find a few which move you and display them. Gifts, paintings, photographs or other memorabilia may provide warmth and intimacy to the atmosphere. But one should always look for the right balance – definitely, there is no need to overcrowd or overintroduce unusual items to the interior. Try to place your decorations that would give you a sense of balance and peace.

Even by themselves, nature can be a great addition to your retreat. The practice of bringing the indoors outdoors, which can includes nature issuing into the workspace, is called biophilic design and it is known to enhance a person’s mood, alleviate stress and foster wellness. Adding indoor plants to your space will complement its design and have numerous advantages for example enhancing the quality of air and adding tranquillity to the room. Whether fiddles, monsteras or small scale succulents, herb potted plants, they all serve to furnish the interior. Also, natural materials such as wooden, stone or bamboo objects enhance an ambiance that is both relevant and connected to nature. If you are not cut out to care for indoor plants, artificial foliage, or pieces of ornamente complimented by striking earthy colors and tones can produce exactly the right calming effect.

The design of sanctuaries often ignores sound, but peace and relaxation depend much on this aspect as well. It is equally important to have an environment that is protected from noise. If your house is in a noisy place, then think of ways to soundproof it using heavy curtains, carpeting in some rooms among other options. You can also add relaxing sounds to the ambiance using water fountains, sound machines or some smooth soothing instrumental music. The general objective is to promote calmness and clarity of the mind in that specific place.

To have a peaceful home, it is also vital to keep it organized. Clutter can amplify mental chaos and make it hard to relax. This is especially true for A players, who work best in a tidy environment and can feel comfortable when they come home. Make it a point to decongest often, classifying objects by type or use, so that items can be put into their rightful places. Purchase storage options with hideaway baskets, cabinets, or even attractive shelving units that organize your things and put them out of view. Feeling more in charge of your environment is possible because a more ordered surrounding gives one a greater sense of peace.

Look at the feel of the space. Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese method that is based on the concept that space design can influence the energy movement within the space, which is referred to as chi. You can make your home an area of harmony and balance by following the guidelines of Feng Shui when designing it, which will assist you to improve the overall energy of your sanctuary. Relatively easy changes can also encourage a more peaceful energy flow that promotes relaxation and other beneficial effects, such as sleeping with your head in the ”command location” of your space, or eliminating excess clutter. To sum up, making a retreat place in your dwelling is not only about beauty but about making space that improves your mental health and restores calm. Whether through purposeful aesthetics, the use of natural elements, or through the use of various colors and textures, your retreat has to be somewhere you can feel centered, clean and alive. Through targeting a certain space with soothing and calming factors, you can design a place where you can go away to, come back to strengthen and bring equilibrium to your life. Your retreat is your special place, a place where you want to be, a place where you can think, meditate and be in touch with yourself enabling you to be peaceful and well in this busy society.