It is time to give your home a wellness makeover

Use colours wisely

To create a sense of centered calm, colour will play a huge role. Strategically deploy paint based on your personality and the mood you want to achieve. For instance, look to low-intensity colours to bring in a gentle and nourishing feel; this will help you dial down in the areas of your home like the bedroom, where you need a low-key, relaxing vibe. Choose pairings of warm and cool colours to create a sense of balance and harmony.

In areas of the home where you need to nourish and nurture your creativity, mind, and body, mimic colours based on nature. Moody, mid-tones of blues and teals or cool greens, make you feel calm, restful, and inspired. To further enhance a sense of peace and relaxation, use quiet paint colors such as white, soft pastel blues, shades of mint, and butter as these definitely help in creating a serene environment. Kaur says to look to Havelis and old palaces in Rajasthan, or the beautiful 18th century buildings in Europe, for inspiration. “They all have a generous usage of soft calm colors especially white with mint and blue accents. Circle back to how you have felt every time you have walked into or past these structures—the vibe is always very positive and calming.”

Use natural materials for furniture and accessories

If wellness is the end goal, the best materials to get you there will be nature-made. “Incorporating usage of natural elements in your interiors enhances a sense of simplicity and staying connected to our roots,” according to Kaur. Her picks are natural materials such as marble, terracotta or stone for flooring, wall finishes with a natural texture and ceilings with an exposed wooden beam, (you could cheat that and create a faux ceiling with natural wooden panels). She recommends taking a leaf from the Laurie Baker stylebook with having one feature wall in exposed brick.

Else, a stone paneled wall in common areas such as family rooms would serve to add that extra layer to your home that will ground your surroundings in nature and bring the outdoors in. Use the same care while selecting your finishing touches. A trendy, of-the-moment element but one with eternal appeal, is cane. Woven cane panels in furniture give the impression of your space being rooted in nature.

Kaur prefers handmade wooden furniture with a gleaming oil finish to perfectly showcase the natural grain of the wood, handwoven sustainable textiles for draperies and upholstery, and handmade decorative accessories such as terracotta vases and planters in the house to further tie everything together.

Complete the scene with foliage as décor elements

If you’re lucky enough to have any outdoor spaces in your home, be it a garden, patio, balcony, or terrace, infusing these spaces with plants, and greenery can work to reduce stress and induce a sense of calm. In that case, go for sweet-smelling flowering plants, so that one more of your senses can participate in the bounty of nature. Pick from night-blooming jasmine, Azores jasmine, lemon balm, lavender, and any varietal of rose, says Ekta Chaudhary of Garden Up. Growing edible plants like basil, ginger, garlic, and lemongrass give a sense of joy and achievement. Keep in mind flowering plants and edible ones need three to four hours of direct sun.

A spot that is just yours

Kaur advises to create a small oasis, a go-to nook in your home where you can decompress. Build that space out around an interest or hobby, like creating a library, study, or an exercise room to read, paint, listen to music, or practice yoga. You don’t need a lot of square footage to do this; “make creative usage of attic space, your garage or even a small outdoor room such as a ‘barsaati’ on your terrace could perhaps be your retreat within your home, where you can just curl up and relax,” she adds.

Mainly, this is the time to focus on what’s truly essential. Put away those cool artworks you purchased on a whim and instead put up that handmade bagh textile which has been in your family for generations, or that sculpture purchased on one of your most memorable trips. “A little bit of nostalgia goes a long way in keeping memories alive, which is especially critical in dealing with a certain amount of trauma we are all are going through at a subconscious level,” says Kaur.