3 Tips for a Home That Helps You Recharge

Your home is a place of refuge to escape life's daily hustle and bustle, recharge, and invest in the well-being of you and your family. It's important to make sure that your living spaces are geared toward enhancing your overall health and wellness. Consider these three tips for doing just that.

Use a reading nook for a daytime nap, instead of your bed.

If you're having a low-energy day, or you need to recharge in the middle of a particularly busy day, a power nap can be all you need. If you work from home you might decide to lay across the bed for a nap. But if you're concerned that you might keep hitting the snooze button, designate another area in your home that's conducive for a catnap. Consider napping in a window seat where you can enjoy a quick sun-drenched siesta. Make sure it’s outfitted with a cushion for extra comfort, and keep a throw nearby in case you catch a chill.

Don't let your nap exceed 15 minutes, though, say sleep experts, otherwise you may awake more tired than when you began.

Paint with suitable colors.

Color in a room can directly affect your mood. Your bedroom is a space to relax, rest, and get restorative sleep. So be sure to set the mood by painting and decorating using natural or soft palettes, as well as soft lighting. You can also encourage sleep and relaxation with comfy throws and rugs.

When it comes to your home office, where you want to stay sharp and alert, consider using lively colors. But if strong pigments aren’t your thing, think about using black and white for a contrast that invigorates.

Make your bed, and lie in it.

Napping will be of little use if you’re not getting enough rest at night. To help ensure that you create an environment for a quality night's sleep make sure you have the basics, like a comfortable mattress and pillow. If your mattress creaks, has lumps, or a depression in the place where you sleep—or if you wake up feeling stiff, it might be time for a new one, say experts at the Center for Disease Control.

For extra comfort try increasing the thread count of your sheets, or if you tend to overheat at night think about outfitting your bed with sheets that have a cooling effect.

To prep for a restful night's sleep, The National Sleep Foundation suggests that you turn off your TV, computer, and phone screens 30 minutes to two hours before bed.