Calm your living space with these design elements

2023-03-12 - BY HUNTER BOYCE The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Years of living in a pandemic has inspired interior designers and homeowners alike to make some changes inside their living spaces. Decorators are experimenting with how they can bring more calming atmosphere to their projects.

From decluttering hightraffic spaces to giving the walls a new coat of paint, these design trends are just what you need to make your home a little more peaceful.

INSTALL A WINDOW SEAT

One of the best ways designers are turning homes into calming sanctuaries is by bringing the outside in. Specifically, installing a window seat in your home can give you a place of warmth, light and rest when life gets stressful.

“Window seats elicit a feeling of rest and quiet time for oneself,” West Hollywood-based interior designer Katie Hodges told Living Etc. “They are a little pocket of a special moment, and add a quaint coziness to any space.

“Any window or room is fair game for a window seat. Just be sure that the window is large enough or at the right height to be able to see out of, and that the window seat depth is substantial enough to actually sit down.”

CANDLES, CANDLES, CANDLES

A great way to make the home a more soothing place is to light candles. It’s an aromatic answer to a multisensory problem. However, interior designers are taking advantage of it all the same.

“In the morning, I like to light candles in the kitchen and living room and let them burn until evening,” co-founder, principal designer and chief creative officer of Metal + Petal, Jade Joyner, told Better Homes & Gardens. “It creates a soothing ambience while adding a little luxe to my day.”

DECLUTTER THE MESS

While it may not be as fun as decorating your new favorite room, decluttering the more visually overwhelming areas of a home can do wonders for mental health.

“Few things create mental unrest like clutter,” Houston-based designer Marie Flanigan told Veranda. “Spend time cleaning out unused items for donation, and invest in appealing organizational

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