6 Things that Bring Serenity to Any Room (Beyond Candles)
Zen gardens, natural light and gauzy fabrics aren't the only ways to create a home where you can truly unwind.
By Candace Braun Davison
A Noise-Canceling…Rug
You probably never even noticed a spa's greatest trick for creating a calming environment: "Soft fabrics, like mohair, help keep sounds from echoing," says Stacy Shoemaker, editor-in-chief of Hospitality Design, which recognizes the world's top hotels with its annual design awards. White sheepskin throws, rugs and covered pillows are especially popular right now: They've got all the plushness of a high-end fabric, but--starting at about $30 a piece--they won't kill your budget.
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An Odd Couple That Works Together
In a room with a mishmash of furniture bought, given and handed down, one of the easiest ways to keep things from looking jumbled is to figure out which pieces of furniture could work together--like a mirror and a chest that form a makeshift vanity--and paint them the same color, designer and The Nesting Place author Myquillyn Smith says.
A Signature Scent
Le Méridien commissioned a custom scent for its rooms, which smells a lot like leather-bound books. It's familiar enough to comfort guests, and distinctive enough that they'll associate it only with the hotel. Similarly, having a nontraditional scent that reminds you of your home--and only your home--can help you leave work, traffic jams and that rude woman at the grocery store behind as soon as you walk through the door.
A Bright Spot
Oh, to have gigantic windows and skylights. That may not be the reality for most of us, but with a few extra lamps--including an overhead light set to a dimmer switch--and boosting the lights so they're brightest at mid-day, when the sun is at its brightest, could help you feel better (and create a home that looks like this). An October 2013 study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing found that hospital patients who were exposed to low levels of light 24 hours a day were more fatigued and reported higher pain levels than those who stayed in rooms with lights that adjusted. With just 40 people surveyed, there's no guarantee that brighter days and darker evenings will improve your health, but it may be worth testing out for yourself.
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A Glimmer of Warmth
While soft blues continue to be the most popular "peaceful" color, Zillow Digs's Board of Designers survey found that a new shade has tied white for the number two spot: Gray. Unlike other calming colors, which tend to be cool tones, most people prefer light grays that have hints of red in them. Cool grays feel sterile, like an industrial warehouse, explains Jackie Jordan, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. She recommends Mindful Gray or Anew Gray, and says she's seeing them paired with pale aquas as an alternative to the classic blue and white.
Find Your Center
Start with the biggest piece of furniture in the room--that's where your gaze will naturally rest. Flank it with two similar items, like a pair of side tables, wall art or lamps--but not pairs of all three, or you risk veering from symmetry to "sameness." Because you're going for serenity, not boredom.
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