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HOW TO CREATE A SERENE HOME 3

Posted on 21/04/2021 2:04 PM | by NaijaHouses

HOW TO CREATE A SERENE HOME 3

We started this series on how to make your home serene some few days back, let's conclude on the tips, shall we?

Furniture and Accessories 

Focus on pleasing the senses rather than chasing the latest fashions.  

Prioritize Comfort 

It may seem obvious, but for a serene home, comfort is at least as important as aesthetics. When possible, it’s helpful to try furniture out in person. 

“I ask people to do a flop test,” Clodagh said. “Stand in front of the sofa, let yourself go, and flop onto it. Does it have open arms for you?” 

Different people like different levels of cushioning. For instance, “I like to have pillows that are soft,” she said. “I hate ones that bounce back and throw me out.” However, some people may desire more support.  

If the sofa doesn’t make you want to curl up for a nap right there in the showroom, move on until you find one that does.  

Use Outdoor Fabrics Indoors 

Having to worry about spilling drinks on your new lounge chairs is anything but serene. For worry-free upholstery, choose an outdoor fabric designed to resist stains and spills. Companies such as Perennials, Sunbrella and Janus et Cie are now making so many different options, in so many pleasing textures, that most people can no longer tell the difference from indoor-only fabrics.  

“They have velvets, tweeds, chenilles,” said Mr. Wolf, who, like many designers, now routinely uses outdoor fabrics indoors. “You can pour anything on them, they won't fade in the sun, you can wash them with soap and water.” 

Focus on Texture 

Soft accessories, such as pillows, throws and rugs, typically offer opportunities to bring in eye-catching colors and patterns capable of dazzling guests. For a more serene space, however, focus on adding a range of textures that feel good to touch instead.  

“You want the room to have different materials, different weaves, different levels of softness, and maybe something like leather that has a smooth finish,” Mr. Gibson said, to make the space interesting but not visually overwhelming.  

Do you dread getting out of bed in the morning? Perhaps stepping onto a luxuriously soft wool or silk rug would make all the difference, he suggested.  

Handmade products by international artisans can also work particularly well. “Very often, I'll try to bring in an ethnic weave and multinational pieces,” Clodagh said, noting that she collects fabric from Africa, Indonesia and Tibet specifically for that purpose.  

When the wastebasket in a bathroom or home office is made from unsightly plastic or metal, another one of her favorite tricks is to hide it within a larger handmade wood or ceramic vessel. “It's an art piece that’s a container of possibility,” she said.  

Consider Sound 

Beyond what things look like, and how they function, pay attention to how they sound.  

If your bedroom door hinges squeak, adjust and lubricate them to avoid a daily annoyance. If footsteps on the hardwood floor outside the bedroom are disruptive at night, put down a runner with a rug pad. If your pots and pans annoyingly clank together every time you remove one from the drawer, install dividers. The goal is to eliminate, or at least soften, audible disturbances.  

At the same time, look for opportunities to add sounds you find pleasing. If you love music, install wireless speakers in every room, like those from Sonos, for whole-home audio. If you enjoy the burbling sound of running water, consider a small water feature.  

 Don't Forget Scent 

Home fragrances aren’t for everyone, but they can serve as a powerful mood booster if you find scents you like. (There’s a reason that hotels and high-end condo buildings often perfume the air.

There are a multitude of ways to bring preferred scents into a space, including candles, sprays, reed diffusers, incense burners and more elaborate powered diffusers. 

Combined with good lighting, and pleasing colors and textures, a favorite scent may be just the thing to complete a relaxing environment that encourages winding down at the end of the day.  

“When I go home, I turn the lights on dim, with uplights in the corners and the perfect reading light, and I can immediately feel the difference,” Clodagh said. “I have a little water fountain in the corner that's burbling away, and I have my sandalwood candle to ground me,” she noted. “If I'm not addressing all the senses, I'm not going to be feeling as good.” 

You're free to explore, find out other things that works for you. It's your home, it makes sense to be selfish about it. I hope you find this tips helpful.

SOURCE: Nytimes.com