Advice

How to create a relaxing room

We could all do with a little calm in our life every now and then, couldn’t we? When we’ve had a full-on day, and there’s been so much to do and think about it, it’s nice to be able to come home, shut the door behind you and, breathe... Image: @_ditsyfloralhome

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That’s why it’s so important your entire home, or a room in your home, is nice and relaxing. Where you know the moment you step into it or sit down, you start to unwind and feel more zen.


Here, I share some really easy ways for creating a calming room you can call your sanctuary and relax and recharge in, whenever you feel the need to.


How can I make my home calm and peaceful?


Having a calm colour palette is one of the cornerstones of creating calming spaces.


Serene colours tend to be lighter and more muted and definitely less shouty and in-your-face.


However, that doesn’t mean your relaxing room has to be colourless, it’s still possible to embrace colour, just in a softer, more subtle way.


10 relaxing colours for you to consider:


  1. Light blue 
  2. Blush
  3. Baby pink
  4. Soft green
  5. Lilac 
  6. Off white
  7. Mauve
  8. Teal
  9. Soft grey
  10. White 

How do I make a room a calming space?


Colours aside, there are plenty of other tricks you can use to make a room, maybe your living room or spare room, feel more relaxing. They include:


1. Decluttering


A cluttered space = a cluttered mind.


According to research published in the US in 2009, clutter can make us feel stressed, anxious and depressed.


There are plenty of articles and wider studies out there that echo similar conclusions due to the fact our brains naturally like order, with clutter acting as a visual distraction that can lead to cognitive overload. 


2. Lighting


How you light your room is integral to influencing the overall ambience. A dark room with very little natural sunlight will do very little to make you feel at ease. But a room with plenty of natural sunlight or soft glow lighting will help you unwind.


Table lamps and wall lights are great for illuminating your room without making it too bright. 


3. Texture


Introducing texture not only adds to that feeling of homeliness, but makes rooms instantly feel more snug.


Quick and easy ways to add more texture to a room include draping soft throws over your furniture, adding some cuddly cushions and having a soft and inviting rug or thick pile carpet with a supportive underlay underfoot.


For more about creating texture read our how to guide on adding texture to a room.


4. Aroma


Burning scented candles and using diffusers to waft relaxing smells into the air is an incredibly popular way of instantly transforming spaces.


Several scents, including lavender, bergamot, chamomile, jasmine and rose, are all widely recognised for having relaxing properties. The best thing is, there are plenty of options to choose from, so you’re more likely to find something you really love the smell of.


5. Plants


The power of Mother Nature and its ability to soothe and heal us is well known, so it’s not surprising that placing indoor plants around your home or in one room in particular can have a relaxing effect.


Research has found that with people spending 85% of their lives indoors, plants can make spaces feel more comfortable, soothed and natural. Meanwhile, certain plants, such as snake, spider and aloe vera plants, even have natural air purifying qualities.


6. Furniture


Furniture gives a room purpose and it enables you to use it to its full potential. The furniture you choose depends on the room you’re working with i.e. sofas for your living room or a bed for your bedroom.


Generally speaking, the comfier your furniture pieces, e.g. nice deep seats, high backs or velvet material, the more relaxed you are going to feel. 

Real life relaxing homes inspiration...

Take a look through our customers homes for some inspiration to create your very own relaxing space.

Victoria Foster

Written by:

Stylist & Visual Merchandiser

at ScS

10th February 2023

Victoria is a stylist and merchandiser based at our in-house photo studio. Having been part of the ScS family since 2012, Victoria styles stunning home sets with the latest trends to showcase newly launched ScS products. With over 25 years of experience in styling and merchandising, she loves to keep an eye on the latest trends in the interior landscape. Victoria's favourite interior scheme is the Boho trend and loves to layer a mixture of different textures in her home. Her styling top tip is to always create a focal point in a room. Whether it’s a feature wall, a piece of artwork, or a bright patterned rug, having a focal point can help to drive the decisions on the rest of the rooms layout.