In recent years, the high-pressure, fast paced nature of modern life has started to increase our stress levels and put a strain on our mental wellbeing and as a result, our overall quality of life.

The response, "I'm good, stressed, but good" is becoming the increasingly popular answer to the question, "How are you?". With levels of work-related stress on the rise we decided to make this guide to help you make your home a stress-free sanctuary.

Clean Open Wooden Floors.jpg — Declutter

Never underestimate the power of a good de-clutter. Have a look at your home and identify any items that no longer bring you joy. We tend to go about our days accumulating items without much thought and before we know it our homes are overflowing with stuff and we never seem to have space for anything. The things we surround ourselves with have a huge impact on our mood; take a look around the room you're in and see if you can spot at least three things that you no longer use or get any joy from. Got them? Great... now get rid of them. Sell them, donate them or give them to a friend or family member who you know will love them. Constantly refreshing your space in this way will help make it the perfect place to relax - especially if you're someone who finds mess and clutter stressful or distracting.

Calming Colours

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Have you ever noticed that you feel more drawn to certain colours than others? Perhaps you keep buying home accessories or clothing in certain colours or pattern combinations? Think about how these colours make you feel - happy, energised, calm - and begin to incorporate them into your home. As an example, colours that make you feel happy or invigorated could be introduced into your kitchen or hallway, ensuring you see them every day before you leave the house. If you're struggling to think of any, here are some of the most popular calming colours:

- Cool blue

- Dark grey-blue

- Neutral greens

- Soft, pale grey

- Warm, tan

To truly reap the calming benefits of these colours, try painting some of your bedroom walls with them. This way you will start and end your day in a calm, positive headspace. Take a look at some of our favourite calming bedrooms below for some inspiration.

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natural light

One of the best (and cheapest) ways to instantly improve your mood and de-stress is to spend time in natural light. Studies have shown that workers in offices with natural light slept for longer and scored higher on quality of life measures than those who spend their days in artificially lit workplaces. Another study found that people had higher levels of serotonin on sunnier days than on cloudy ones; that’s right...the sun actually makes you happier. If you know that you spend a large portion of your day in a space with no natural light then make time to indulge in natural light at every opportunity, even if it is sitting outside or going on a walk on your lunch break during the darker winter months. Throughout the whole year, try to ensure that you open all of your curtains in the morning to allow as much light in as possible; in the summer months, if the weather is nice when you get home from work, go on a walk or sit outside to read and catch up on your favourite TV show.

Plants & Greenery

Spending time in nature has been heralded as an instant mood booster for centuries. 19th century writers, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau documented at length their love of nature and the positive effects that come from connecting to and surrounding yourselves with it. Now, we aren't saying that to experience these benefits you have to go off and live alone in a log cabin like they did; instead, try introducing more house plants into your home, especially into the spaces you spend most of your time in. We have two guides on house plants (we are just a little obsessed) telling you which ones to buy and then the best ways to display them for your space.

Fill your home with your passions

This is perhaps the easiest and most fulfilling tip on this list: fill your home with things that you love. Maybe you have an accidental collection of vintage knick knacks you love tucked away in a drawer, or you bought a piece of art but haven't got around to hanging it yet; Get a display shelf for the collection and find a spot for the artwork and put it up. Remember, the things we surround ourselves with help dictate our mood, so in the process of getting rid of the things that no longer make you happy, remember to make space for the things that do. In our increasingly fast-paced, tense lives, make your home a place that brings you joy, rather than simply another source of stress.