Surrey Homes | SH27 | January 2017 | Health & Beauty supplement inside

From shelter to sanctuary
A new year brings new opportunities. Helen Barton gives us a few ideas on how to create a positive
atmosphere at home to take advantage of these endless possibilities
After a hectic couple of months, January is the perfect time to stop and reassess. Many begin their New Year
diet and exercise regime, to cleanse and invigorate the mind and body for the year ahead. Often, however, our
homes are forgotten about. The stressful emotions, rushing around, (possibly a couple of arguments?) and
piles of clutter build up in our houses as well as in our minds, and can eventually affect the atmosphere negatively.
The first, and most obvious step would be to have a thorough clear-out and dispose of accumulated and unnecessary
‘stuff’. To take this a step further, and to transform your home into a harmonious haven of ‘positive vibes only’, follow
these simple suggestions. These are particularly beneficial if you’ve moved into a new house or have a home office.
A good scrub – We know how wonderfully satisfying it
is when those kitchen counters and living room shelves
are clean and clear. By de-cluttering and giving surfaces a
dust, you’ll immediately feel brighter, and the rooms will
feel lighter. Clean the windows to let as much light in as
possible. Add a mirror to increase light levels even further.
Air flow – The air in a house can easily become stagnant,
especially at this time of year when the heating is on
full blast and everyone’s in hibernation mode. Open all
the windows, even if it’s really chilly, and create a draft
through the house. Shake out cushions and blankets and
get plenty of light and air flowing through the space.
Outside in – As well as adding life and vibrancy, house
plants hugely improve the air quality in a home, particularly
if you reside in a city with high levels of pollution. Spider
plants are one of the easiest to grow and maintain, and
remove formaldehyde and xylene from the atmosphere.
Snake plant, or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue gets rid of
benzene and trichloroethylene, and aloe vera is a great
option, doubling up as a natural ‘heal all’ balm.
Scent – Essential orange oil has a significant uplifting effect,
and by carefully burning incense, particularly frankincense,
you can easily create a peaceful, temple-like atmosphere.
The ancient Native American practice of smudging has been
used for thousands of years to clear negative energy from
a space. A smudge stick is a small bundle of sage, knotted
together with string. Open the doors in your home, place
the sage in a bowl and light it with a match. After carefully
blowing out the flame, allow the herbs to smoke and
smoulder gently, slowly filling the house with its aromas.
Colour – Colour can have a significant effect on emotion.
Yellow has associations with hope, happiness, positivity
and clarity, so by painting a wall, or hanging up a work
of art, you can create your very own super vibrant vibes.
Alternatively, rich and earthy tones, when used in the
bedroom, can create a relaxing sense of cocooning.
By taking just a little time to consider and reenergise
your surroundings, you can create a
wonderful, peaceful and calming atmosphere for
your whole family or partner to benefit from.
wealdentimes.co.uk
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