ZEN ROOM IDEAS: HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME A SANCTUARY
After a busy day there is nothing like the tranquility of a peaceful home environment to bring about a sense of inner calm. We spoke with author, TEDx speaker and mental wellbeing advocate, Ben Channon, about turning your house into a home sanctuary. Ben shares his zen room ideas here…
How to create a peaceful home environment
Let the light in
Think about the amount of light you are getting into your space. Ben tells us “Natural light is really closely connected to our circadian rhythm and our sleep cycle. If we don’t get enough light in the morning or middle of the day, it can really affect our sleep. Particularly as lots of us are using screens a lot of the time and using mobile phones in the evening. All of these things are going to impact our sleep and make our brains think it’s the morning.”
“Get those blinds and curtains open. Also think about the layout of your home, if you are sat working from home, move your desk in front of a window so you’re getting exposed to daylight as much as you can.”
”Often small changes can have a big impact on our overall wellbeing.”
2. Simplify your space
Another calming bedroom idea is to simplify your space. Ben says “Research shows that there’s a strong link between cluttered places and increased levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. So, when we’re in a messy space we genuinely feel more stressed. This is obviously important in terms of tidying up and thinking about storage.” By getting rid of things we don’t need and being clever with storage, we can create a peaceful home environment.
“Bringing nature into your home has been shown to make us feel more positive and relaxed, as well as, lowering blood pressure and hyper tension. “
3. Bring nature into your home
As humans, we are so closely linked with the natural world. Ben says “Another thing we can do to boost our wellbeing is to get more nature into ours homes. Get plants into your home as bringing nature into your home has been shown to make us feel more positive, relaxed as well as lowering blood pressure and hyper tension.”
“It’s definitely good to have lots of greenery in your home. This concept is known as Biophilia, which is this idea that we have an inherent connection to nature so embrace that and make the most of it to make yourself feel better every day.” At Epoch, we love relaxing bedroom décor. Our favourite plants for bedrooms are Pothos, Rubber Plants and Snake Plants; not only are they low-maintenance, they also purify the air.
Breaking up your space
Working from home can blur the lines between what is your work domain and what is your home space. Ben says “It can be challenging when you are sat in the same room working all day, and then you’re expected to switch out of work mode at the end of the day and be relaxed. We’re used to having one space for work and one space for home but with everything being merged it’s important to find ways to unwind in the evenings. A great relaxing bedroom idea for small rooms, is to make it feel like a different space in the evening by using fair lights, lighting a candle and putting your laptop out of sight.”
Creating a mood
When it comes to calming bedroom ideas, Ben says, “I am a firm believer that the environment that we spend our time in, work and relax in has a such a huge impact on how we feel and by creating a different mood in the evening to that of the day it can create that psychological break that we need. Candles are wonderful for changing the mood of the space. Opting for natural, non-toxic candles, like Epoch London’s range, are much better for the air quality than commercial candles.”
“Lighting a candle, dimming the lights, rearranging the furniture so that the room feels like a different environment can help you switch off at the end of the day, sleep better and improve your mental health.”
Discover more from Ben Channon here:
