Positive Energy Decor:

It’s hard to be home all the time. But when it’s a space you love, that’s been carefully created to cultivate happiness - being stuck there can be a little bit easier. There’s something restorative about spending your time in a home that invigorates all your senses --the familiar smells, the sight of your favorite piece of wall art, or the touch of your bare feet on a cozy rug --can remind you why your home is such a special place designed just for you and the people you care about.

But it’s not easy to magically make a space that speaks to you from every corner of the room. It takes time to define your personal style when it comes to interior design, and there are plenty of limitations of the physical space itself, whether you rent, sublet or own your own home.

Even while you’re still developing your at-home aesthetic or planning for that dream renovation, it’s totally possible (and quite fulfilling) to take on smaller projects that can make a big difference, by adding functional and eye-catching elements to the most important areas of your home.

Get More Fresh Air And Natural Light

Nothing brightens a home and infuses it with positive vibes like plenty of sunlight and fresh air. The quick solution is to open your blinds and windows to let the light and air in. Air, check. Light, check. Time to move on - or maybe not?

Just opening your windows to let fresh air in and stale air out may not be enough to truly purge your home of indoor air quality issues. Take the time to do some basic home maintenance and upgrades to make sure you have truly clean air. Simple things like changing your AC filter, cleaning your ducts and cooking vents and adding a few strategic dehumidifiers as the weather gets warmer and the moisture in your home increases. You can also help cut down on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in your air by looking for cleaning products, air fresheners and soft materials that use healthy ingredients. Finally, bring a little bit of the outdoors inside with indoor plants that will add extra oxygen and color. These basic steps can help make sure you’re breathing your best air.

When it comes to light, aside from replacing windows or adding new ones, you can take steps to maximize the natural light in your home. First, just cleaning those windows (with non-toxic cleaners of course) can improve how well the light comes through. Beyond that look for window treatments using lighter colors and materials that will absorb less sunlight. Another trick, is to add a couple of mirrors or shiny objects to reflect incoming light throughout the room.

Reassess Your Wall Space

One of the most instantly gratifying ways to bring a fresh perspective to some of the more frequently used spaces in the home is to revisit what is (or isn’t) on your walls. Start by taking a walk around your house and making notes of any wall areas that feel a little dull. You might find a long stretch of hallway where a framed gallery wall would be perfect, or maybe you want to make a statement using a larger art print on canvas.

Now, you don’t need artwork on every single surface, but once you decide which ones could use the bust of life, pull color inspiration from other accessories in the room to find the wall art that will work best for the space. Taking a small accent color from an area rug, your favorite coffee table book or even something more permanent like the colors of your cabinets, can help you put together a color story for your wall art.

You might already have an idea of what kind of art will make you smile when you see it --whether that’s something bold like an abstract print, a subtle and feminine piece like a line drawing, or a wall art arrangement that feels personal and DIY, like a canvas photo print. Canvas prints are a warm and personal touch that can remind you of times spent with friends and family or your favorite memories of places you’ve been. Sites like Easy Canvas or Canvas People make it super simple to get started and save big on your first purchase.

Make Minor Paint Or Hardware Changes

An affordable way to create new positive vibes is to make fresh updates on pieces of furniture that just aren’t exciting anymore. You can do that by to A) going crazy with a can of paint and changing up the color of an old dresser, mirror or side table and B) focusing on the hardware and selecting new fixtures for these pieces.

Obviously laying down a drop cloth, taping off a room and giving an entire space a new coat of paint is an option but it’s also a lot of supplies and a lot of work. So look for smaller jobs on movable items or quick-touch ups that can have an impact. For example, you can easily take a door off its hinges and take it outdoors for a quick recolor. You can also upgrade an old dresser, night stand or side table with a paint job or a re-stain. You can even experiment bright hues to give a room a pop of color.

We know it’s hard to imagine but you can also get excited about new knobs, sink handles or shower heads when it means it can make your boring old stuff feel new again. What could bring better vibes into the home than a brand new shower head (OK, not a cosmetic update) that makes your showers oh so relaxing? Or on the more visually pleasing side of things, a new set of modern knobs for your kitchen cabinets can make the space feel decades younger without putting in any sort of renovation work. A do-it-yourself project like swapping out fixtures can make you feel like a HGTV level designer, but with minimal effort.

Pro tip: If you’re really looking for a fun DIY project and can’t think of any furniture pieces in your home that could use work, hop onto Facebook Marketplace and see what you can find for a great price. You might find a gem you didn’t know you needed, and then just wait and see how good it feels to totally recreate a new piece all on your own.

Create Zen In The Bedroom

The bedroom can be a neglected room in the larger scope of home design, because it’s the one space you don’t have to open up to guests. Your sleeping quarters can quickly become a place to pile old paperwork or temporarily store odds and ends that don’t really “belong” anywhere.

But really, your bedroom should be a sanctuary to unwind after a long day and get a good night’s rest. When it comes to a zen bedroom, minimalism can be key. A bedroom should be free of distractions, clutter and objects that may cause you stress or anxiety. If your computer reminds you of work, and thinking about work makes your mind race, find another spot for your computer. You should also think minimally in terms of color palates and furniture. Also, using creating an airy and symmetrical space can help you feel balanced.

But the central focus of your bedroom is your bed. And while a mattress doesn’t seem like the most important thing for the looks of your bedroom, it’s a priority from the “good vibes” perspective. If you’re still sleeping on your college mattress that your great-aunt gave you, or if you’re having trouble falling asleep or frequently wake up with physical discomfort, it might be a time to upgrade your mattress and put your bedtime woes to rest (literally).

Even without leaving home, you can still get a high quality mattress shipped to your doorstep that you can carry, unpack and assemble all on your own. Seriously. Mattress brands like Saatva, Nectar, Leesa and Casper all have mattresses you can order online and try out at home for at least 3 months.

Hit The Ground Running With A New Area Rug Or Runner

While “open concept floor plan” is the buzz-phrase of the moment in the home improvement world, one downside of an open layout is that it can be difficult to define where one room ends and another begins. That’s why an area rug or runner is a quick, functional solution to help create boundaries between the different spaces in your home. Even in a traditional walled room, an area rug can brighten a space, tie objects together and dramatically revive a room with one minor change.

Area rugs bring color and texture to a room in a big way, they also help provide a color palette or a certain theme when it comes time to add or update other accessories. From boho chic rugs with fringe detail, ornate floral or modern tribal patterns, or something simple with lots of texture like a shag, rugs can activate your sense of touch when you walk across it and create interest in a room from the ground up. Even just adding a runner to a hallway can make it feel brand new again. To find one you like try a place like Wovenly specializes in rugs so you have hundreds to choose from.

Make Scent An Essential At-Home Element

Ok, so maybe technically a smell is not “decor” but remember what we said about how a peaceful home can activate all of your different senses? A little aromatherapy is a different, but important decoration when it comes to your home’s energy.

Nearly everyone’s home has a signature scent, but it’s more than just making sure you have a nice smelling laundry detergent. To fill your home with good (smelling) vibes, and avoid harmful VOCs, try an essential oil diffuser and fill it with droplets of lavender or peppermint oil for some in-home aromatherapy. PS: Not only does a diffuser smell amazing and send a wave of relaxation throughout your space, many diffusers on the market today also double as a piece of art with some super chic designs that look great on a side table or windowsill.

And though you might not want a diffuser in every room, place them strategically in common living areas or your bedroom, and then add elements of smell throughout the rest of your space with a variety of candles that can be lit for ambiance and a calming sense of warmth. It’ll make your home feel familiar and unlike any other space you spend time in during the day.

When your home is full of positive vibes, it can quickly become your favorite place to be. You don’t have to rebuild your home to re-invent it, just a few small touches can transform your space into your personal oasis from the outside world.