Turn your home into a retreat by getting the most out of small everyday things
Our homes have meant so much to us over the last few years – they’ve been our sanctuaries, our escapes and the places that remind us of who we are. These days that sense of creating a safe haven where we can retreat to is more important than ever. It’s easy to do – with soft textures, delicate shades and a few little luxuries here and there, you can rediscover life’s simple pleasures, right where you are.
Create a reading nook
Got the reading bug? Set up a reading corner to escape to with a good book. Make sure there’s plenty of natural light – or a reading lamp, especially if reading in bed. And don’t forget lots of squishy cushions and pillows.
Add layers
There’s something inherently soothing about blankets and throws. Drape a few over your bed, style one on your sofa or start an inviting pile ready for movie nights. Natural fibres, such as cotton and wool, will still provide welcome comfort right up until late spring.
Bring nature inside
Be inspired by the natural world and surround yourself with plants, which are proven to boost wellbeing. Use wicker or rattan planters to add another shot of texture, while hanging planters take indoor gardening to a whole new level.
Make meals a visual treat
Present home-cooked food with a flourish, using bowls just made for holding, styling up a tray, or adding colour with napkins. Turning mealtimes into something special – whether that’s breakfast in bed or dinner on the sofa – will elevate even the simplest of recipes.
Unwind with scent
Start a new morning or evening ritual and light a scented candle. Try soothing lavender or a mix of notes designed to create tranquility. Arrange your candle on a tray mixed with a few votives, extending the flickering glow. Just don’t leave unattended.
Hang art you love
Surround yourself with artwork and images that make you smile. Print out phone snaps, do a doodle and frame it (or if your children are bringing artworks home from school, have a selection mounted), or remember a gallery trip with a print. Even just moving pictures around for a change of scene can be refreshing.
Set up a creative space
Even if you’re not working from home, set up an area to help you feel inspired. Start a daily journal, noting down five things that make you feel happy, revisit a lapsed hobby, write letters to friends or start that novel you always planned to write…
Take up a hobby
Why not carve out time to embark on a small project, like knitting or quilting? Craft is known to help with mindfulness and the feeling of satisfaction as your creation takes shape is unbeatable. Do it to some of your favourite music and lose yourself in the task.
‘Faff’ around
Update a bare corner with a cluster of accessories. Walk around your home and pick out your favourite things, arranging them to create a vignette where you can appreciate them most. Lean a frame of different heights on a sideboard, re-pot supermarket bulbs in a pretty pot, or decant taper candles into an empty vase for a quick update.
Find a space to just be
We all need a place to sit and contemplate, so move a favourite chair to a new position where you can get plenty of natural light. Layer with a cosy, tactile throw and spend some welcome ‘me time’, escaping the world.
