One of the best things about indoor plants is the feeling they create in any space. Simply adding a live plant to a room can brighten the space, improve the energy, and literally bring life into a room. So, if you want to create a retreat within your home – somewhere to go where you feel good, where you can relax and be happy – it just makes sense for indoor plants to be a part of it. But it’s not just about plants. Creating your perfect happy place takes some preparation. Here are three steps to guide you:
Step One: Decide what the space will be used for
Before even choosing a space within your home, you’ll want to decide what you’ll be doing in that space. Want to do yoga or aerobics in your happy place? Then you’ll need more space to move around. On the other hand, if you want to meditate or just chill, then not much space is needed.
Also consider the current atmosphere in the room when deciding what the space will be used for. For example, if you plan to read in this space, you’ll want to be sure there’s plenty of light. Or you might not want a space with many windows, if you like to meditate or relax in the dark. Is there a room that’s particularly hot or cold at various times of the year? Be sure to consider that when choosing your space.
Lastly, think about how the room is used throughout the day. Ideally, you want a space that is free from interruptions, at least part of each day. If kids and pets are running through all the time, as much as we love them, all the activity could make it difficult to find serenity – if that’s your goal.
Step Two: Prepare the space
Most of us don’t have full rooms that are never used for anything. So, you might be creating your happy place within a room that’s used for other activities. It might be part of your bedroom, for example. Or it could be a section of a family room, or even a bathroom (think relaxing, serene baths, candles… wine?). All these considerations will guide you when preparing your happy place.
In an ideal world, you would be able to clear out an entire room and start with an empty canvas, but as that isn’t always possible, do the best you can with what you have.
- Clean out any clutter or messes in your space. It’s hard to be completely happy among a mess.
- If you can paint the room or decorate it with items that are your favorite color, that will add to your happiness when in the space.
- If you have furniture or other items in the room that are not being used, consider removing them. The less “full” the room feels, the lighter you will feel in the space.
- Clean the air. There’s nothing like breathing in fresh, clean air to make you feel good. Indoor plants can help with this, but if you have or are able to get an air purifier, this is a great space in which to use it.
- Be careful with air fresheners and candles. While a candle and some air fresheners can add to your happy experience, many are overpowering or contain harmful chemicals. So make sure your space smells good, but be picky about how you do so.
Step Three: Create your space
Ok, you’ve chosen the perfect spot in your home, and you have made it as close to ideal as possible by cleaning it up and making sure it’s welcoming. Now it’s time to create your space to be your perfect sanctuary and happy place. The point of creating a happy place is for you to feel good whenever you’re there, so add things that you love to your space.
If you’ll be sitting or lying down, and a giant pile of pillows is what makes you super comfortable, go for it! Place décor items in the room that are meaningful or at least make you smile. Maybe you got a special knickknack while traveling or your child gave you a beautiful picture that you love looking at. Whatever you add to your space, make it all about what makes you feel good.
Plants! Don’t forget indoor plants to finish off your happy place. To choose the perfect plants, keep in mind how they look, how they smell, and what kind of care they need. A beautiful flowering plant, like a gardenia plant could be excellent, but in a small space, the scent of the flowers could be a bit overwhelming.
Beyond the way your plants look and smell, if you choose plants that need a lot of attention and care, that could either be a good or a bad thing for you. If caring for indoor plants is what you love, taking care of the plants in your happy place might just add to the happiness! But if you see caring for your plants as more of a chore, you don’t want that negative feeling associated with this space. In that case, choose houseplants that are easy to care for.
In Conclusion
Often, in times of stress, we hear the phrase, “go to your happy place.” And that usually means a place within your mind. But having a happy place in real life is a true treat. It can even end up being the place you go to in your mine when things get tough. So, use the steps above to create your very own happy place, and don’t forget to make indoor plants part of it!
