The Home Nook

Ideas to cultivate well-being at home

Dec 02, 2024

Hi, and welcome to the home nook! I’m excited to invite you into this cozy corner, where we’ll explore cultivating well-being at home. I hope this nook becomes a vibrant community where we inspire one another. I encourage you to share your suggestions in the comments section—your contributions make this community special, and I’d love to feature your ideas in future updates. The home nook will be updated regularly, so check back often.

I hope you find inspiration, and together, let’s create a treasure trove of ways to make our homes more comfortable, healthy, and happy.

Take care,

Whitney

P.S.-If you see a “…” click it to expand all of the content, or view the web version.

Tips to Turn Your Home Into a Haven of Well-being

Your home can reflect your values, needs, and interests. Take these things into consideration when you’re making changes to your home.

Keep your space neat. A neat home works wonders for our mental clarity. Start small (aka with the junk drawer, under the kitchen or bathroom sink). Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s best to start by tidying up and decluttering each room. After tidying up, gather your cleaning supplies, and work from the top down, cleaning surfaces like ceilings, light fixtures, and high shelves first, before moving to lower surfaces and floors. Prioritize high-traffic areas.

Cut down on chemicals. Live more sustainably by reducing your reliance on chemical-heavy detergent and cleaning products. Pick natural alternatives and make homemade cleaning supplies. Always choose candles and wax melts made from soy wax rather than paraffin-based alternatives.

Make the most of natural light. Natural light may significantly boost our moods and alleviate winter blues. If you have the option, move a chair close to a window and read, journal, or sip a tea while reaping the benefits of natural light.

Enjoy fresh air. Weather permitting, open your windows and doors to let the fresh air in. In the middle of the city? Consider investing in an air purifier or air-purifying plants. Fresh air can make a world of difference to our overall well-being.

Decorate with indoor plants. Houseplants not only look beautiful but can also improve our well-being. Scientific studies suggest that houseplants can have positive physical, emotional, and psychological effects on us. Houseplants can remove certain harmful chemicals from the air, absorb noise, reduce stress, promote relaxation, and improve focus and mental performance. Some popular houseplants for air purification include the peace lily, Boston fern, phlebodium fern, gerbera daisy, weeping fig, snake plant, spider plant, and English ivy.

Choose natural and sustainable materials. When choosing items for your home consider sustainable materials such as wood, bamboo, hemp, wool, linen, sisal, clay, stone, and glass. When choosing materials, it’s important to consider factors such as local sourcing, ethical production methods, durability, and recyclability. Look for certified or ethically sourced materials (e.g., FSC-certified wood, fair trade wool).

Pick colors and textures that will boost your well-being. Pick colors and textures that will boost your well-being. Color has the power to transform your home and create different moods, so it’s important to choose the right shades to help you feel comfortable and relaxed. Cool tones and organic colors such as blues, greens, clay, and wood tend to be calming, creating a relaxing space. Natural textures like wood help us connect with the outdoors, while mixing fabric textures can achieve a cozy feeling. Layer velvets, weaves, knits, and cottons across soft furnishings to create a warm, welcoming environment. Tip: Place a folded throw blanket on the back of a chair at the dining room table—it adds a little unexpected comfort.

Reimagine your bathroom and transform it into a spa oasis. Your bathroom can be a sanctuary, regardless of its size. You can make it more spa-like with a few simple changes. If you don’t have one, add a bathmat to sink your toes into. Get into the routine of sprinkling a couple of drops of essential oil in your shower—but be careful, essential oils can make the floor slippery. I like to hang fresh eucalyptus from the shower wall or showerhead. Adding eucalyptus to your shower isn’t just beautiful to look at—it smells great, too.

Revamp your space. Take time to think about how the space in your home is set up and utilized. What improvements or alterations can you make for it to work better for you? It could be as simple as moving your art around, changing the orientation of your furniture, or adding a lamp.

Create a nook for yourself. Look around your home and identify an area you can dedicate to your well-being. It can be anything from a cozy reading nook to a space where you exercise your creative expression. It’s important to personalize this area. Make it your own by adding a few of your favorite mementos (e.g., pictures, books, art) and keeping comfy items on hand (e.g., blankets, pillows, socks, a candle).

Home Items

Items that can help cultivate well-being at home:

Items that relate to your interests
Decorative objects that have personal meaning (e.g., a pretty stone gathered on a hike that makes you recall a nice memory)
Houseplants
Artwork
Clean Candles
Fresh cut flowers, dried lavender, or eucalyptus
An essential oil diffuser
A variety of lighting and light sources, preferably with a dimmer
A plethora of pillows
Blankets, blankets, and more blankets
- A weighted blanket is perfect for naps
- A heated blanket for cold days
Comfortable seating
Books
Journals
Window coverings
Rugs
Fans

Inspire the community and share items that help you cultivate well-being at home in the comments section.

Featured Resource: Home Therapy

I thoroughly enjoyed the suggestions in “Home Therapy: Interior Design for Increasing Happiness, Boosting Confidence, and Creating Calm: An Interior Design Book” by Anita Yokota.

Sustainable Home Practices

In addition to the kitchen-specific sustainability practices listed in the kitchen nook, here are more sustainability practices that will help reduce waste, save money, and promote eco-friendly practices:

Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies. I use baking soda and white vinegar in a lot of my homemade cleaning recipes. Search Google to find DIY green cleaning recipes.
Water Down Store-Bought Liquid Dish Soap. A friend taught me this trick and it works well. Store-bought dish soap is concentrated. If you aren’t making homemade dish soap, fill an empty dish soap bottle with water and about 1 teaspoon of store-bought dish soap. Shake well and use.
Shop Local. Can you find home decor items like pillows, throws, and art locally? This will help support local artists and reduce the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
Avoid Single-Use Items. Replace single-use items with reusable alternatives. Consider swabbing out cotton swabs, facial tissues, cotton balls, and other single-use items.

Implementing a few of these practices can make a big difference. Share your sustainable home practices in the comments section.