Having a living room that offers a retreat from everyday stress is something that every home owner
would want to have. It can help one relax and forget about personal and professional worries and it can
also lend a sense of confidence that allow for a better outlook for the days ahead.
As a home owner yourself, it is likely that you also want to have a healing living room. After all, you
would want to arrive at a space with a positive atmosphere that can help ease the tension that you have
probably felt during a hard day's work. If your budget is what restricts you from having a living space
that inspires overall wellness, fret not because there are a number of cheap ways how you can create
such a healthy space. Let peace, happiness and tranquility reign within your living room with these
simple and effective suggestions.
Declutter and Detoxify
A healthy living room should be easy to maintain. Although your living space should not be spare, it
should be free of clutter, bulky cushions and heavy fabrics. Keep your display of collections and other
decorative elements at a minimum.
Once you have hauled away the unnecessary stuff inside the room, do some detoxification. Make sure
that the living room itself is not making you and your family sick. The smooth surfaces in the space
should be kept clean to make them inhospitable to allergens, microscopic particles, dust mites and their
droppings. If you have a furnace, take the time to install a carbon monoxide detector to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning. Nevertheless, set a cleaning schedule each week to ensure that your living room
and the rest of the house would always be free from clutter.
Remember that in addition to preventing physical ailments, a clutter-free living space also yields deep
psychological rewards: living in a healthy space that liberates the mind and lightens your mood and
spirit.
Eliminate distractions
There is no doubt that technology is a blessing that allows majority of people to stay in touch with
their loved ones and do almost anything at any given time. However, this same gift can also be the
cause of unnecessary stress inside the home. Being called by your boss, client or a pending project is
not healthy. As such, it would definitely do you good if you minimize the use of technology inside the
living room.
Try dedicating a space inside your home where you and your family could work, but make sure that it
is not in the living room, as doing so can distract you from enjoying the company of your loved ones.
Care should also be taken when placing television inside the living room. At the most, it should be at
least five feet away from the seating areas.
Bring in the Greens
Plants are not just decorative elements grown in the garden. In fact, they should be allowed to grow
inside the home as well. The addition of indoor plants inside your living room can do wonders in
improving the air quality in the said space. Thereby enhancing your health and that of your family's by
replenishing the room with oxygen that aids in the reduction of negative physical symptoms and can
also make you feel calm. There are also evidences showing that some plant species can help absorb
toxic contaminants like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene and other harmful fumes inside the
home. Wondering what plants to incorporate in your living room design that will help you breathe? Try
choosing from Chinese evergreen, bamboo palm, English ivy and pot mum just to name a few.
Let the Light In
To achieve a healthy living room, try to combine natural light with carefully chosen energy-efficient
artificial illumination. To invite the sunshine inside, open up some of your windows and you can also
free them up from curtains or shades. Doing this will help you achieve several results: have a full-
spectrum light teeming with vitamin D that helps regulate hormones, wards off depression and boost
the immune system; have a clear view of the panoramic vista outside your home; and allow natural
ventilation inside your living room.
As for the selection of artificial lighting, opt for full-spectrum incandescent fixtures that imitate the
natural rays of the sun. To maximize their illumination, carefully place mirrors in some areas around
your living room.
Integrate Soothing Scents and Sounds
Research has shown that even low-level noise inside the home can trigger stress. With this in mind, add
more pleasing sounds inside your living room by integrating a set of wind chimes. You may also opt
for a tabletop fountain that will emit the sound of a flowing water.
On a similar note, you might also want to place blooms of hyacinth and jasmine in a deep bowl, as it
has been found that the scent of these flowers can help improve mood and lower anxiety levels. Other
aromas that were proven to perk your spirit include cinnamon and peppermint. If none of these are
available, you can opt for an essential oil diffuser or use cinnamon sticks as your centerpieces.
Establish a Space
If your living room is small, one of the best ways to make it healthier and at the same time looking
wider is for you to carve out a space. Aside from decluttering, you may create a sense of openness by
transforming closed cabinets and bookcases into an open shelving system. To mimic the feel of an airy,
open outdoor space, try painting your ceiling with a color lighter than your living room walls.
