16 Tips for Creating a Healthy, Happy Home

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An uncluttered, simple eating space invites sitting and chatting while food is being prepared.
An uncluttered, simple eating space invites sitting and chatting while food is being prepared.
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To make your home feel tied to the outdoors, consider removing window treatments and bringing elements of nature inside.
To make your home feel tied to the outdoors, consider removing window treatments and bringing elements of nature inside.
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Display a few interesting, conversation-starting pieces of art for a room that’s highly engaging yet uncluttered.
Display a few interesting, conversation-starting pieces of art for a room that’s highly engaging yet uncluttered.
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Create a home that is tailored to your goals of living a naturally healthy lifestyle.
Create a home that is tailored to your goals of living a naturally healthy lifestyle.
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Design*Sponge blogger and Leif housewares shop (leifshop.com)owner Stacy Anne Longenecker corrals her many objets d’art on reclaimed wood shelves from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, mounted on the walls around her home.
Design*Sponge blogger and Leif housewares shop (leifshop.com)owner Stacy Anne Longenecker corrals her many objets d’art on reclaimed wood shelves from Elmwood Reclaimed Timber, mounted on the walls around her home.
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To make your home feel tied to the outdoors, consider removing window treatments and bringing elements of nature inside.
To make your home feel tied to the outdoors, consider removing window treatments and bringing elements of nature inside.

Have you ever stepped into a well-designed room and felt instantly calm?

Or conversely, walked into a cluttered, hectic space and felt suddenly on edge? Our surroundings affect our emotions and our mental state. Most well-designed homes share common elements—pleasing colors, views of the outdoors, uncluttered surfaces and interesting accessories that convey something about the personality of their owner. We can tailor our homes to our own unique vision, creating a home that supports us in our quest to live a naturally healthy lifestyle tied to the cycles of the seasons. Use these tips as a jumping-off point to create a beautiful, peaceful, happy home perfectly suited to your family’s life.

Serene by Design

Spending time in spaces we love can help us relax, recharge and prepare to face the world. Use these design tricks to create a soothing atmosphere in your home. 

1. Lighten up. To promote a feeling of calm in any room, try a soft palette of whites, pastels and neutrals. “Beautiful pastels add an unexpected softness to interiors,” says Santa Fe, New Mexico, designer Jennifer Ashton. “I like white, too—both as a wall color and an accent—and I especially like the way white looks against natural and earth tones.” Need just the right white? Top white paint recommendations from the popular design website Apartment Therapy include Benjamin Moore’s Super White, Linen White and China White; the brand’s Natura line contains no volatile organic compounds (chemicals that offgas at room temperature and contribute to poor indoor air quality).

  • Published on Apr 8, 2014
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