THE QUICK START GUIDE

TO CREATING A CALM HOME

www.refresheddesigns.com
WHY WE NEED A CALM HOME

Our environments play a huge role in

how healthy, peaceful and productive
we are.

If you feel like you're constantly

stressed, overwhelmed, tired and at
the end of your rope, you can turn it
around by designing your home to
intentionally promote calm and
peace.

This quick-start guide will give you 10

simple ways to jump in and begin
refreshing your home to make it more
calm, peaceful, and supportive of your
overall well-being. 
1. MAKE SPACE ON THE WALLS. BUT
NOT TOO MUCH.
Your walls are in your line of sight a good
percentage of the day. What you have
displayed on them can make a difference in
your mood, your energy level, and your sense
of peace (or unease). 

Take a look at your walls and edit out some of

the photos, artwork, posters, and other things
hanging on them. Try going for one big piece
on some walls instead of a lot of little things.
Or group photos into one cohesive visual
display. Make sure to leave some blank space
on your walls. It's restful to the eyes and mind
to see "white" space.

But don't have all your walls empty. An empty

room feels lifeless, and will not contribute to
adding energy - calming or otherwise.
 2. MAKE YOUR BED

The state of your bed is the state of your

head. If there's one quick thing you can do
to begin each day on a note of calm and
control, it's to make your bed. It's a small
but positive step toward a happy life.

Put on your favourite clean sheets, add a

light blanket, and top your bed with a
comfortable duvet or quilt. Find either two
beautiful pillow shams (if you keep extra
pillows on your bed) or one beautiful throw
cushion to top off your perfectly made bed.

Don't overcomplicate it - you don't have to

do hospital corners or have 15 pillows-
keep it simple and comfortable with a small
touch of pretty to make you smile. 
3. DECLUTTER YOUR
KITCHEN COUNTERS
Clutter is noise that overloads our
senses, making us stressed and unable
to think clearly and calmly.

Decluttering your kitchen counters is

one of the easiest and most impactful
ways to decrease the noise you face on
a daily basis.

Clear off your counters of anything not

used daily and that's not beautiful at
the same time. Try to hide ugly
appliances in counters, but keep out
beautiful wood cutting boards, a pretty
soap dispenser or a potted herb. Put
anything that does not belong in the
kitchen in its proper place (ie. papers!)

Clearing space around you in the heart

of the home will do wonders for your
sense of calm. 
 4. REMOVE BAD MOJO

The experiences you have had in your

life could very well be hanging on your
walls, sitting on your shelves or stuffed
under your bed collecting dust. When
negative memories are associated with
things you keep in your home, the
reminders will be draining without you
even being aware of it.

Consciously find and remove any items

in your home that are associated with
undesirable feelings. Removing this
bad mojo will put you one step closer
to enjoying a serene space. 
5. GET PAPER UNDER CONTROL

Pick up all your paper piles around the house.

You know what I mean - the bills, notices, flyers,
catalogs and receipts that are piled on counters,
tables, dressers and benches. Put them all into
a box to go through and either recycle, shred or
file away. 

Then find a nice basket to leave in your

entryway as your 'inbox' for home. Get in the
habit of dropping all papers there, and only
there. Also, keep a basket on the floor in the
entry for recycling to keep flyers and junk mail
from entering the house at all. 

Schedule time once/month to go through your

inbox and take care of things then shred or file
them. Better yet, unsubscribe from catalogs,
stop junk mail with the post service, and go
online for all billing. 
 6. GO GREEN

Plants are so important in creating a soothing,

restorative home. They help clean and re-
oxygenate the air and absorb excess electrical
currents and toxins from furniture off-gassing.
And they help connect you with nature, which
is the ultimate way to de-stress and feel calm
and reinvigorated.

Bring in lots of green houseplants, especially

easy-to-care-for ferns, ivy and spider plants.

But also consider introducing other natural

elements like branches, flowers, leaves,
seashells, rocks, acorns or pine cones into
your home as table centrepieces or desk
displays. They'll inherently ground you and
foster a sense of inner calm and peace. 
 7. CLEAR YOUR BEDSIDE TABLE

Clutter beside your bed - your sanctuary for rest

and intimacy - will most definitely intrude on
your peace of mind.

Clear off the top of your nightstand so that all

that's there is a good lamp, your latest book,
and perhaps a small bowl or tray for earrings
and lipbalm. If you have space you could also
include a bouquet of flowers or lavender. 

Try to find a nightstand or low dresser for

beside the bed where you can stash other stuff
hidden inside a drawer.  
8. CREATE A QUIET ZONE

Constant noise can create stress, so we need to

set up our homes to encourage quiet and
stillness as much as possible. 

Carve out a space all your own where you can

meditate, pray, read, or just breathe and spend
quiet time with yourself.  Use this as a place to
retreat to and not be disturbed. DO NOT allow
screens in this area! 

Use curtains to mute outside noise. Have a

comfortable chair or cushion, and a blanket
nearby to wrap up in. 

Encourage everyone in the household to create

this kind of sanctuary of their own as well.
 9. USE ESSENTIAL OILS

In addition to creating a calm and quiet home

for the eyes and ears, your sense of smell can
evoke a feeling of peaceful relaxation as well.

Any number of studies now prove that

essential oils are beneficial in relieving anxiety,
depression, pain and in boosting mood, clarity
and productivity.

Invest in a misting diffuser and use essential

oils like lavender, sage or sandalwood to
promote relaxation. You can also use scented
sachets in drawers, and keep a display of reeds
in a bottle with essential oils and a carrier like
grapeseed oil. Or simply throw cinnamon,
rosemary and orange in a pot to simmer on the
stove all day.

Click for a simple guide to essential oils and 3

DIY ways to use them in your home. 
10. LAYER IN SOFT TEXTURES

After being bombarded through the

day with screens, colours, noise and
"hard" spaces like streets, sidewalks,
desks, offices and stores, a little
softness at home will relax you.

Layer soft pillows in various fabrics

into your space that feel amazing on
the skin. 
Soften square windows with light,
breezy curtains. 
Add a natural fibre rug to the living
room and bedroom. 
Use comfy throws and fluffy faux
furs on chairs and sofas. 
Use woven baskets to hold
magazines, plants or even kids toys
in a way that feels contained and
naturally 'soft'. 
For more resources to create simple, calm
spaces and a lifestyle to match, visit
www.refresheddesigns.com.