How to turn your living room into a real-life retreat

Escaping the hustle and bustle of our ‘always on’ lives isn’t easy, but with a few easy changes, your living room could become the relaxing, tranquil centre of your home. Imagine walking into a space where you can feel the stresses and strains ebb away; where you can unwind, practise yoga or sit and meditate. With a few small changes, it can become a reality.

With more of us creating an open-plan family space, the former living room is prime for reinvention and a wellbeing scenario should bring calm to the chaos of our day-to-day lives. Even if you haven’t got a separate room to reclaim, try introducing a few of our mindful tips to your living space and you’ll soon feel the benefits.

A living room that makes the most of natural light will instantly lift your mood, inducing positivity. Go for lightweight voiles or shutters at windows, which will give a soft, diffused light. Keep walls pale in colour, helping to bounce light around, while wall-hung mirrors will do the same – position them where they can maximise a natural light source in their reflection, such as opposite a window or door.

Keep flooring pale – wood is a great choice, as it adds texture and natural beauty. Use super-soft rugs to section off areas for different wellbeing moments, adding comfort underfoot. Try to think ahead and if you need an area to practise your morning yoga routine, then leave clear floor space – the easier it is to do, the easier the habit will become.

Rearrange your living space to include a few different wellness corners – from an armchair to sit and read, complete with plenty of cushions and a sheepskin for comfort, to an upholstered daybed that’s perfect for relaxing and recharging your batteries on. Include a handy side table, footstool or pouffe nearby, on which you can pop a tray with fresh fruit and a cup of herbal tea for wellness bliss.

Make sure the space around your corner is as tranquil as possible – try to keep clutter to a minimum with plenty of storage, and add artwork, family snaps or inspirational quotes to make it a really special space.

In a wellness living space, try to keep colours soft and gentle – think pale grey, soft blush, lavender, aqua or shades of cream. Such a muted palette is instantly soothing, helping you to switch off and relax.

Pick natural wood tones for furniture. Oak works brilliantly, especially when used for simple pieces of furniture – this is definitely not a fussy look. Look out for ceramics with interesting textures; the more artisan in look and feel, the better. Layer wool, linen, silk and jute for soft furnishings – think as tactile as possible. Touching something or being close to someone we like helps release the ‘happy’ hormone oxytocin; just think how stroking a pet helps us feel calm and relaxed.

We all know that a room filled with plants makes for a happy space, adding to our sense of wellbeing, so make sure your living room has plenty of living green. Nurture baby cuttings on a windowsill, fill an empty corner with a large cheese plant in a rattan basket, or style a few succulents on your side table. Make sure you look after them – their growth and wellbeing will affect your mood, too. Try peace lilies, ferns, aloe veras and cacti for easy-to-maintain green friends.

How your room smells can uplift your mood. In a wellbeing space, look for candles and diffusers with lavender for relaxation or citrus to help release tension. Take a tip from top spas and choose a signature room scent, which becomes instantly calming. Look for a range of products – diffusers will give your living room a subtle, constant scent, while candles are great for longer periods of fragrance release.