How to Create a Mindful Retreat in Your Home for Optimal Relaxation

Last Updated on June 29, 2022 by Rebecca Huff

Practicing mindfulness has many mental, physical, and therapeutic benefits. According to research, mindfulness is now a recognized therapeutic treatment for various conditions, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders, and is used in many hospitals and healthcare institutions.

Providing patients with a physical space that promotes healing and allows individuals to successfully practice mindful and self-care techniques is important for curing certain health conditions. According to studies, an optimal healing environment is one where “the social, psychological, physical, spiritual, and behavioral components of healthcare support and stimulate the body’s innate capacity to heal itself. Creating and supporting these types of healing environments in healthcare settings is extremely beneficial to patients and their families.

Creating at-home relaxation space to promote healthy wellbeing

While supporting a mindful and optimal healing environment in a healthcare setting is important, it is equally important to consider how your environment at home is impacting your mental health and well-being. Considering your environment at home and understanding how you can create a space according to a more mindful design to improve your well-being and decrease feelings of stress is important for good mental health.

Everyone can benefit from creating mindful spaces in homes to relax and escape stress. So how do we do this? Start by choosing a room or a designated space in your home to act as your relaxation retreat. Think of this spot as your safe haven and your escape from daily stress or distractions. Personalizing a space like this is a fun way to promote great self-care practices and live a happier and healthier life.

How you set up, design, and decorate your relaxing space is completely up to you, but before you begin, here are a few tips on how to incorporate a more mindful design into your cozy retreat:

• Location. Like we mentioned before, you can dedicate an entire room to relaxing depending on your home and budget or you can simply carve out a corner in one of the rooms in your home, both options will work great. When choosing a location, be sure to consider things like foot traffic, privacy, noise level, and comfort.It might be a good idea to consider a space that is already yours, like your bedroom or office, or a space close to nature, like an outdoor terrace. What matters most is you choose an environment where you feel comfortable, relaxed, and capable of being mindful.
• Furniture. When designing your relaxation space, be sure to give proper attention to the pieces of furniture you are investing in. You will want a comfortable chair or sofa that helps you relax, is easy to clean, and made with high-quality materials, since you will spend plenty of time unwinding in it. Sustainable and supportive living room furniture fit for lounging comfortably is an ideal pick in order to bring in maximum coziness to the unique environment you envision for your mindful nook. You can complete your ideal relaxation space with an ottoman, perfect for extra seating, storage, or to simply use as a footrest to kick your feet up after a long day.
• Lighting. Lighting sets the mood for rooms in your home, so consider the quality of light available in the space you choose for your relaxing nook. Natural lighting is perfect for creating an inviting environment that you are automatically drawn to spend time in. If you are a fan of natural lighting, set up your cozy corner next to a window in your home. It will be even more beneficial to your mental health if the window provides you with views of nature, given its healing and stress-relieving abilities. If natural lighting isn’t an option, upgrade your space with a sleek floor lamp, like these here. Floor lamps are perfect for reading and other relaxing tasks, and are easily adjustable should you want to move furniture around in your space. 
• Decor. You can personalize decor according to your tastes. Incorporate artwork and items that help you relax, such as reading material, plants, incense, and any other elements that help you achieve a mindful environment in your space. To bring in style and comfort, pick out warm and cozy pillows or throws to snuggle up with and use to drape over furniture or a decorative, leaning ladder shelf when not in use. If you want to keep your favorite relaxation items concealed, consider purchasing a storage bin or basket to serve as a stylish and useful decorative item.

The space you create to escape stress and relax in is important for your mental well-being, so don’t be afraid to get creative and design the space according to your needs. Resting and recharging after a long day can be tough, but a designated space in your home to retreat to will bring you peace and allow you to enjoy the time you spend at home.