How to feel like you're on vacation at home

Want to know how to feel like you're on vacation at home all year round? Colors, materials, scents, decor, and daily activities all influence our moods and the energy in our homes. Considering these key elements can help harmonize your emotions and reduce stress, making your home a rejuvenating haven.

HOZHO, creator of energetic fragrances for the home and body, explains in this article how to improve your well-being at home .

#1 Create a relaxing atmosphere at home

Chromotherapy, feng shui, domotherapy , Vastu Shastra, wabi-sabi and the Danish concept of Hygge are disciplines that aim to achieve serenity by harmonizing the energies of spaces. Although these theories have emerged in various continents and cultures, each of them shares a few essential principles:

simplicity , we avoid clutter to keep only the objects that bring happiness and a feeling of peace;
natural elements (plants, wood, linen, cotton, wool, stone) are raw, unprocessed and organic materials which strengthen the connection with nature and its natural cycles, bring comfort and stability;
soft light , favor natural light and candles, especially in spaces dedicated to rest.

Homeotherapy adopts a holistic energy approach inspired in particular by feng shui. This theory, originating in China, views the world and spaces as a place of energetic movement, the circulation of chi, or vital energy. This energy must be able to circulate freely within the space while maintaining a proper balance between yin (for calm) and yang (for energy). Attention must therefore be paid to colors, materials, and lighting, as well as the arrangement of furniture and objects.

In India, we find a theory similar to feng shui, Vastu Shastra , which is also based on the harmonization of the five elements (earth, water, fire, air, space) to attract positive energies. The layout of rooms, the arrangement of furniture and objects are essential to ensure good energy circulation . As with the human body, the house has its chakras that must be aligned to create a feeling of serenity.

These disciplines are therefore ideal for creating a cozy atmosphere:

Choose soft lighting for your home , favoring bulbs with a warm color temperature (between 2700k and 3000k). These lights tend toward yellow or amber hues that recall natural sunlight and soothe the mind. You can also use dimmed or adjustable lighting to modulate the light according to the desired ambiance.

Also opt for lampshades made of natural materials like linen, wickerwork, or paper, which diffuse a softer, more even light. You can also play with indirect light sources, like table lamps or wall sconces, to soften the atmosphere.

Finally, there are also some tips for improving natural light in your home , by favoring bright colors (walls, furniture, curtains) and sparingly adding a few discreet mirrors or reflective surfaces.
Create a wellness space at home to give yourself daily breaks. This could be a relaxing corner on your sofa with a blanket, a place to meditate or practice yoga, a comfortable armchair for crafts, or a spa bathroom. You can also transform your balcony into a relaxation area with a hammock or hanging chair, a coffee table, and plants.
Discover the benefits of relaxing indoor plants like lavender, aloe vera, Boston fern, and jasmine. Some plants release a soothing natural scent that promotes calm and concentration. Others, like pothos, chlorophytum, and spathiphyllum, absorb pollutants and purify the air. Bamboo, peace lily, sansevieria, crassula ovata, orchid, and tulsi are also recommended feng shui plants to restore harmony and attract prosperity.
Create a relaxing playlist to listen to daily. Classical music, especially music by Claude Debussy, Beethoven, Erik Satie, Chopin, and Mozart, has beneficial effects on the brain and heart rate. You'll also find other relaxing music to unwind at home , such as Brian Eno, Deuter, or Dan Gibson, which offers soft, enveloping sounds. Some world music, such as traditional Indian sitar music, is soothing and promotes a state of deep relaxation. There are also spiritual chants with soft tones used for meditation.
Choose natural materials for a soothing and warm holiday interior , inspired by nature. Choose untreated natural wood in light-colored species such as oak, pine or bamboo for your furniture or floors. Driftwood is also an excellent way to recreate a seaside atmosphere at home . Rattan and wicker are woven materials, light and resistant, which delicately evoke summer holidays and the beach. They are perfect for furniture and decorative objects such as baskets and hangings. Certain textiles bring a holiday decor to your interior , this is the case for natural fabrics such as cotton or linen to use for your curtains, cushions, tablecloths or blankets. These breathable materials add a touch of softness to your home.

You'll find these tips for transforming your home in the most successful decorating ideas. Consider looking at hygge, ethnic, or feng shui style decor on Pinterest or in interior design magazines.

#2 Perfume your home with relaxing scents

Aromatherapy and olfactotherapy also play an important role in the perception of spaces, emotions, and inner energies. Fragrances and essential oils help create a relaxing atmosphere by stimulating the pleasure zones of your brain and releasing key happiness hormones, such as oxytocin and endorphin. Certain aromas specifically promote calm, concentration, and serenity. These include red rose, which is anti-stress, lavender, bergamot, and patchouli .

For thousands of years, there have been many herbal guides explaining how to use aromatherapy at home to feel calm in your daily life. Some closely combine the concept of energetic aromatherapy, a discipline inspired by energetic phytotherapy, such as Bach flowers, but also energy cleansing practices. Palo Santo and white sage, for example, are used to purify the home . Myrrh , cedar, and patchouli have protective energetic properties. Others, like sandalwood or oak, are essential for harmonizing your home .

At HOZHO, we create energetic candles, diffusers and sprays with subtle fragrances whose synergies are based on ancient energetic knowledge. Designed specifically to feel good at home , promote rest, introspection and the elevation of the spirit, our timeless creations create a zen atmosphere for moments of relaxation . Non-polluting and not dangerous for health, they are produced from natural* eco-responsible ingredients and come from a high-end manufacturer.

Want to know which scents to choose to recreate a holiday atmosphere in your home? Find out which HOZHO treatment is best suited to your needs with our personalized questionnaire Our collections, in addition to their delicate fragrances, release powerful energetic principles intended to transform your home into a regenerating space.

#3 Transform your bedroom into a haven of peace

To feel like you're on vacation at home, you also need to know how to create a relaxing bedroom . According to feng shui theories, the position of the bed is particularly essential. It should not be in line with the door or under a window. The space around it should be clear to facilitate the circulation of energy. You should also avoid electronic devices, phones, televisions, tablets or computers, as well as bright lights that excite the brain.

Also, avoid placing mirrors facing the bed or any objects that might remind you of your administrative or professional obligations. The bedroom should be a space dedicated to rest and relaxation; the colors, materials, and lighting should be soft and natural. You should also air your space daily and perfume it before going to bed. Some incense for purifying the home can calm energies, but they are often too strong to be used in a bedroom. Instead, opt for diffusers, sprays, or meditation candles with more delicate notes.

#4 Create a cozy reading corner

Books have an undeniable power over the mind, and the most successful Zen decors always feature a reading corner. Tsunsoku is a Japanese principle that specifically describes a form of pleasure linked to the mere presence of books in one's personal environment. The potential for knowledge or escape they represent is even enough to satisfy the mind. This theory is similar to what is also called escapism, from the English "escape," to escape. This concept refers to escaping into activities or imaginary worlds to escape reality. Escapism frees one from the stress of daily life by immersing oneself in stories or experiences that offer mental or emotional respite.

Escapism isn't just about reading; it can also involve movies, TV series, video games, artistic practice, or meditation. But the addictive and exciting effect of screens doesn't help with mental rest. Creating a vacation reading corner in your living room remains the best solution for creating a space for relaxation.

To do this, set up a bookshelf with a few decorative items, highlight your favorite books, and create a to-read pile (TBR). A TBR provides a real sense of satisfaction just from the idea of having books available for a future moment of relaxation or literary exploration. Enhance your imaginary journey with indoor plants, a comfortable sofa or armchair, soft lighting that makes reading easier, and a comforting room fragrance .

#5 Ideas for a relaxing day at home

Finally, there are many activities to do at home to break away from everyday life and feel like you're on vacation:

meditation or yoga sessions;
a healthy or gourmet breakfast like a special holiday brunch;
a candlelit dinner or a picnic in your living room, garden or balcony;
A board game for family or couples;
a relaxing scented bath to do at home or a facial treatment in home spa style;
engage in a creative activity such as painting, writing, sewing, crafts or embroidery;
Try the art of slowing down to break the rhythm with activities like journaling, poetry, relaxing walks, tai chi or kokedama, a Japanese technique that involves gently cleaning the leaves of a plant;
garden while listening to soft music or a podcast;
tidy your cupboards and clean your living spaces;
rearrange your furniture to give your interior a new style.

Creating a holiday atmosphere at home is a series of simple daily actions that can help you rediscover harmony and serenity. A home is like a living being; it reflects and interacts with our emotions. By adopting a holistic approach that takes into account your senses and your energetic vibrations, you transform your home into a haven conducive to inner calm.

*98% of ingredients are natural.

Sources:

Han, K. (2001). Traditional Chinese Site Selection-Feng Shui: An Evolutionary/Ecological Perspective. Journal of Cultural Geography, 19, 75 – 96. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873630109478298 .

Matthews, M. (2019). Feng Shui and Chi. Feng Shui: Teaching About Science and Pseudoscience. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18822-1_3 .

Sowndhararajan, K., & Kim, S. (2016). Influence of Fragrances on Human Psychophysiological Activity: With Special Reference to Human Electroencephalographic Response. Scientia Pharmaceutica, 84, 724 – 752. https://doi.org/10.3390/scipharm84040724 .

Dash, P. (2023). DIALECTICAL UNDERSTANDING OF KᾹMA, NISHKᾹMA AND SANKALPA. Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v2i10.170 .

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