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When you’ve been stuck indoors for an extended period of time – perhaps due to the coronavirus pandemic – your home can start to feel stagnant and boring. It’s not that you don’t love being at home; it’s still your castle, the place where you feel the most comfortable. You’re just tired of the same old surroundings, and because you can’t go out and meet friends or go to events, you’re stuck. That’s a totally normal feeling, but it’s one that you can do something about. Here are 8 ways we’ve found effective for making your home feel like a new place again.
Try new custom room designs
One way for freshening up your environment is to try out a new custom room design. Platforms like DIYHomeFit offer bespoke, custom kitchen and bedroom designs for any type of home or decor, and you’d be amazed what a mental health boost simply overhauling a room in your house can be. The kitchen and the bedroom are two of the rooms in which we spend the most time, so don’t accept less than the best when it comes to the design and layout of those rooms. A new coat of paint and a new furniture arrangement can absolutely work wonders.
Put up new artwork
Sometimes, all you need to change to make a home feel completely new and fresh again is the artwork on display. If you have art in your home and it just isn’t feeling representative of your personality, then why not change it up? Pick something that’s more suitable for the ambiance of the room or the mood you’re trying to express. If you haven’t displayed any art in your home yet, now may be the perfect time to start. While visitors are prohibited in many places around the world, you can prepare for the time when you’re able to socialise again by displaying some impressive art. It doesn’t even need to be expensive!
Go for a walk
Leaving your home and going for a walk in the surrounding environment can act as a sort of reset button. It can make you appreciate your house that much more, because you’re distancing yourself from the repetitive surroundings. If you’re concerned, or if you’re unable to walk too far, don’t worry – a simple circuit of the block around your house should suffice. If you’re unable to go that far, you may wish to simply base yourself in a different room of your house for the day; even that can have a surprising rejuvenative effect.
Cook more food
It’s official: cooking is a balm, not only for the body but also for the soul. By cooking more food, you’re introducing your body to healthier, more nutritious meals, but you’re also making your home feel like a more welcoming space. The smell of home cooking is enticing, and can help you to feel more relaxed in your home rather than frustrated and bored. This has the double benefit of encouraging you to occupy the space in your kitchen more, which could break you out of the funk you’re experiencing. Home cooking has no drawbacks, so why not give it a shot?
Change your furniture
Sometimes, the reason you feel so trapped in your home is because you haven’t changed the furniture for a while. It’s worth taking a look at the furnishings and accoutrements in your rooms to see if you can’t make some changes. These don’t have to be massively expensive changes; you can easily find furniture for very little money, and even the smallest and most seemingly insignificant piece can completely transform a room and make it feel more satisfying to live in. Try changing furniture, decor, or even wallpaper, and watch the house metamorphose before your very eyes.
Clean and tidy up
While it’s completely understandable not to have the energy to tidy up at a time like this, it’s actually one of the most potentially effective ways to boost your mental health. By cleaning and tidying up, you’re putting all of your effects in order, meaning you’re not constantly coming across things that aren’t where they should be. When your possessions and your home are ordered, it helps to order your thought processes too, allowing you to focus on the things that really matter on a day-to-day basis. Try to set aside a day or two for cleaning the house if you can.
Add more plants
Plants have a completely transformative effect on homes. Not only are they incredibly good for the atmosphere and for the environment, but they also look great, and many of them require very little care as well. Be sure to dot plants around your home; at least one in every room will have a completely transformative effect. If you don’t think you’ll be able to care for them, try picking a plant that’s low-maintenance. That way, you’ll still be receiving all the benefits of plants, but you won’t need to worry about letting them die. However, if you need a project while you’re stuck at home, plants could provide it!
Take time away from screens
It may have been some time since you’ve stepped away from the screens and appreciated your home for how beautiful it truly is. You may wish to take a break from screens if you can; that includes your computer, your smartphone, and your TV. Try reading a book, or simply sitting in silence and perhaps engaging in some meditation. By doing so, you can get in touch with your thoughts and centre yourself, allowing yourself to move forward with the day without any distractions or interruptions. Just appreciating and taking stock of your environment can work wonders.