YOUR HOME ENVIRONMENT: CREATING SANCTUARY
HOW TO CREATE A SANCTUARY YOU DON’T NEED TO RUN AWAY FROM
We have some long weekends coming here in Queensland Australia, and it can be the perfect time to build a sanctuary in your home.
Your home should be your own personal oasis, the place you come to relax, unwind and briefly forget the outside world. Too often, however, the place we spend the majority of our time in, is a source of anxiety in itself. When you start to feel uncomfortable in your own home, it may be time for a change.
Here are some simple ways you can create a sanctuary that makes you want to embrace where you live, not run away from it. We know we know so much of this, but I always feel even for myself that I need to be reminded every now and then.
Reduce What You Have
This is the first and most important step in making sure your home is a place of calm and relaxation. When the rooms are in disarray and there is clutter everywhere, it’s very hard to feel at peace. Start by taking note of anything and everything that hasn’t been used in the last 6 months – the magazines collecting dust on the coffee table, the treadmill in the basement or the clothes hanging useless in your closet.
Start donating or pitching things that aren’t of use or better yet, have a garage sale, set up a marketplace page and make a little extra cash off your clutter. Remember the most important thing is not to leave it at the front door waiting to go out of your home. Take it out of your house today. It may take a little work but by the time you’re done, you’ll feel like a weight has lifted, uncovering a brand-new space.
Bring in Nature
Flowers and greenery aren’t only for the great outdoors. They can add a soothing element to your space and keep your home feeling serene and beautiful. Create your very own indoor garden with plants of different shapes and sizes spaced throughout your home. You can have hanging plants from the ceiling, fresh herbs in the windowsill, or on the coffee table.
Bringing nature inside is also great for your health. Houseplants not only help to reduce stress and anxiety but also remove toxins from the air you breathe.
Remember the Wood element in Feng Shui is not as strong as water and fire element so plants should not cause too much change to the areas you are placing them. That’s more than enough reason to go shopping for some greenery today.
Lighting
When you want to create a cozy oasis within your own home, lighting is everything. Allow as much natural light in as possible during the day. Open curtains, roll up the blinds and let that sunshine in. This is especially important during those times of the year when it’s too cold to get out and soak up some vitamin D.
For a cozy, evening atmosphere try adding dimmers to your light switches, throw some string lights up on the wall (my personal fave) or the soft lighting from table lamps.
Remember candles are the fire element and can be very strong so be careful where you place them if using to create ambiance in your space. With one flick of a switch, you can turn any room into a relaxing retreat.
Scents and Smells
You want your space to be friendly on the eyes and the nose. Use natural scents throughout your house – freshly cut flowers, herbs, or aromatherapy oils are a great place to start.
You don’t want to overwhelm your senses, so just keep it simple. Place some fresh lavender around your home or open the windows and let the sweet smell of the lilac bush next door fill the room.
Bringing in those natural scents will help to create a soothing space that shifts your mood and makes you want to kick up your feet and stay awhile. Be sure to avoid synthetic scents such as air fresheners, plug ins, wax melts and candles that contain paraffin – these are known to be toxic and have no place in your personal oasis.
Always find time if you can to give your home a great smudge when you have completed to clear any residue negative qi (Chi energy) you may have left.
You home should not be a source of stress, but rather a place where you want to come relax and unwind. Try a few of these tips to turn any home into a personal retreat that will briefly make the outside world seem to fade away.
Do what you can and embrace the new energy in your environment.
Enjoy your new Sanctuary.
