Make your home more ‘Feng shui’ and ‘Zen’ with these simple redesigns.
1. Let the light in
One mindful ritual most of us have lost in modern times is the ability to wake when it’s light, and go to bed when it gets dark outside. Allowing as much natural light as possible into your space helps you reboot this natural circadian rhythm.
2. Cut the clutter
You’ve heard it a hundred times before, but that’s because it’s true. The less clutter you have, the more serene and inviting your home will be. Don’t know where to begin the war on clutter? Try the KonMari method, popularised by the Japanese organising consultant Marie Kondo in her bestsellers The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and Spark Joy. Once you’ve eliminated all non-essentials, what’s left is a pared-down collection of those items that actually make you happy, which equates to a more intentional, calming living space. Bonus: Having fewer things makes keeping your home tidy that much easier.
3. Engage all your senses
Part of being more mindful is learning to interact with your environment with all your senses. Try using room-fragrance diffusers, linen sprays, scented candles and fresh flowers to bring yourself into the present moment. Incorporating different textures into furniture and accessories helps too. For example, mix a raw-wood coffee table, leather sofa and shagpile rug.
4. Use blues and neutrals
‘The blue side of the spectrum, along with cool browns, greys and off-whites, helps calm our emotions and focus our thoughts,’ says Maxwell Ryan, founder of popular US home and lifestyle blog Apartment Therapy.
5. Invest in good products
This is your time to treat yourself, so you should choose lotions and potions that will leave you feeling your best. Wherever possible, purchase an entire range rather than single items; not only is this more pleasing to the eye when they’re all lined up together, but you’ll be able to layer the same aroma from your shower gel through to your body mist, giving you that clean just-showered scent throughout the day.
6. Replace your old shower head
Invest in one that delivers a proper spa-like experience (while still being water-wise).
7. Surround yourself with a collection of treasured memories
Creating a photo wall is really easy. All you need are prints, frames and a little imagination for the layout. Keep all the frames in similar styles or colours for a clean look.
8. Create a reading nook
Position a comfy chair or couch close to a window (there’s that hit of natural light again). Make it extra inviting with a scatter cushion or two and a luxurious throw – then get ready to work your way through those books you’ve been meaning to get to all summer.
9. Connect with nature
In his 1984 book Biophilia, US biologist Edward Osborne Wilson described the idea that humans have a tendency to seek out connections with nature. Don’t have a big garden? Start small, with a raised-bed herb or veggie garden on your stoep or in a courtyard. For best results, use a good fertiliser. GRO Organic Fertilizer offers a three-step programme that’s specifically designed for small flower beds. It also comes packaged in one compact container, so it saves on space while giving your veggies and herbs a serious growth burst.
10. Indulge in fluffy towels
Keep yours in the best possible condition by going easy on the detergent, skipping the fabric softener and line-drying instead of tumble-drying.
11. Accessorise this now-sacred space
Add a scented candle or two and a potted plant. Voila! You’ve created a home spa.
