Simple Tips for Making Your Move

This post is sponsored by Old Time Pottery, a place where you can get all your home needs at an affordable price)

I believe that your home should be your happy place. It should be a place that gives you a sense of peace, like being in your very own paradise every time you walk in the door. If you want to make your home your sanctuary, you don’t have to make big changes either. It’s the little tweaks and details that make the most difference.

Whether you’re moving into your first apartment, heading back to campus, or just want to add some updates, Old Time Pottery has just about every style you can think of at a low price.

Your Environment Affects Your Health

Your environment is so much more than how it looks. We spend a lot of time at home between making dinner in the kitchen, relaxing in the living room getting lost in a good movie, laying down before bed, and even using the bathroom.

Although you want it to be aesthetically appealing to you, it goes a lot deeper than just cute home decor.

Some Ways Your Environment Affects You

• Socially – an inviting home not only makes you feel more comfortable having guests over, but makes your company feel more inclined to stay longer. Human connection is incredibly important for mental health.
• Your actions – Having a home that makes you feel incredible can actually motivate you. Messy rooms or a home vibe that doesn’t match your personality can be distracting and actually decrease motivation.
• Your mood – Adequate lighting, lighting, scents, clutter, and color schemes all can have an effect on your mood. Feeling comfortable in your space can help with anxiety, depression, and getting adequate sleep.

5 Ways to Make Your Home Your Sanctuary

1. Think of Your Happy Place

When you close your eyes and daydream about your happy place, what do you see? Sipping coffee in the mountains? Relaxing on a porch watching waves crash? Camping outdoors surrounded by nature?

Tap into your 5 senses:

• What sights give you peace? What colors surround you in your happy place? Are there plants? Lots of light? Think of all the things you love to see that make you happy. This can mean photos of loved ones or an acai bowl. There are no wrong answers.
• What scents make you happy? Do you smell a warm campfire or crisp salty air when you think of your happy place? What other scene make you happy? Ex. Freshly baked cookies?
• What do you want to feel? Think about the feelings that make you feel the most comfortable. This could be your pets, a soft blanket, or a plush robe.
• Are there any sounds that relax you? This could be the sound of water, your favorite music, or the crackling of a fire.
• Which tastes bring you to paradise? A freshly blended smoothie, a hot cup of coffee, or a glass of wine?

Knowing all of these things can help you to fully understand what makes you fully happy so that you can make your home a sanctuary.

2. Create a Theme

Now, you have a pretty good idea of what your happy vibe is. For me, it’s the ocean. Blue colors, sounds of water, and light, fresh scents bring me peace. I also enjoy a lot of light and greenery.

Here are some ways I brought this into my home:

• Ocean scented candles
• Flameless candles
• A mounted waterfall
• Lots of blues, whites, tans, and grays in my home decor
• Beach-inspired decor
• Signs that verbalize my vibe

My whole goal when creating my living area was to take the beach indoors in a non-tacky way.

3. Don’t Forget the Details

One thing I’ve talked about a lot is how simple an inexpensive it is to add a taste of luxury to your space. Cara Alwill Leyba calls this “little luxuries“, and I think that’s the best way to explain it.

Here are some “little luxuries” that make me feel like I’m at a 5-star hotel:

• Everything I need to take a relaxing bath – bubble bath, Epsom salt, small candles to line my bathtub, flameless candles to add a soft light to my dark bathroom, and plush towels to wrap up in once I’m done
• Creating a cozy environment for sleep – a foam topper for my bed, lots of pillows + throw pillows, and a soft throw
• Feeling like a million bucks when I wake up – cute mugs (all under $3 at Old Time Pottery), a salt rock lamp, and insense

4. Adding Little Touches to Your Space

Again, it doesn’t take a whole makeover to feel like you’re in a completely different home.

Here are some simple things you can grab to play up what you already have (Everything listed below I found at Old Time Pottery):

• New curtains
• A comfy throw
• Signs + wall decor
• Fake plants
• Candles or incense
• A chic table mat
• Salt rock lamp
• Throw pillows
• Flameless candles + candle holders

5. De-Clutter

What you don’t see in my photos is my clutter – kind of the point. Old Time Pottery has a lot of storage options, decorative baskets, and furniture to help you create a “home” for anything that creates clutter.

Some ways to keep your space clutter-free:

• Use decorative baskets for things like blankets, extra books, etc
• Storage bins that can slide underneath your bed
• Commit to making your bed every morning (I swear, it makes a difference)
• Set aside 10 minutes a day to declutter your space. You’d be surprised at what you can do in 10 minutes.
• Get rid of anything you have no use for that doesn’t add to your aesthetic

Final Thoughts

I’m not an interior designer or an expert at home decor. Simply put, I just wanted to make my home my sanctuary. I think home design is unique to every person, so your home doesn’t need to look like it belongs in a magazine. It should be a place that makes you feel calm, happy, and motivated to tackle the day!

Old Time Pottery has so many incredible pieces, and it’s a perfect place to shop if you aren’t working with a huge budget.