How does your home feel? Go outside and enter your home through the front door. How do you feel when you take that first step into your sanctuary, your escape, your safe place? What do you smell? What do you see? If you feel like you need Botox right now, you’ve got some work ahead of you. The good news is that there are plenty of resources and solutions throughout the Design & Wellness Blog to help you create a warm and inviting home.

Next, proceed to each room and answer the same questions. If you’re content with the home you’ve created, then bravo, you can forward this to a friend or family member who could use some help. If you’re now sad while standing in your cluttered, smelly home with dingy or obnoxiously colored walls, it'll be okay. Here is a quick post called, Clean Sweep from earlier this year that will help you get started.

As for choosing colors, you have to do a little research into your soul. Yup, time to dig deep and find out what what makes you feel blissful and bright-eyed. Memories from beautiful places are a great inspiration for choosing colors. If deciding on your home’s color palette is overwhelming, keep it clean and simple and opt for Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. Soft whites and creams are a great starting point to refresh a home. Over time you will become more aware of what colors stand out to you and how they make you feel. Your home should feel like your personal getaway regardless of its size or how temporary it may be at this time.

If you’re someone who is under the impression that you don’t need to impress anyone with your home, you’re correct. How about impressing yourself? Yes, think of the last time you were wowed upon entering a restaurant, a speciality shop or a hotel. You deserve this same wow feeling each time you come home.

Green provides the most healing effects of any other color. Light blue is up there with green as it evokes tranquility and calmness.

Green is reflected in nature and is associated with the Heart Chakra. If there is an imbalance in the body or a conflict of the heart, it is helpful to get outside and spend time in nature. Imagine there are roots growing from your feet down into the earth while taking deep breaths. With each exhale, your roots grow deeper into the earth creating stability and strength. This is where self-trust and healing can begin. Take as many as 30 slow deep breaths. Lightheadedness may occur so move slowly and take your time.

Here is a healing Heart Chakra Meditation to mend a wounded or battered heart.

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

The Color of Health