Covid helped us understand the importance of how we feel in our homes. That childish need for on-tap comfort is enduring as we navigate the current cost of living crisis and spend more time indoors. Fortunately, though, it doesn’t cost a lot to transform your home into a sanctuary or somewhere you can recalibrate at the end of a long day. With some imagination, good research and careful planning, your home could provide all the therapy you need to recover from the stresses of modern life. And in the long term, it will save you time and money as well.

Imagination, good research, and careful planning

“You need a calm home to survive in this always-connected world, where you are bombarded by constant information — positive and negative," advises Happy Home Clinic.

We lead busy lives, and a calming home environment boosts our energy levels, whether your property is your first unit, a fixer-upper, or a luxury home. Firstly, you need some imagination, which hinges on self-realisation and creativity. You must understand your body's needs and your vision. Experts can help you with the research and planning stage. They understand how to create and reduce energy inside four walls and the many ways our surroundings affect our senses.

My haven is a quiet space, neutral in colour, heavily layered and textured, with my favourite scented candles and a weighted blanket.

The therapeutic benefits of a mindfully designed, relaxing home are affordable and underrated

There are many different ways to transform a home into a haven and what works for one person will be different for the next. However, we've done some research and come up with the following 11 essential elements that experts agree on:

1. Smart organisation – Living with clutter - defined as “a collection of things lying about in an untidy state” - rarely contributes to a calm mind. Find a storage solution for anything functional or that you don’t use daily. If you plan to stay in the property for a long time, built-in storage is worth the financial outlay because it utilises every centimetre of space.
2. A decorating style that calms you – The discipline of a minimalist scheme may seem like the obvious choice for a sense of calm, but if family photos or bolder colours energise you, then go for them. This is a personal decision.
3. A functional room layout – Your floor plan and how and where you place your furniture affect your well-being. Your layout should be practical and functional as well as stylish. What may seem like a minor irritation when you struggle to reach the coffee table from the sofa will eventually become a big irritation. For example, a supportive reading chair with good light, or a kitchen island that facilitates movement around the space, are choices that help alleviate stress.
4. Comfort over style – No one wants their living area to resemble a common room in a retirement village, which is why research is so important. Try not to order seating or mattresses from online stores. Instead, go to a showroom and sit or lie on them first. How your furniture looks will provide an initial level of pleasure, but the comfort it offers will guarantee its longevity.
5. Colours that inspire - Ignore colour trends. Neutrals and muted colours facilitate a sense of calm for many people which makes them a safer bet for owners planning to sell or rent. But the palette you choose is a personal choice. It’s about what makes your heart soar. If you do pick a neutral palette, layer your scheme with texture or subtle patterns to prevent it from looking sterile. Light floors, i.e. ceramic or stone, need some contrast, either on the walls or in your soft furnishings. Your colours should lift your mood.
6. Mindful decorating – "Green decisions" are a priority for many of us, and decorating with sustainable materials and natural elements like timber, cane, stone, greenery and even shell will provide more satisfaction than toxic or non-EF materials. Don't overspend either - you won't enjoy the space if you're worrying about how to pay it off.
7. A combination of lighting – Modern lighting offers a combination of natural, ambient and task. Unless you have dimmers, overhead lighting rarely provides a relaxing ambience, so opt for subdued, subtle lighting such as wall lights, table lamps and candles.
8. A dedicated quiet space - This could be a spare room or a nook. Turn off any unnecessary noise from electronics, and insulate it from other noise inside and out – unless it is the sound of nature, of course.
9. A liberal dose of soft furnishings – A thick rug or carpet, plump feather pillows, woollen blankets and furry rugs (preferably faux) will cultivate a relaxed vibe in your space.
10. Room fragrance – The subtle smell of candles, flowers and air diffusers will transport you to the ocean, mountains or bush. The salty smell of the ocean calms me most, but lavender, jasmine, cinnamon, mint and lemon have equally effective calming properties.
11. Efficient heating and cooling - Australia has a range of different climates and in some cities like Melbourne and Sydney, the temperature can fluctuate dramatically several times a day. Our moods are sensitive to our level of comfort, so if you are sensitive to extremes in temperature, make sure your home has a good climate control system and airflow.

“A well-designed environment filled with items you love can be calming and relieve stress, while cluttered rooms can have the opposite effect on your mood and mental health,” says Better Homes and Gardens.

Our main goal is to reduce your stress

Everyone knows that buying property can be stressful, and managing the toll it takes on your mental health is important. That's why, as Australia's leading off-market property service, we offer a range of services that facilitate the home-buying process.

As specialists in real estate and off-market property, we understand the pain points common to many buyers and the benefits of a buying strategy. It's why we developed our one-stop real estate shopping service.

Below are some of the popular services we include in that service. These make the home-buying process quicker, easier and smoother for our members, leaving them free to focus on their plans for their new property:

Buyer Assist and its stage-by-stage services that are customised to your particular requirements,

Lending Loop, which helps you secure the best deal from Australia’s biggest banks and specialist lenders,

Conveyancing Loop, the backbone of our services, which offers a streamlined, secure digital service and a people-first approach,

And finally, Moving Loop, where we compare all the energy providers for you.

Are you ready to find your off-market haven?

If so, sign up today for free access to our impressive hub of off-market and pre-market properties. Or let us hold your hand through the buying process with Buyer Assist.

Get in the loop!