Research has shown a direct link between the environments in which we surround ourselves and our well-being. For example, rooms with bright light, both natural and artificial, can improve depression and anxiety.
It’s no surprise that when you transform a house to a home it clearly alters the aesthetic of a property but it also enhances the well-being of the inhabitants. Who wouldn’t want to live in a home that is purposefully designed for the owner’s needs, so whenever they walk through the door they are met with an immediate sense of calm and contentment?
Whether you spend the majority of your time in your home or it’s simply the space you wind down after a long day. Your home should be the place you feel safest, most comfortable and relaxed.
Here are three tips to start the transformation from house to home:
Name your home
This is often an overlooked area by homeowners but the difference it can make by personalising a name for your home is worth mentioning. It creates a connection and personalises the property to you.
If you are looking to change the name of your home there are a number of things you will need to do. Be warned, there is a sizable paper trail to commit to as well as potential fees from your local council but it will be worth it in the end.
- To start with, do some research – in some cases the name of a property can impact the value of your home, and of course, make sure it’s something that you really like and won’t want to change later. Bear in mind that you cannot legally change the number of a property and this must always be clearly visible. For identification purposes this must remain the same in an emergency situation and for correspondence.
- The next step is to get in touch with your local council; the department responsible for naming and numbering streets will review your submission to ensure that the name you are looking to choose is not currently in use in the local area. Once this has been done and no duplication has been found, the council will contact Royal Mail for their approval.
- Once this has been approved, the change of name needs to be recorded with the Land Registry, utility providers, your mortgage lender as well as updating your local council tax department and electoral roll.
Embrace the outdoors
Incorporating biophilic design into your home is a brilliant way to reduce stress and improve our mental health and well-being.
Another way to bring the outside in is to consider how light enters your home, and how to maximise the natural light available. A popular way to do this is to create seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces using large patio doors such as bi-fold designs, or even by lengthening the size of windows and dropping them to the floor.
Pick your palette with purpose
It is widely understood that different colours can have a powerful effect on the way we feel when we walk into a room, and this is supported by colour theory. This subsequently impacts the ambiance and your own mood in your home too.
Did your property start off as a literal blank canvas with white walls throughout? When you add pops of colour or a specific palette throughout the home that reflects your personality, and the emotion that you want to feel as you progress through your home, the space will be transformed.
The key to picking the perfect colour palette for your home is to decorate with accessories and paint-colour choices that positively align with you and help encourage the mood you aim to achieve.
Better Homes & Gardens have written a useful article to help you make the most of your paint palette and enhance your home through the art of colour.