Resetting Your Living Room For The New Year

While we are now officially in the midst of the Lunar New Year, and technically we should have deep cleaned the house long before, it’s also year 3 of a pandemic and honestly who sticks to hard dates anymore. That being said, we’re giving ourselves grace this year and using the remaining days of the Lunar New Year celebration to reset the positive energy in every aspect of our lives - from our mental spaces to our physical ones.

So with that being said, here are a few things we’ll be refreshing in our living room in the coming weeks.

Lighting

For daytime, we’re optimizing as much natural light we can - a great way to raise endorphin levels while simultaneously reducing energy bills.

When the sun goes down, it’s all about mood lighting. A modern chandelier, vintage lamps, or fairy lights can change the feel of a room altogether. Make sure to include dimmer settings to set the ambience at ‘just so.’

The Natural World

Beautiful house plants can help create a tranquil living room, cleanse the air, and even provide company. Many different studies have revealed the health benefits of houseplants. Turning your living room into an oasis will help you to feel at one with nature.

For all you plant parent hopefuls, the hardest part is often just getting started. Here are a few that do great in most living rooms and are pretty hardy for those who are nervous about their green thumb :

• Red aglaonema

• Pothos

• Orchid 

• Spider plant

Style Growth

Decorating gives us a fantastic chance to express personality and create a space that we can be proud of. And there are plenty of different interior design themes to choose from, whether it’s grand millennial, cottagecore, minimal, or contemporary. To inject a sense of personality into your home, focus on these ideas:

• Purchase artwork that makes you feel inspired.

• If you’re feeling creative, try making your own decor

• Shop in vintage stores to find unique items you love.

• Work with an interior designer to give you some great ideas.

And remember - while having a base style is great, it’s ok to mix and match to create a unique space just for you.

Eliminate Clutter

Yes, we’ve said this one so many times. But that’s because eliminating clutter is an ongoing process. When clutter fills up a space it’s hard to feel calm, mess leaves us feeling tense and agitated, and living in a messy home can even affect your sleep and mental health. Dedicate a little bit of time per day to go through your belongings - we like to do 10 minutes per room throughout the day, and then a family pick-up for 20 minutes in the evening.

Continual pickup will also help prevent us from becoming blind to the items we no longer need. To live a sustainable lifestyle, it’s important to dispose of your old items properly. Recycling or donating are often the best options and a quick google search can help you figure out local resources.

The ideal temperature

Smart meters make it easier to find the ideal temperature, and save money at the same time. If you live in a hotter climate, you’ll probably need an air conditioner, to keep your living room cool. If you’re looking to get a unit installed, you’ll need to contact your local 

residential & commercial AC company. If your home has rooms that are hotter than others, a dual split is a great way to save money so that you don’t have to cool the entire place.