Comfort isn’t just about how a home looks – it is about how your home makes you feel every time you close the door after a long day. It is the best thing when your home quietly supports your wellbeing, makes you feel less stressed and creates predictability. Psychology plays a huge role in your comfort than most people realise, and thoughtful upgrades can dramatically shift how calm your home makes you feel.
To help you on your journey to creating a calm and safe home, here are some top tips to think about.
Lighting
Lighting can signal safety and relaxation to your brain, when used intentionally. The brain is highly sensitive, and uneven or harsh lights can trigger alertness, whereas soft, layered lighting that can be adapted can trigger relaxation.
Upgrade the lighting around your home in the rooms you like to relax in, such as your front room and the bedrooms, to adjustable lighting so you can adapt it to your different needs and states. There may be times where brighter lights are beneficial, for example, for working whereas you will want to change it to warmer, softer lights by the evening. This can help to reduce visual stress and teach the brain when to wind down.
Temperature and airflow
Comfort is closely tied to the air and temperature of your home. When the temperature is not consistent and the air is stuffy, it can create low-level irritation that builds over time.
Upgrades here may include those that regulate the airflow and temperature with updating insulation, closing gaps or seals around the home and installing upvc windows. As a bonus, this can make your home more eco-friendly and lower costs.
Noise reduction
Unwanted noise can be stressful, even if you have always lived with it. This is typical of homes that are located close to a busy main road, loud neighbours or an events venue. This can keep the brain in a semi-alert state. Reducing noise around your home, especially in the rooms that you want to wind down in or sleep in. This could be changing the layout of your home, improving insulation, or upgrading your windows.
Declutter
A clean and clear home will significantly reduce stress in the home. Cluttered spaces can be visually chaotic and demand constant mental processing. Over time, this reduces the sense of calm you are supposed to experience in a home. Take time to declutter your home, and install smart storage solutions and zones around the home. This can help to create a better visual order. When your brain sees clear sightlines, it signals safety and comfort. You will find that you relax a lot more, and the quality of your relaxation is much higher, when you have a clean and clear space.
Comfort isn’t always the type of features you have around your home, but the feeling that your home creates. The calmest homes don’t necessarily have the most expensive upgrades in them, or even the trendiest. But instead, they have intentional changes that support the mind.
