5 Methods to Create a Home that Supports Healing: How to Build a Healing Home

Hey MAH!

mother.artist.healer

👋 Kya here.

Your healing-nerd mom friend

No matter where you are on your healing journey, you deserve to have a home that supports your healing.

The thought of creating a healing space may feel like a daunting task to even the savviest designer. But having a space that makes you feel safe and secure is essential for your wellbeing—especially for those of us who experienced childhood PTSD.

So, if you’ve ever asked, “Can I create a home that supports my healing?” The answer is yes. 

And that’s not a “yeah, sure, you could probably do that.”

It’s a “yes! You can absolutely build a healing home.”

How to Build a Home that Supports Your Healing Journey

If you want to be well-balanced, making a well-balanced home should be a priority. Although you don’t need a healing home in order to heal from your trauma, it certainly helps the process.

When your environment is at peace, it makes it a whole lot easier to find inner peace.

That’s why Dr. Jordan Peterson always recommends cleaning up your immediate surroundings when you’re feeling out of sorts. When tidying up is your starting point for positive coping skills, you’ll find that relaxing into your space comes naturally.

But fret not, you don’t need a space that’s Pinterest perfect to reap healing benefits.

In fact, having a space that feels lived in is what makes a home inviting. What may look like a mess to others could actually be a comforting reflection of your family—and we’re going to lean into that and embrace it, not shame it. 

So, no matter what style your home is or what standard of cleanliness you prefer, I have 5 simple methods for creating a home that supports your wellness journey.

1. Embrace Calming Scents

Your sense of smell is directly connected to the same system of the brain that deals with emotions, memories, and feelings.

Now, I’m no expert on cognitive processing, but I can testify that certain smells bring me right back to a comforting memory or put me into a relaxed state. And I bet you’d agree.

Essential Oil Diffusers

Aromatherapy is an amazing technique to calm your nerves. With an essential oil diffuser, you can have one device that can emit countless scents.

My favorite blends to promote calm are:

·  Lavender, lime, and orange

·  Ylang Ylang and sage

·  Patchouli, sandalwood, and lemongrass

Candles

Candles bring scent and experience together with gentle lighting and calming scents. 

Ground yourself with:

·  Wood and earth scents like sandalwood and pine

·  Floral scents like gardenia, lavender, and rose

·  Fresh scents like eucalyptus and peppermint

Incense

Burning incense is an extremely calming activity, and it can be relaxing to watch the smoke unfurl. And if you have a decorative burner, it can be even more mesmerizing to watch.

If you light incense, be sure to always open a window or two to air out the house. The smoke can damage our lungs—especially small animals and kids!

Fresh Air

You don’t need fancy smells to embrace calming scents. Open up your windows and let the fresh air in!

2. Introduce Colored Elements to Your Home

Humans are visual creatures, and color can promote healing. Here are a few of my favorite ways to add a splash of healing color to your home.

A New Paint Job

Painting is a meditative process on its own, and it can refresh any room.

Understated blues and neutral shades offer instant calm to your space, whether it’s an office, living room, or bedroom. And neutral doesn’t have to mean boring!

Here are some other neutral colors that would make great accents in your home:

·  pale blue

·  dusty pink

·  sage green

·  warm beige

Temporary Colors for Renters

If you live in an apartment and don’t want to invest in painting your walls, there are other options.

Consider:

·  bright or sheer curtains

·  colorful duvet covers

·  calming linens, like towels and blankets

These aspects of your home are great (and temporary) options to life the mood of any space.

For another temporary solution, you can also use décor to your advantage!

Joyful and Calming Decor

Whether you can’t paint or just don’t want to, you can consider adding calming décor in the same colors mentioned in the painting section above.

Here are a few ideas:

·  hang tapestries

·  lay out calming rugs

·  add new ceramic pots or sculptures to your space

·  hang calming wall art

3. Discover the Magic of Texture and Touch

Textiles can turn your home from humdrum into a rich sensory experience. If you know what I mean, you’ll love these ideas—and if you don’t, it’s time to discover the magic of texture.

The Rhythmic Embrace of Hammock

There’s one item on my wish list that I truly wish I already had: a Moroccan hammock.

Imagine your eyes closed as you rock rhythmically, tension draining from your body, sunlight caressing your face. You can hear the swaying hammock as it gently creaks, creating a unique ASMR experience just for you.

Soft Textures Like Velvet

You don’t need to invest in an entire hammock to experience the joy of texture. Remember all the décor we discussed above? You can add softness to your space with fabrics like velvet.

Introduce fuzzy blankets, shag throw pillows, and soft sweaters to your home. You won’t regret it.

Coarse Textures Like Jute

Although these textures may not give you the same tactile satisfaction as soft surfaces, coarse textures like jute, macrame, or a textured painting add a visual element of texture that can stimulate and relax your brain.

Weighted Blankets

A weighted blanket is like lying under a hug. If you need comfort after a hard day, try melting under the security of a weighting blanket for just a few minutes. You’ll likely feel refreshed, healed, and loved.

Natural Wood

Natural wood can be incorporated into your space in various ways, but my favorite use of natural wood is on floors and countertops. Long stretches of natural wood bring mother nature into your home, and it looks stunning.

4. Dance Around in Sound

We all have sounds we hate, like nails on a chalkboard or screeching car tires, but there are also sounds that we love.

When you embrace the healing elements of sound and incorporate them into your home, your space becomes a refuge of peace.

Create an ASMR Sound Bath

ASMR can make you feel your healing in real-time. It can give you goosebumps or relax you, depending on the audio. Some of my favorite ASMR noises are white noise, brown noise, and pink noise.

 And you don’t need a fancy white noise machine to reap the benefits. Just look these up on YouTube or Spotify!

Hang Wind Chimes

Wind chimes are beautiful, and they can connect you to nature with sound. Hang chimes or bells outside your window, on door handles, or on gateways to enjoy small moments of bliss.

Open the Windows

If your chimes are outside your window, opening it will let in the sound. But an open window can also let in sounds like:

·  the pitter-patter of fresh rain

·  rustling leaves in the wind

·  chirping birds

Play Background Music

Sometimes, all a healing home needs is some background music. Although listening to music is a great activity, sometimes quiet, calming music in the background is better than a jam session. 

You can search up:

·  calming spa music

·  music for sleep

·  lo-fi music

·  orchestral or piano instrumentals

Install an Indoor Water Feature

Water features give off the natural sound of moving water, which is a great sound to meditate to. And don’t worry, you don’t need to break out your life savings to invest in a water feature.

You can get a tiny tabletop water fountain to add healing sounds to your space without spending too much money.

5. Let the Outdoors In

Finally, you can promote a healing home by finding small ways to let the outdoors in. Opening the windows isn’t the only way to let the outside in.

Hang Sheer Curtains

The common advice is to go outside to get some sun, but you don’t need a beach to drink in the joy of sunlight. Instead, let it into your home with sheer curtains. They offer privacy and sunlight—the best of both worlds.

I know everyone and their mama always talks about the power of black-out curtains, but I’m on Team Sheer Curtains. I love letting the sun in, especially in the morning.

Display Low-Maintenance Plants

You can also add some indoor plants! Snake plants and aloe are two plants that don’t require much maintenance. You can also try your hand at gardening with a small herb garden in your window.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve a Healing Home

Your home is your mecca, the home base where you can rest and recharge. Your home is also the place where you can protect yourself and your children from the drama of the outside world.

Investing your time to create a healing home that supports your wellness journey is one of the best decisions you can make. Once your healing home is set up just the way you like it, it will continue to help you heal.

Want to learn more about how you can support yourself on your healing journey? Check out my wellness nook freebie!