Decorating Tips for a Happier Home

If you spend a lot of time at home, whether working or taking care of the household, it can sometimes feel like you're trapped. Making a few inexpensive changes can make all the difference in how you feel about a space that belongs to you. Here are a few decorating ideas that will help make your house a happier place to live.


Blow-Up and Frame Favorite Snapshots
Personalise your home through photography. Use family photos in non-traditional ways to enhance a room's decor. Pictures that mean something to you will add personality and depth to the space. Plus, it's a great budget saver that will make you happy.

Ignite Your Senses
Candles are a great way to inexpensively and easily set a tone for a room. Scents like jasmine and sage are calming and soothing because they have warm undertones. Citrus scents are known to be invigorating and give a fresh, summery feel to a room. Find creative ways to incorporate your fragrance into your decor. Place candles in a group atop a decorative dish or fill a beautiful glass bowl with colorful potpourri. The flickering light brings movement to the room and gives off a comforting glow too.

Escape Through Nature
For an additional soothing touch, surround yourself with nature. Plants make homes a happier place, as they are a good way to induce relaxation. Despite size, their presence in a room is invigorating. Every room should have something earth-themed to merge nature with the indoors. Try adding a few small flowering plants, but not too many. Potted Phalaenopsis orchids with their elegant white flowers will make you smile.

Hang Art
Surround yourself with art, so when you glance up from the computer, or a tedious chore, there's always an image that provides joy.

Display a Collection
What makes a house a home is having your favourite things on display. Showcase any collection you love. Personal touches like this make you feel more at home.

Make Use of Family Heirlooms
One of the best ways to make your home a happier place is to incorporate things that remind you of loved ones such as family heirlooms. Objects that are most special to you tend to be pieces that you've inherited from family.

Create a Cozy Nook
Creating a small cozy space to curl up in is ultimate happiness. Use existing furniture to create a cozy nook on a dime. Place your favorite chair near a window with a good view and add a small side table with a decorative lamp. Top it all off with a plush throw and a few soft pillows, and you’ll have a comfy place to sip your morning coffee, read your favorite book or even enjoy the evening sunset.

Soothe with Colour 
Colour is a huge factor in setting the mood and tone for a space. Greens and blues have the most calming effect, but the soft tones of lilac, coral and even shades of white can also set the stage for a happy environment. While trends may come and go, a soothing color scheme will stand the tests of time.

De-clutter
In a happy environment, the less clutter, the better. This means no stacks of paper or anything that distracts you with work, bills, your schedule or pressing deadlines. Use decorative bins, boxes and racks to keep your things tidy and out of sight. For some extra glam, look for storage items with luxurious finishes, such as jeweled, mirrored, beaded and glossed.