In our busy and hectic world, everyone seems to be looking for ways to reduce stress. Exercising more often, getting more sleep, eating healthier, and spending time with loved ones (even four-footed loved ones!) are all wise choices. However, many overlook one of the simplest ways to find greater peace—cultivating a calm and serene home.

We begin and end most days at home, so it makes sense that if your home is peaceful, you have a better shot of living a peaceful life. Fortunately, you don’t need to hire a feng shui expert or have a live-in therapist to find tranquility at home. Simply Tune into your five senses—sight, Smell, touch, taste and sound—to find peace at home.

Sight

Declutter and organize living spaces. The first thing you see when you walk into your home shouldn’t be a big pile of stuff to put away. Invest a little time in organizing areas that usually collect clutter, like space by the front door that’s always littered with junk mail or the bedroom floor that’s covered in laundry. Clutter management can be difficult with kids and pets, but even tidying up once a day can make a difference.

Smell

Fill your home with aromatherapy scents or other pleasant smells. Even more than what you see, what your home smells like could be the first thing that you’re aware of as you walk in the door. A fridge with Food that’s gone bad, trash that needs to be emptied, or dirty laundry piling up in the corner definitely takes away from the serene environment you may be trying to create.

Luckily, the solutions are simple. Light a subtly scented candle, bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, or open the windows and let the fresh air in. Plant some succulents too, which have been shown to clean the air. Then, take a deep breath and relax.

Touch

Fill your home with soft and soothing textures. Modern homes are full of clean lines and sharp edges, but that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little softness to your interior design. Use soft rugs in the kitchen, add fluffy blankets to the sofa, and even wear clothes with a little stretch in them to relax and feel at comfortable at home. Make wiping down surfaces, like kitchen counters and floors, part of your daily routine to eliminate crumbs that feel gritty under hands and feet.

Taste

Eat hormone-friendly foods. The saying “you are what you eat” couldn’t be more true. Be honest with yourself about what foods make you feel good and which ones don’t. Maybe caffeine makes you more jittery than you’d like to be or your afternoon sweet tooth is giving you headaches. No need to cut yourself off from your favorite foods, but if they stress you out or make you feel anything less than your best, try cutting back to feel as happy and healthy. Magnesium and vitamin C are simple supplements that boost your serotonin levels and immune system.

Sound

Play soothing tunes in the background. Having a radio station playing softly in the background can set a relaxing tone throughout the house. Use Pandora, Spotify, or even a Youtube channel for the ultimate mood music. If music is distracting to you, listen for white noise. The hum of a clothes dryer or a box fan might be enough to lull you into an afternoon siesta. Or perhaps you prefer a few moments of silence to stifle a chaotic day.

Repeat

Don’t forget to do a quality check every once in awhile. Identify what is disrupting an otherwise peaceful environment and take the time to fix it. Is your washing machine clunking? Call your local repairman. Are you in a rut and find yourself cooking the same five meals every week? Try a new recipe. Has the clutter returned? It always does. Spend this weekend deep cleaning the house.

With these tips, you’ll be well on your way to finding more peace at home. With a little patience and effort, you’ll find your own perfect balance of what works for you and your family.

Author: Paige A. Mitchell