Whitchurch and Llandaff Living Issue 62

Make your home work
Decor and furniture work best
for you when it's set up to allow
yourself to live comfortably, and
to make the most of family time,
relaxation, and stillness.
For instance, if you like to listen
to music while you cook, add a
simple radio to the kitchen. If you
like to talk with others while you
cook, take some comfy chairs
into the kitchen so that you can
talk while you cook.
Keep everything as simple as
you can. It will help calm your
mind and leave you feeling less
cluttered and overwhelmed.
Use storage
We all keep 'stuff'; some of us keep more
than we actually need. Our cupboards are
often stored with things that we're never
going to use again and these things take
up valuable storage space that could be
used to store other, more useful things. Just
because it's out of sight and out of mind,
doesn't mean that you'll still need to sort it
one day.
Set aside some dedicated time to clear
your storage areas of things that you are
never going to use again. You can then
utilise this space to clear your surfaces and
store the things that you do actually need
and use.
To successfully move away things so that
they are hidden from view, you can look to
keep coats in a closet, or plates and mugs
in a cupboard instead of open shelving.
home
Embrace space
Creating space at home will make you
feel like you can breathe more easily.
The space may look odd at first and it
can be tempting to fill the space with
something else. But space is needed
as much as anything else. View space
as part of the furniture, as part of the
decor, as part of your home.
If you're able to spend time sitting in
this space, the better. It'll soothe your
busy mind.
Purge bad mojo
A home can collect bad memories as
well as good ones, and hanging onto bad
karma isn't going to make you feel any
better.
Removing all reminders of negative
experiences has a cleansing effect, and
can also help with emotional healing.
Seek out anything that takes you back to
times that weren't so good and bin them
or give them away. If they stay, they'll be
constant reminders, even subconsciously,
ruining the serenity at home that you are
seeking.
Show the things you love
You have the ability to create a home
that reminds you of all the things in
life that you are grateful for. Displaying
pictures of happy memories or loved
ones isn't vain - it's a reminder to
yourself that happy times do exist -
and that you are blessed. Express who
you are through items of homeware,
whether it's a piece of artwork, a
trinket, statement pieces or a larger
piece of accessory.
Doing this in combination with
removing unwanted clutter will make
them stand out and shine.
Add natural elements
There is possibly nothing more
soothing than a touch of nature.
Introducing the calm stillness
of nature into your home not
only makes you feel calmer
emotionally, but it also filters
and cleanses the air that we are
breathing at home.
Most home plants are fairly lowmaintenance
but if even if that's
too much, you could also bring
branches, fresh flowers, leaves,
seashells, rocks, or cones inside
and put them on display for a
calming, natural presence.
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