How to Decorate Your Home to Encourage More Mindfulness Day-to-Day

We all want to live in the present. Many of us try to make the most of every moment and stay aware of what’s going on around us, but how often do we practice true mindfulness in our day-to-day lives? Even if you meditate regularly and bring that presence you achieve beyond your meditation, there are still ways to increase your ability to be mindful and create a Zen-spiration environment .

What is mindfulness?

We often see the word “mindfulness” when we read about meditation and living a Zen-lifestyle. But how often do you consider what the word actually means?

Sometimes mindfulness and meditation are setup in opposition as two states of thought, but mindfulness is a form of meditation. When you’re aware of the present and focusing on the moment or activity, you’re practising mindfulness. This means devoting your entire mind to an action or sensation. This differs from focusing on an item or point in space and allows you to be fully present in the right now and appreciate the beauty of life.

What are the Benefits of Mindfulness?

Mindfulness can benefit you at home and work. In fact, Google even encourages their employees to practice mindfulness to reduce work stress. Mindfulness can also help in your daily life, even if you don’t work in an office. Aside from improving your ability to remember cherished moments, mindfulness can help you be a better parent, partner, and person.

Some ways mindfulness can improve your life and relationships:

• Mindfulness can improve your cognitive ability.
• Mindfulness reduce your tendency to become distracted.
• Mindfulness improves how you feel about your body.
• Mindfulness reduces depression and anxiety.
• Mindfulness make you more accepting of others.

5 Ways to Encourage Mindfulness in your Home Decor

1.Change Your Paint Colour

While vibrant, bold colour pops can be fun, they also create cognitive noise and prevent your mind from finding a relaxed state. Colour has one of the most profound effects on your mood as any other home decor accessory.

When selecting a hue that promotes mindfulness, choose colours that you may find in a spa. Light blues, grays, off-whites, and muted greens will give you a peaceful environment that will not clash with your existing furniture. If you’re a colour-fanatic, try soft pink or lavender.

2.Display Art and Photos that Inspire You

Creating art can be one of the most mindful activities you’ll find. Hanging and displaying art can also help you live more mindfully day-to-day. One way to choose art that will increase your mindfulness is to select artwork that makes you happy and reminds you of people, places, and things that you love.

Print some black and white photos of your children, your spouse, or even your pet. You can even find some beautiful free stock photos that will promote the feeling of love in your design.

Choose artwork that encourages thought, but is not too busy or bold.

3.Breathe Life into Your Home with Some Plants

Greening your space can bring you tranquillity. Plants also purify your air and produce more oxygen to encourage improved cognition.

Choose plants that can survive without direct sunlight. If you leave town often, select plants like cacti or succulents that don’t require as much water and maintenance. Place your plant where it can take in some sunlight and sway in the breeze when you open a window.

4.Reduce Clutter and Chaos

So often, we fill our spaces with a collection of objects we’ve accrued in our lives. These objects hold strong emotional resonance and memory, but too many of them can keep our brains too active to fully immerse ourselves in mindful practices.

If you decide to paint your walls, you will have to move your furniture, so take the opportunity to declutter and organize your space. Throw out any old mail or bills. Donate books you may never read again. Sort through your knick knacks and donate any you don’t cherish. Toss your tired throw pillows.

5.Take in Some Zen Scents

The warmth and dance of candlelight can improve the mood of any room, but choosing a scent to bring your awareness to the moment. Has the scent of coffee or fresh-cut lemons ever taken over you? Scent can be a powerful tool in sparking energy or relaxation. Scents can also help you better focus on your breathing.

Some scents that will encourage mindfulness include:

• Ocean inspired scents
• Orange blossom
• Lavender
• Lemon or lemon grass
• Leather
• Tobacco
• Rosemary

Being more mindful will improve the quality of your life and help you appreciate every moment more fully. It is worth taking the time to re-evaluate how your surroundings affect your mood and your ability to focus on the minute details. Start small with just candle and some new artwork, and you’ll begin to see how easy it can be to stay present and find inner peace in your daily life.

What do you think?

What are your top tips for creating a more peaceful home environment? What do you do that reduces stress at home and brings a smile to your face – and the face of others. We would love to hear from you, so do share your experiences.

As always, your interaction with our posts creates a reservoir of wisdom for all our readers to benefit from so please share your thoughts, stories and questions in the comments box below. Remember to tweet, like and share. We appreciate it ~ thanks.

 

Additional Resources
15 Mindfulness Picture Quotes To Improve Your Meditation Practice
Tips for Creating a Mindful Home
How to Create a Relaxing Meditation Space at Home