Recently, as I was heading out the door to visit my friend Sarah and her new baby, I called to see if I could bring anything by. “If you can, I’d love some fresh flowers”, she said. I happily obliged, and was soon at her house, arranging the flowers in a vase while she held the baby. Looking around at her well-cared for living room, I asked if it was hard to keep the house up with a new addition. “Yeah, we have a lot of new baby gear and I’m pretty busy and exhausted”, she said, “but I make the effort because I know I’ll feel better if I keep it feeling relatively fresh and beautiful.”
It dawned on me in that moment that many of us don’t think of taking care of our home as an act of self-care. We may eat well, exercise and get enough sleep, but if our home doesn’t feel beautiful, it can leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed.
When we think of our home as a sanctuary — a place to rest and retreat from the busyness of life — we naturally look for ways to infuse more beauty into our space. A more beautiful space will soothe us and energize us, leaving us feeling more peaceful, joyful and focused. When you envision taking care of your home as an act of self-love, it serves as an outward reflection of how you’re valuing yourself.
Interestingly, as Barbara Stanny highlights in this article about overcoming underearning, a key distinction of high-earning women is that they wanted to be well compensated because “they felt they were worth it.”
Bolstering our sense of self-worth is not only good for our confidence and sense of happiness, but also has a direct impact on our bottom line. Fortunately, making your home a place that allows you to feel more focused and relaxed doesn’t necessarily require expensive remodeling or a fancy new paint job.
HERE ARE 15 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME A SANCTUARY FOR YOUR SUCCESS:
1. Walk outside, and enter back through your front door and pay attention to your first thoughts and feelings. Notice how you feel when you look around.
2. In 10 minutes or less, put 10 things you don’t absolutely love in a bag, and put it by the door to be donated.
3. Swap out uncomfortable or unattractive bedding for soft, beautiful bedding.
4. Buy yourself fresh flowers each week, putting small vases throughout the house.
5. Move all clutter to a central pile and carve out time this week to sort through it.
6. Dim your lights in the evening and add candles to soften the mood.
7. Make your bed each morning.
8. Cover outdated cushions in beautiful new cases, or buy new throw cushions.
9. Hire a housekeeper to come once each week (it may cost less than you think!)
10. Get rid of chipped mugs and gift yourself with a new one from a home store.
11. Create a work station for yourself and contain work to that space.
12. Collect inspirational images from home decor magazines and online.
13. Head to a local thrift store, flea market or antique store and find one or two unique items that fit the aesthetic you’re creating.
14. Have a trusted friend over to help you get rid of old clothes and shoes.
15. Take 10 minutes before bed each night to tidy up for the morning.
What are your favorite ways to turn your home into a sanctuary? Share them in the comments below and let’s inspire one another to own our worth today.
LOVE this list – thanks for the ideas, Nisha 😉 Especially #8 – forgot about that option of cushion covers!
For me, I find paintings and other works of art also helps turning your home into a sanctuary. We recently added a painting from a local artist on our mantle. While it’s a small piece of art, I feel a hit of inspiration whenever I catch a glance at it 🙂
Great reminders! Especially love the part about containing your work in one area. If you work from home, physical boundaries are important. I completed eight years of university using my bed as a desk and it’s a tough habit to break. I have a “no work in the bedroom” agreement that I’m constantly having to remind myself of.
Yes to boundaries. Sometimes easier said than done 🙂
I love collecting art pieces by local artists, too. Such inspiration and I enjoy the feeling of knowing that I am supporting someone’s dream. Thanks so much for the comment, Bianca.
love the list will start this tomorrow I know it will make difference
Thank you so much for your comment, Latanya, and thanks for reading!
Thanks so much for the list. It’s so true. If you don’t FEEL good in your home it’s a sign it needs a little help to make it your sanctuary. I love adding fresh flowers to each room and even lavender on the pillows of the bed. Also making sure you open up the windows daily to allow fresh air in.
Love the tip of opening the windows to all ow fresh air into your home. So important to connect with nature as much as possible. Thanks for stopping by, love.
You’re so right! I’ve studied ayurveda (ancient science of health & wellness from India) a bit and it talks about the effect your aesthetic surroundings have to not just mental but physical health. It really makes a huge difference when you keep things looking nice and fresh!
And, it’s funny that I should see this post today as I was just contemplating going to local art galleries and perhaps getting a new piece. I feel encouraged in that decision now!
One thing I would add to the list is investing in some item(s) that feel especially magical or spiritual to you and placing those around the house, like crystals, a Buddha statue, maybe creating an altar of some sort… So un-mundaneing! 🙂
Wonderful ideas, Bhakti. Thanks so much sister. I hope you enjoyed your trip to the art gallery 🙂
Nisha, this is such a good point — I get so wrapped up in my work and while I always take time for self-care, I completely forget about the house, and every few months I realize that my environment needs a major pick-me-up so it aligns with the rest of my life! A cluttered house causes stress even if you don’t realize it. Thanks for the reminder.
You are so welcome, Amanda. Isn’t it amazing how just straightening up a bit can make your home, and mood, so much lighter and happier?
I love orchids and always have a couple around me and they always seem to do well. I buy them in bloom then when the blooms fall off, they will rebloom in a couple of month. They seem to rotate blooming–when one is focused on growing leaves the other is producing lots of blossoms.
Oh, me too. Love orchids. They are a great reminder that even though it may not look like anything is happening, a beautiful bloom is right around the corner. Nice.
I’m relatively new to this space Nisha but FAR OUT I love your stuff, your energy, this aesthetic, the tone in your voice.
What a beautiful post this is. Will be sharing it with my tribe 🙂
Awww, Tara. Thanks so much, sister. So honored to welcome you to my online home. I can’t wait to meet your tribe.
I love it. This comes right on time, too. I am in the process of hunting for a new apartment! I will definitely use this list to create the home of my dreams. I am starting clean and fresh. This is my first place for me, where I am not sharing with a roommate! I have started purging and decluttering. Thank you, my sweet sister! XOXO
Enjoy your own space, Regina. What a blessing to create your first sanctuary. Have fun adding your personal touches and inspiration to your apartment. So glad I could help with the process.
My way of sacred space includes green plants, orchids, candles, and incence.
Every friday night i do a special ritual, i turn off light, play beautiful jazz or parisian music, some incence and candles, and i treat myself with a delicious warm shower, lots of good oils and taking the time to meditate and be grateful for all the goals accomplished during my week! 🙂
Thank you for inspiring us! I love you girl!
That sounds like perfection. What a great way to end the week. Thanks for sharing, sweet sister.
it’s all so true for me!! I cannot create in a mess…..the space has to be clean to begin creating a mess. I have altars throughout my home, not intentionally, they just happen. I love them as they remind me that I am loved and my connection to the Divine. I love flowers and I’m going to begin to make a purchase weekly, they will be a reflection of my abundance and self-worth. thank you very much for sharing.
I love it! Your space is a reflection of your abundance and self-worth. Yes!!
ive decided to take the time and catch up all that i have missed. to me creating a sanctuary, began with buying myself a new bed and redoing my space completely. i have also switch around art pieces and bought new incense.
Love it, Lauren. How have these changes made a difference? I’d love to know if creating a sanctuary has had an impact on your life. Thanks for reading! xoxo