Do you ever feel like your home is a prison cell? Like the world outside your window is full of smugly slim and attractive people scurrying around to find ways to spend some of their infinite wealth while you languish beneath your duvet and the cat rushes up to you to jam her butt into your face? It can be terrible when you’re less than ecstatic about your home, whether because you’re sick of renting or because you just can’t afford the kind of home you’d like. This can force us to rush out to the movies, to cafes or to bars and while getting out and about and being a nomad certainly be enriching (especially if you’re plagued by anxiety and / or depression) it amounts for little if you dread coming home.

With rents at an all time high across the globe as demand outstrips supply, many of us are paying a fortune to private landlords. What’s the point in spending all that money if we can’t at least be happy in our homes? Follow these tips and you’ll find that even the dankest of homes can be a happier place to be…

Clear away the clutter

A cluttered home can be a real and legitimate drain on your mental health. A cluttered home never looks clean no matter how much you tidy it and the visually “busy” environment is rarely conducive to the kind of happy and restful state we’re trying to accomplish.

Clear clutter away into storage bins and have a long hard discussion with yourself about what you actually do and don’t need (that grocery receipt from last March, what’s that doing there?) You’d be amazed at how much happier your home looks when the clutter is under control.

Embrace the natural

It’s a scientifically proven fact that proximity to nature makes you happier (which is why a walk in the park can be a real tonic when you’re feeling down). Bringing a little nature into the home is a great way to make it a happier and more relaxing space. Choose natural materials and fibers in your furnishings and decorations. We’re talking cotton, wood, stone and even sheepskin rugs. Oh and , of course, lots and lots of houseplants. Bringing the sights, textures and scents of natural materials into the home can boost your mood as well as being aesthetically pleasing.  

Let there be light

Natural light is a proven mood booster and it’s important that you use however much your home affords you to your advantage. If you have floor to ceiling windows but never, ever pull back the drapes you’ll continue to feel the blues. Roll up the blinds and let in the light… Assuming you’re dressed and stuff.

Smells like happiness

As well as aesthetics, don’t underestimate the importance of scent in making your home a nicer place to spend time. There’s no need to spend a fortune on expensive scent diffusers either. Essential oils in various combination can really help to give a living space character. Think cedar and sandalwood for the living room and jasmine, vanilla or lavender for the bedroom.