Some people go on vacation to escape home. Some people also go on vacation but still love their return to their homes. It is better to be in the latter group. This is because it's best to have a home that you don't need to escape from.
The ideal home is a sanctuary. One of the best ways to create this is to make your home as pleasing to as many senses as possible. Many people spend a lot of money to do this. This is understandable because it is worth it. But there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. So here is how to cheaply turn your home into a sanctuary:
Declutter before you reorganize or decorate
If there is a lot of clutter in your home, then this is the first and most important step. There are 2 parts to decluttering.
1. Not buying something unless you need it for some use.
2. Removing useless things from your home.
Useless things in your home become clutter that wastes space in your home. Clutter also clashes with everything. So there is no point in trying to decorate around it.
Sometimes you make the best decor improvements by what you remove. This is particularly true if it's clutter. Sometimes removing clutter is enough to turn your home into a beautiful sanctuary. In that case, you have created your beautiful haven without spending anything.
Otherwise, it will get you closer and your place will look better. At least it will get you closer to having a "blank canvas". With this, you can make rearrangements, additions, and subtractions as needed. Whatever the case, it's always better to declutter before reorganizing or decorating.
Decluttering also makes it easier to keep your place tidy. This is very important to having a tranquil sanctuary.
Remove things that bring up bad memories or bad feelings
Get rid of anything that brings up bad memories or bad feelings. You can do this with decluttering. But it's so important that it deserves a section of its own. This stuff robs you of your mental well-being and doesn't belong in your home.
If it is useful, then replace it. If friends or relatives say that it's too valuable to discard, then offer it to them. After all, they should be willing to take it if they value it that much. If not, then throw it away. Regardless, it should be gone from your home and from your life.
Focus on the floors, walls, and large furniture
When you decorate, you should always check the large areas. These are things like floors, ceilings, walls, and large furniture. Large areas are important because they take up a large part of your field of view. Although they don't need to be the same color, they should never clash. If the walls clash with the ceiling, the floor, or each other, you might need to do some painting.
It also helps to remove wall decorations for a short time. This lets you check to see if you want to keep the current arrangement. If not, you can add, rearrange or remove wall decorations as you see fit.
The bed is one large piece of furniture that is well worth considering. The look of the bed coverings will dominate the look of the bed and the bedroom. The sofa is also very important and will have a big influence on the living room decor. If the sofa and bed are the same (such as a futon), then the covering is very important.
See if what you have works before you buy something new
After you declutter, take a look at what you have. Some things might look great as is. Some might need some adjustments. You might also need to get rid of some of them. Regardless, checking before you replace anything can save you a lot of money. For example, new bed coverings can do wonders for an old bed. Even a bed made of shipping pallets can look nice if it has the right bed coverings on it.
Focus on function and comfort
When it comes to interiors, the function must come first. This means that each room has to do its job and must be comfortable. Otherwise, the rooms wouldn't work well and the house wouldn't be a sanctuary.
As part of this, every surface that you sit or lay down on must be comfortable. This is especially true for beds, sofas, and futons. If a mattress is too firm, you can put a memory foam pad on it and under the fitted sheet. It will make the bed comfortable at a low cost. If you also like lounging on the floor, then a soft area rug will be ideal.
Use a small palette of colors
Using a small palette of colors reduces the chances of colors clashing with each other. Walls and ceilings that are neutral colors help. This is because neutral colors rarely clash with anything. One rare exception is clutter which clashes with everything including itself.
For large furniture and area rugs, it helps to use subtle tones, tints, and shades. These are less likely to clash than loud and gaudy colors.
Use accent pieces
Accent pieces often add contrast to prevent a room from being drab and lifeless. Accent pieces can take many forms and generally are smaller than the large furniture. But this is not a strict rule. Accent pieces can be decorative only, or they can also serve another function. Here are some examples of forms that accent pieces can take:
The right picture on the wall can complement furniture very well.
Light fixtures can serve a double function as accent pieces.
Books on bookshelves can add a good balance of color to a room.
Smaller chairs can complement a sofa and add extra seating.
The most important fact here is that this is your home. If you and the people you live with think it is beautiful, then it is. If you all agree that a combination clashes, then it does.
Keep it tidy
Tidiness is very important to a good decor and tranquil environment. For example, having the bed made will make a bedroom look much better.
If you look in some interior design catalogs, you will see some beautiful decors. But sometimes they are marketing furniture that is unremarkable in appearance. There is a reason why they can create such beautiful spaces with such plain furniture. It's because they display them in a tidy setting with good accent pieces.
Consider plants and a fountain
Plants and fountains are special types of accent pieces. This is because they are also pleasant on other senses.
Fountains provide the background sound of running water, which many people find soothing. They come in many sizes and they can be used indoors or outdoors. But you shouldn't put one where a spill would be disastrous.
Plants clean the air and can provide fragrant aromas, depending on the plant. You can use them indoors and outdoors. You can even plant a garden. But some plants can be high maintenance. Also, you should avoid any plant that triggers allergies.
Add your favorite aromas
Making your home pleasing to as many senses as possible is crucial to making it a sanctuary. This is why you should make your home smell the way you like. We already know that fragrant plants can add to the fragrance of your home. Here are some other ways to add fragrance to your home:
Air fresheners
Scented wax warmers
Scented oil diffusers
Scented candles
Scented oil burners
Incense burners
I recommend the things that add fragrances without burning anything. These are the air fresheners, the scented wax warmers, and the scented oil diffusers. This because the ones that burn something cause soot buildup, can be fire hazards, and can be bad for your lungs.
Create a special space within the home
Even a sanctuary can have a special place within it. This is true even if you live alone. But it is especially true if you live with other people. It can be a meditation space or a place to enjoy some solitude.
It can be indoors or outdoors. A place that is both quiet and secluded would be ideal. But if you had to choose between the two, then seclusion is more important.
In summary, it is ideal to have a home that you don't need to escape from. The key is to turn it into a sanctuary, and here is how you can do it cheaply:
Declutter before you reorganize or decorate.
Remove things that bring up bad memories or bad feelings.
Focus on the floors, walls, and large furniture.
See if what you have works before you buy something new.
Focus on function and comfort.
Use a small palette of colors.
Use accent pieces.
Keep it tidy.
Consider plants and a fountain.
Add your favorite aromas.
Create a special space within the home.
The key is to make your home pleasing to your senses. It is a good thing that you can do it without breaking the bank.