11 simple ways to make your home a stress-free sanctuary

11 simple ways to make your home a stress-free sanctuary11 simple ways to make your home a stress-free sanctuaryYouve likely heard about or been swept up inMarie Kondo maniain the wake of her hit Netflix show,Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. In it, she teaches people withcluttered, chaotic homes to tidy up their surroundings, which thendecreases their stress and anxiety.Whether youre moving into a new distribution policy or thinking of making some changes to your current one, there are several simple ways to create the calming space you deserve. We asked members of the Thrive auf der ganzen welt community to share how they make their home - or even just a nook in it - a stress-free sanctuary.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreTry the 5S methodMy favorite way declutter my home and workplace is using the 5S method sort, store, shine, standard and sustain. I actually combine it with the Marie Kondo method. Not only is it a simple, visual method that you can share with family, its a culture that keeps your life focused and stress-free.- Luciana Paulise, agile quality coach, Beaumont, TXStrip a room to its simplest formI like stripping down a room to its simplest form a comfortable piece of furniture, lighting that suits what youll be doing, a single stem of something beautiful - like a casablanca lily or a trailing ivy plant - and as little personalized clutter as possible to keep the energy moving freely. I use the same elements of beauty in every room I design. Color magic is first, as each color has its own influence orange is for courage, blue is for healing, green is for prosperity, and yellow is for communication. Diffusers with essential oils are a must lavender or frankincense to calm, lime or grapefruit to inspire, bergamot or lemon to cleanse. - Jo-Anna Silver-Sparta, Communications Connector, Berlin/Cannes/New YorkPut things in their placeIm fortunate that my boyfriend and I both dislike clutter, so we make an effort to keep our space neat and tidy. The key for us has been this one simple rule a place for everything and everything in its place. We do not allow things to pile up on counters or tables. When we new items enter our home, we decide where to put them immediately, and if theres no logical area to do so, we purge and make space. Another simple trick I vacuum our living room and bedroom every Friday. It gives the space a clean, fresh feeling leading into the weekend.- Rebecca, freelance writer/editor, Westlake, OHUse soft pink light bulbs for a warm glowOne of my tricks for creating a soothing environment at home is using soft pink light bulbs. It emits a softer, warmer glow, which we all need in the dark days of winter- Cindy J., executive search and HR consultant, Boston, MAOnly keep what you like in viewMy home is also now my working studio space, and my working space must always be available. I only keep what I lik e in view. Fresh flowers are on my table and at least on one windowsill at all times.- Chanit Roston, painter, New York City, NYLight candles and add soft blankets for a lounge-like feelWhen I make my sitting room/lounge a stress-free sanctuary, I feel more relaxed at night, and more organised in the morning because I have the right mindset for my work day. I take a few minutes when I get home to do some simple things which help me relax, leave work behind, and become my at home self with my family or friends. Decide what your unique needs are. I like lighting scented candles around the house using beautiful, long matches, so that even the act of striking them is a part of the experience. Next, I tidy any items that have been dumped in my sanctuary (just into a to do pile elsewhere for the owners of said items to deal with). I plump the sofa cushions and get out a pile of soft blankets for whoever likes to curl up, and put music on low volume. Theres also a bunch of great novels to read if the fancy takes me, and luxurious hand cream within reach. These simple things create an environment where I can relax and we can come together organically.- Melanie Yates, digital agency office manager, Brighton, UKLet simplicity take center stageAbout 15 years ago, my husband and I remodeled a dilapidated Victorian house. Since Victorians are, by definition, full of details and are therefore somewhat visually cluttered, we chose to streamline our redecorating process as much as possible. We painted all the walls white, used only white shades for our light fixtures, and stuck to a palette of natural woods, black, grey, and pops of blue and navy. We limited patterns on rugs and upholstered furniture. This simplicity helps us feel calm, and appreciate the intricate molding and details of the house without feeling overwhelmed or burdened by them.- Francesca Moroney, writer, Edwardsville, ILTurn your bathroom into an at-home spaI treat my entire home like my sanctuary. I bel ieve that if your space is a mess, it reflects your thoughts being a mess. With that in mind, I keep my home tidy and fill it only with the things I love (including many candles and pictures of fun memories with friends and family). I prioritize my sleeping habits, so I invested in high-quality bedding. When Im well-rested, I function better in all aspects of my life. I turned my bathroom into an at-home spa experience, hanging fresh eucalyptus on the showerhead to bring out the scent with the hot water and steam. This is great for clearing your head and respiratory system. I also have a plethora of bath oils, ranging from lavender oil for relaxation to peppermint oil for energy. I retreat to my homemade spa frequently to indulge in some much-needed self-care.- Heather Reinhardt, self-love aficionado, Los Angeles, CAMake your bedroom a cocoonMy bedroom is the one room in my house that I always keep tidy so that it remains my sanctuary, and wont cause me stress I have never put a TV in my bedroom, although I sometimes watch something on my iPad (which is rare). My bedding is soft and comfortable, and feels like a cocoon. Lastly, I always have some good books on my nightstand - both fiction and non-fiction/business books - and I use a sage diffuser with a lavender scent to help me relax. When its time to go to bed or when I want to wind down, I know that I have a relaxing, stress-free space to rest, dream and sleep well.- Kathryn Djordjevic, pharmacist, Toronto, CanadaBring a room to life with scent and flowersHeres a simple, easy tip I use lemongrass oil in an aromatherapy lamp to uplift the whole atmosphere of the space. Lemongrass helps to de-stress, relax, keep mosquitoes away, and is good for the respiratory system. I also like to keep fresh flowers in the room so that life becomes a focus and we require less of inanimate decorative items.- Dr. Rizvana Patel, Ayurvedic practitioner, Pune, IndiaCreate a Zen ZoneIve created a Zen Zone in a spare bedroom with a small couch which serves as a guest bed when the need arises. It gives me a space to curl up and read a book (or take a nap) when I need to relax and recharge. Ive used muted pastels and earth tones for dcor. According to Feng Shui principles, this room is located in my relationship corner, so I chose to feature pink as my accent color. In addition to candles and incense to ignite my senses, Ive incorporated a Himalayan salt lamp to help keep the energy free and clear.- Mina Fies, Zen remodeler, Reston, VAThis article originally appeared on Thrive Global.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people