Creating Your Peaceful Home: Cultivating Calm and Tranquility

Ever caught yourself in the kitchen, admiring your shaker cabinets or perfectly weathered floors — only to catch yourself frowning because you don’t feel at ease? Maybe you can’t quite put your finger on it, but something just feels off, and you’re anything but relaxed. #same

Even in a beautiful home, peace isn’t a given. That feeling of ahhhh you’re craving won’t magically manifest with a perfectly curated centerpiece or a fresh coat of paint. Rather, a peaceful home is something you create on purpose. With intentional design choices, you can create a soft place to land at the end of a long day and connect with the people you love. 

At Elegant Simplicity, we believe that with the right design choices, you can create a home that looks and feels good, offering an escape from the chaos of jobs, schoolwork, chores + other responsibilities. 

It’s more achievable than you might think, friend. 

So grab a cup of tea and prepare to incorporate design strategies that support you + your family’s well-being. From the moment you put your feet on the floor in the morning to the second you tuck them under a soft blanket in the evening, the goal is to breathe easier throughout your day and nurture your body, mind + spirit.

What Defines a Peaceful Home?

It only makes sense to create a peaceful home, given the amount of time we spend indoors. Most of us spend over 85% of our time inside, making it more important than ever to pay attention to the built environments where we live, laugh, and love (put that on a sign *wink*!). 

But what goes into designing a peaceful home, one that doesn’t just look beautiful but also makes you want to chill out as much as your dog does *wink*? It’s not about aesthetics alone. A peaceful home is like a symphony for the senses — from the colors on the walls to the organization strategies to the throw pillows + blankets on your furniture, everything has a role in this little production you call daily living *wink* — either adding stress or actively reducing it. Hint: We want the latter *wink*. 

Simply put, a peaceful home is one where your space works with you. Smart layouts, intentional storage, and daily systems that give back to you instead of zapping your energy. 

Think of it this way: It’s like our phones get more recharging than we do. Totally unfair. Why aren’t we giving ourselves opportunities to charge our own batteries at home? 

Honing In on Your Personal Peace Triggers

Knowing both your peace triggers and your peace annihilators will help you start designing a home that feels like a hug, not a nag. So, close your eyes. Well, read this first :) and then close your eyes and jot down the answers to these questions:

• What kind of atmosphere calms your nervous system? You know it instantly. Your shoulders relax, your jaw softens, and your heart rate slows.

• What do you associate with comfort and grounding? Soft throws and a stack of velvet pillows? A tray with candles? An aromatherapy diffuser? A romance novel? All of the above?!

• Which sensory details soothe you? Warm lighting, soft blankets, lavender linen spray?

• Are there design elements or clutter hotspots that routinely stress you out?

Keep your answers handy as we get into the clever design strategies for maximum peace. #SerenityNow, amiright?

Key Design Strategies for a Peaceful Home

You and your partner are the CEOs of your home. #likeaboss, every decision you make impacts how you feel in your home, either adding peace or squashing it. So put on your best power suit (or workout leggings) and try these design strategies to make peace a priority.

Use Calming Colors

Check out our guide on the emotional impact of color, and you’ll see that color has a major impact on stress levels. Cool tones like sage green, pale blue, and warm neutrals can instantly lower stress levels and help you feel grounded. Bold pops of colors used sparingly in art, pillows, or accent walls can add personality while keeping the vibes chill. Neutral walls + furniture make it easy to swap colors in and out for different seasons + moods.

Embrace Natural Light

The science is in — research shows that letting sunlight beam through your windows can instantly cheer up your home and may even increase serotonin levels, combatting depression. Try sheer curtains and strategically placed mirrors that reflect sunlight; add warm lightbulbs + dimmers to mimic sunshine in the evenings and on rainy days.

Declutter With Intention

Sneakers and handbags and laundry, oh my! Clutter and cortisol go hand in hand, often triggering a kind of cognitive overload as our brains try to figure out what to do with the piles of mail + shoes, displaced backpacks, random cords, or messy drawers. 

But don’t stress about the mess, either. You don’t need to declutter all at once, boo. We like the 15-minute rule: Set a timer for 15 minutes, pick a surface to tackle, and only leave behind what’s meant to live in that spot. Everything else? We don’t know her! And for those with overflowing email inboxes and overcrowded digital desktops, our Digital Decluttering Kit has your back.

Bring Nature Indoors

Granted, we’re a bit spoiled with nature here in the Pacific Northwest, but everyone can invite elements of the outdoors into their homes. No, your plants won’t save you from indoor air pollution (sorry to break the news, bestie), but they will contribute to the happy factor, boosting mood + well-being, reports Greater Boston Behavioral Health. Incorporating biophilic elements like wood, stone, rattan + greenery invites a grounded energy — fulfilling what one Harvard professor describes as an innate need to connect with nature. 

Create Relaxation Zones

A reading corner with a stack of books. A meditation spot with a comfy cushion, blankets +  candles. A coffee bar with your favorite mugs and a plush armchair. If you can picture yourself relaxing there without a care in the world, it belongs in your home as a designated relaxation zone. Here, phones, to-do lists + worries don’t exist and tiny habits like reading + relaxing add up to reduced stress over time.

Get Musical

Don’t overlook the power of music when creating a peaceful home, friend. It’s basically medicine for your brain. From upbeat tunes that boost your mood to slower rhythms (around 60 beats per minute) that calm your mind, the right music has powerful effects on stress.

Room-by-Room Peace Enhancements

As with decluttering, you don’t need to transform your home all at once. Go one room at a time to start designing the peaceful home you desire.

Living Room

Add comfy seating that invites after-dinner conversation. Clear away clutter from surfaces. Toss in some soft throws + pillows, and dress up corners with faux plants or baskets that keep toys and remotes tucked away.

Bedroom

We’re thinking high-quality linens you can’t wait to dive into. Fairy lights or other ambient lighting. Tidy closets. Soothing scents that invite calm. Hello, #sleepsanctuary!

Bathroom

Go full spa, babe. Fluffy towels, buttery robes, dimmers, diffusers, candles, a tray with bath salts + a good book. #pureheaven

Home Office

Closed storage = your new BFF. Clear paper clutter, add artwork + plants, keep your favorite mug on display, and create a place for productive + focused work.

Outdoor Spaces

Market lights, potted plants, water features, lounge seating, a fire pit + an outdoor rug add instant calm to outdoor areas.

Strategies for Connecting With People in Your Peaceful Home

A big part of a peaceful home is the relationships inside it. Being intentional with design strategies also means creating opportunities for meaningful connection and mindful communication. Here’s how: 

• Create gathering spaces: Add a kitchen island with barstools for mealtime chats, plus a mix of open-plan layouts + cozy nooks that encourage conversation + togetherness.

• Design for shared moments: Incorporate board game zones, craft corners, shared reading spots, and a family dinner table with room for guests.

• Minimize distractions: Go tech-free at dinnertime, bedtime + family time, powering down phones and stashing them in baskets.

• Anchor with design: Use area rugs and furniture arrangements to define both face-to-face conversation spots and quiet areas to recharge, plus accessories like pillows and blankets to encourage relaxation.

Just Chill

Your peaceful home won’t design itself — it’s something you lovingly, intentionally create. Through purposeful choices, personalized spaces, and a little sensory fairy dust, you can build a home that supports tranquility + strengthens your family bonds.

That’s our riff for today, boo. Thanks for tuning in! :)

And remember, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.

P.S. If you loved this article, then gotta check out 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.

P.P.S. What’s your go-to peace ritual or chill-out spot at home? We’re all ears! Drop us a message or tag us on Instagram @elegantsi *wink*!