My experience when moving to a new city is that it takes about a year to get familiar with the community. When we first moved to New Orleans, we naturally chose our apartment based on what others recommended, what was safe and provided a convenient commute to work for my husband, Andy. While we loved our first apartment, at the end of our lease we decided to relocate to a quieter neighborhood with more space. The place we found was perfect: big enclosed backyard (hello garden!), a great kitchen (lots of counter space + dishwasher + large oven + microwave), close proximity to restaurants and parks, a traditional layout compared to a shotgun (easier traffic flow for entertaining), and storage closets (this is what sold us!!). The apartment had lots of modern updates but also needed some TLC. Our landlord was graciously open to me putting a fresh coat paint on the walls when we moved in. There were over 100 holes in the walls, a shade of mauve in the master bedroom and a neutral tan throughout the rest of the place. The colors made the apartment feel dark and smaller than it really was. Taking matters into my own hands I decided to use this apartment as my canvas to create a home that we would like spending time in.
Finding Inspiration
When I was abroad in Copenhagen we made a visit to the Centre for Health and Cancer to learn about the design of the building and how it was purposefully decorated to support wellbeing. The design was inviting and created awareness of place and comfort. Entering the building I found myself in a comfy lounge that opened into a courtyard for contemplation, spaces for exercise, a common kitchen where residents could learn to cook healthy food, and nooks for conversation and private reflection. It felt like traditional Scandinavian design met a midwestern farmhouse. Even though many of the residents were very sick, there was still joy, community and an overwhelming sense of peace. The concept of hygge was at the forefront and something I knew I was going to prioritize for our new apartment. After all these years, the design in this space is one that has stuck with me and is still one I find myself frequently referring back to for inspiration.
Creating a Scandinavian Farmhouse in our 2 bedroom New Orleans rental isn’t going to happen. But there are some easy things I incorporated into the space that helped make it feel more welcoming, relaxing and retreat-like. The goal? Create a home that protects us from stress and liberates us to be more fully human, keeping us healthy in the long term. Sounds like a big task but here is where I started. These are very simple things that had a big impact on how we feel in our immediate environment. Let me know what you think, you probably already have many of these incorporated into your home!
- Arrange living room furniture to promote conversation and connection. I know it is easy to focus the couches on the entertainment/TV center but wouldn’t it be cool if we were focused on connecting with each other first before reverting to a screen?
- Maximize natural lighting and outdoor views.
- Incorporate indoor plants (real and faux) and natural materials (such as wood and granite).
- Plant Ideas
- Real plants bring some great benefits! They help improve the air quality (by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen) and regulate humidity. They also provide a natural mood-boosting lift and according to some studies can even reduce stress levels, increase memory retention and concentration, and filter out VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and some pollutants.
- Ideas for bringing real plants into your house:
- Terrariums are a low-maintenance, space-efficient way to grow the plants you love indoors.
- Herbs in kitchen. I always have basil on our kitchen window sill. Using fresh herbs when we cooks makes things taste so much better!
- Succulents at desk. These are super low maintenance but add a nice touch to your work space.
- Fake plants.
- Don’t feel guilty going the fake plant route. Well made faux plants can look great without having to worry about lighting and watering.
- Include artwork depicting natural landscapes (especially in windowless spaces).
- Some of my favorites:
- https://shopihod.com/
- https://www.potterybarn.com/products/view-of-the-valley-wall-art/?catalogId=84&sku=6316413&cm_ven=PLA&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Mirrors%20%26%20Art%20%3E%20All%20Art&cm_ite=6316413&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjI2h-pDY6wIVjYbACh08AwynEAQYASABEgIYhfD_BwE&cm_sp=2824-inbs
- https://www.target.com/p/11-34-x-14-34-floral-arrangement-framed-wall-canvas-gold-navy-threshold-8482-designed-with-studio-mcgee/-/A-79581853
- https://www.target.com/p/11-34-x-14-34-landscape-framed-wall-canvas-threshold-8482-designed-with-studio-mcgee/-/A-79581849
- https://www.target.com/p/27-34-x-47-34-on-sunset-mesa-medium-wood-framed-wall-canvas-threshold-8482-designed-with-studio-mcgee/-/A-79581851
- https://www.target.com/p/36-34-x-24-34-whitewash-foggy-seaside-framed-wall-art-brown-threshold-8482-designed-with-studio-mcgee/-/A-79581850
- https://www.mcgeeandco.com/collections/all-artwork/products/lemons-oranges?sscid=91k4_6sm09
- https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/athena-tapestry?utm_campaign=QFGLnEolOWg&utm_campaign=QFGLnEolOWg&utm_content=1&utm_content=1&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_source=LS&utm_source=LS&utm_term=493746&utm_term=712620&cm_mmc=LS-_-affiliates-_-QFGLnEolOWg-_-1&ranMID=39789&ranEAID=QFGLnEolOWg&ranSiteID=QFGLnEolOWg-exqpFU.zKRAldbN3HxejAg&siteID=QFGLnEolOWg-exqpFU.zKRAldbN3HxejAg&color=031&type=STANDARD&size=One%20Size&quantity=1
- Some of my favorites:
- Prioritize comfort
- Incorporate personal pieces and momentos, choose colors that are relaxing for you and choose pieces of furniture that are not only functional but also comfortable. Andy is always good about bringing me back down to earth when it comes to choosing furniture for our home. Just because it looks good, doesn’t mean it is going to be comfortable. This may mean investing more money into pieces you buy or letting go of a particular look you want. If you are going to be constantly fretting about stains on a white couch, it is time to move on. Your home should not bring you stress, we are trying to create a relaxing space.
- A contemplation/prayer chair
- You know the chair you can sit in, sip a cup of tea, relax, reflect and find peace in? Ours are next to the windows in our living room, so there was ample natural light. We have the coziest blanket on them, a small table with books, and a candle. This was where we usually read, journal, pray or simply start our mornings together with coffee. It is definitely a happy place.
- Prioritize sleep. With a resident’s schedule of long call weeks and night shifts, sleep is a top priority for us! We recently got a new mattress that has made all the difference in the world. Simple things you can do to ensure you are on track for a good night sleep:
- Get a good mattress. This doesn’t mean it is expensive! We just bought this one from Costco on sale and love it. My recommendation for a good mattress? Go try it out. If you are buying new, find a company that allows you to return it after sleeping on it for a bit just in case you don’t like it.
- Sheets. Smooth, comfortable sheets can make the difference between a good night’s sleep and a night spent trying to get comfortable. I’m a fan of sheets that feel cooling but know what your personal preferences are.
- Start with a classic sheet set, including a fitted sheet, a flat sheet, and 2 standard pillowcases.
- Consider thread count: you won’t want to go below a 300 or 400 thread count. And while typically, the higher the thread count, the better the quality, that isn’t always true.
- Consider the fibers: Some more affordable options (even with high thread counts) use lower quality fibers, so you’ll want to look for longer fibers made of Egyption Cotton, Organic Cotton, Pima, or Bamboo for a softer feel.
- I’ve used these sheets for years. They are a great price point and are really soft and cooling.
- Layering. I’m a fan of having a few top layers for optimal comfort. It allows me to adjust to the temperature and I personally love the aesthetic of a layered bed. Know when you walk into Pottery Barn and see their beds all made up? In my dreams, that’s what I’m going for.
- Duvet cover
- Duvet
- Quilt
- Blanket
- Pillows. Choose the right ones depending on how you sleep and the type of mattress you have. While there are lots of options out there, don’t get too overwhelmed. Your body will tell you if you have a good pillow or not (i.e. sore neck?).
- Ergonomic chairs and desk
- Many of us are now working from home full time which means home offices. I ended up creating a home office when the pandemic hit after working at my kitchen table for too long. I ended up with excruciating neck and shoulder pain from the long hours in a horrible position. THis took me on a journey to create my own ergonomic workstation. Learn from my mistakes and invest in the necessities. This doesn’t have to be expensive. At a minimum I would say get the following:
- Keep your spaces clean and decluttered
- Clutter can cause anxiety, discomfort, and it should have no place in your home.
- Smells in home
- Diffuser with natural oils
- My absolute favorite wellness home tool is probably my essential oil diffuser. It helps me destress when I’m working and relax before bed. Here is a quick breakdown of what various scents can do for you and your home:
- + peppermint for a cold fresh breeze
- + sweet orange or tangerine for a sweet, spicy pick-me-up
- + rosemary or eucalyptus for a big energy boost
- + lemongrass for a fresh, earthy, invigorating smell
- + lavender for relaxation
- make sure you buy 100% pure essential oils, not fragranced oils
- Not into essential oils? Try filling your home with the smell of your favorite recipe (chocolate chip cookies, bread, lasagne)
- Diffuser with natural oils
- Limit blue light in home
- Especially before bed! reduced exposure to the electronics, like tablets, phones, TV, computers, electronic clocks etc. at least 2-3 hours before bed and preferably dim lights.
- I switch our lights over to natural softer lighting once it is dark outside. It also creates a more relaxing mood.
- Incorporate cozy blankets, natural fibers (placemats, baskets)
- Placing mirrors in strategic places is probably my number 1 tip for making a small room look bigger.
- Colors
- There are some color trends that are more or less generally accepted: neutrals and natural colors are said to be calming and peaceful. I’m a big fan of having light colored walls. I think neutral walls open a space up and allow you to focus on decorative elements of texture, contrast, fibers and pops of color in the details. Think of a spa how they are usually mixtures of white and natural.
- Add personal touches
- Family photos
- Momentos
- Fresh flowers
- Candles