Tips On Making Your Home A Comfort Zone
New year, new you? There are so many New Year’s resolutions that are abandoned within the first few weeks of January. Since some of you may have already abandoned your original resolution, how about making a new resolution that not only makes a positive change in your life but is also realistic? We all have so much stress in our lives and are so busy we don’t take the time to take a time out. Balancing a career, friends and family is important, but so is your mental and physical health. So, why not make it a resolution to focus on making your home an oasis? A place where you can escape from the outside world and, dare I say, unplug?!
Now, people often think of a “comfort zone” as a bad thing. We have been programmed to think of a comfort zone as a position in life that stops us from achieving our goals. At Reiner however, our goal is to provide you with a comfort zone you never want to leave.
Your home should be your sanctuary. It should be the place where you go to escape the stress of life. Of course, there are stressful things that happen at home, but creating a peaceful and comfortable environment can help keep you more relaxed and balanced. There are simple ways you can make your home more of an oasis without breaking your budget.
Let’s start with paint. Choosing the right color can set the tone for your room or home. There are benefits to both warm and cool colors. Warm colors like yellows, oranges and reds can make a larger room seem cozier. It can soften the corners and make the room more intimate. Cool colors such as blues, green and violet are calming colors and are soothing to the eye. Make a smaller space seem larger, like a half bath or small bedroom, by using cool colors. Base the colors you choose on what feeling you want your home to exude. Warm to feel cozy or cool to feel refreshed.
Next, let’s move on to furniture. Everyone has their own style of furniture, so there is no “right” answer when it comes to this choice. The most important thing to remember is to have your home reflect your personality, so you are surrounded by pieces that will ultimately help you unwind and relax at the end of the day. This could include new pieces of furniture, or pieces that were inherited. It should also be functional and comfortable. I once had a friend who spent $500 on a red velvet upholstered chair that moved from home to home, room to room and was never used. Don’t make this mistake. Choose you pieces wisely.
After you have chosen your paint and furniture, take into consideration the practice of feng shui. Feng Shui teaches that we can harmonize ourselves with our surrounding environment by how we choose to place objects around us. This is quite a detailed practice. If you’re interested in finding out more about Feng Shui, there is plenty of information online or at your local library.
Now the fun part! Accessories and accents. Try using throw blankets, throw rugs and accent pillows to make a room look like a comfortable place to let go and relax. Curtains can help soften an echo that may occur in a larger room. They also help insulate, keeping cold air out during the winter and cool air in during the summer. Room darkening curtains (or shades) keep out light that may keep you awake.
Houseplants are also beneficial as they not only add natural beauty to your home but offer several other benefits. This includes adding moisture to the air, which helps with dry scratching skin and sore throats in the winter. Plants also help you breathe better by consuming the carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Visit your local nursery to see what plants would be best for you and your home.
Finally, add in some comforting scents like lavender or vanilla to include your sense of smell and quiet your mind. One of my favorite memories from my childhood is coming home on a rainy day to the smell of warm chocolate chip cookies. I don’t always have the time to make cookies but having a diffuser or candle that smells like vanilla does the same trick…with less calories.
As we are an HVAC company, we know there are many benefits to upgrading your air conditioning and heating equipment. Not only can replacing an aging heating and cooling system (including furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and ductless splits) help you save money each month, but it can also help your mental health and well-being. Older units tend to not reach and hold the desired temperature. Not only can this negatively add to existing health problems (stiff joints, allergies, colds, flu), but can also make you cold and miserable or hot and grumpy. Plus, you may end up paying for multiple repairs when you could replace your equipment, upgrade your air and reap the benefits of a brand-new system.
Along with updated heating and cooling equipment, humidifiers and dehumidifiers are also beneficial when it comes to comfort as well as clean air.
Humidifiers help to reduce the occurrence of:
- Dry sinuses
- Bloody noses
- Cracked lips
- Reduce the symptoms of the common cold
Dehumidifiers help to:
- Reduce mold and mildew in damp areas
- Reduce the amount of dust mites
- Gets rid of musty odors
- Minimizes condensation
Speaking of cleaner air, you may also want to consider high efficiency filters to help to purify the air you breath. They reduce the amounts of allergens, dust and even bacteria in the air. We offer a variety of filters as well as air purification systems, humidifiers and dehumidifiers that can help you breathe better helping you feel better overall!
Just like with exercise (one of the most famous New Year’s resolutions) we don’t always have the time to unwind and relax. That is why you must make the time. Let us help you create your perfect indoor environment. Give us a call today to discuss how we can make your and your family’s life better.
Live, laugh and be comfortable!