Bringing the outdoors in can add harmony

Our lives these days are busier than ever. We spend more time in our offices or on the road than we do in our own homes. Our lives have become so fast paced and frenzied that we really need to make a concerted effort to slow down. For many of us this no longer comes naturally and we must force ourselves to relax. A home that is disorganised, chaotic and full of discord is not a relaxed one. There are a few simple and very basic steps that we can do to make our homes more harmonious and peaceful to return to at the end of a busy day.

Here are some simple ideas for your home

■ Consider your furniture placement and include comfortable pieces.

■ Toss a few extra pillows on to the couch.

■ Keep blankets nearby, in a basket or trunk or ottoman that doubles as storage.

■ Keep a lamp nearby for night-time reading.

■ Bring plants or fresh cut flowers into your favourite room.

■ De clutter.

■ Don’t leave the house in the morning without making the bed.

■ Never go to bed without doing the dishes or at least loading them into the dishwasher.

■ Light some candles in the evening.

■ Have a book corner.

■ Have relaxing bedlinen.

■ Choose a soothing colour palette on the walls.

■ Add rugs to hard flooring.

■ Replace old towels with oversized plush towels. And remember to bring the outdoors in.

A bunch of flowers, an arrangement of branches, or a few houseplants can all bring a breath of fresh air into a room.

It can be as simple as gathering a bunch of branches from a tree in your backyard and popping them in a vase. For an easy, spa-inspired centrepiece fill a wide, shallow bowl about halfway with water and float some of your favourite blooms on the surface. If you’re worried about wilted petals and neglected plants, choose dried flowers or hearty houseplants and indulge in fresh flowers for special occasions. A few simple steps can go a long way in making your home more relaxing.