Do you know what to do to turn a room into a stress-free sanctuary? Stress is a serious problem in today’s society. While most people throw around the term like it it’s a temporary emotion, stress is one of the main causes of hormone problems, organ damage, heart disease, and possible death. Stress makes you age in ways that modern research is still discovering, and the longer you deal with chronic stress, the more likely that damage will be permanent. So if you have an extra room you’re not sure how to use, one of the best ways to use it is to turn it into a stress free sanctuary for total relaxation. Essentially, this room will be the place you go when you want your stress to melt away.
Characteristics of a Stress Free Room or sanctuary
find your stress-free sanctuary
Building a stress free room sounds easy, but it takes a type of commitment that modern families are not used to. For your room to be completely stress free, it should have the following:
Use a lock for your stress free sanctuary
No one should be able to bother you when you’re in the stress free room. It doesn’t matter if it’s a pressing need. For a sanctuary to be relaxing, only you can use it at any given time. If you have family in the household, you can consider setting rules to try to limit contact when you’re inside the room, but the most important thing is a lock to make sure no one can barge in and ruin your de-stressing moments.
Use muted colors for your stress free room to be relaxing
Colors can be exciting to the eye, and while bright colors may not cause anxiety, they certainly don’t relieve it. So paint the room some type of dull white or a color that doesn’t have much excitement value. The difference it makes will be small, but it is no less important.
Your stress free sanctuary should have no technology
Your stress free room should be free of every type of technology, with one exception that we’ll discuss later. No TVs, no landlines, no cell phones, no computer, no radio. It can have some soft lighting, but no bright lamps, no clocks, and certainly nothing that moves or draws attention to itself. You can see some great lighting ideas for your stress free area go to the Downlights Direct site here. Once again, technology doesn’t necessarily cause anxiety and stress (with the exception of the 24 hour news networks), but technology keeps your mind active, and when you’re trying to relax you need your brain to be as bored as possible.
Use white noise in your stress free room
Here is the exception to the technology rule. It’s a good idea to have some type of white noise (see picture below). You shouldn’t listen to music. Music does have the potential to relieve stress, but most people listen to music that doesn’t have that quality. For example, listening to loud rock songs may improve your mood, but they’re not an effective relaxation tool. So you should consider either some type of light-free technology that plays white noise (no touch screen, etc), or something that makes noise naturally, like a small running fountain.
Your stress free sanctuary should be clutter free
The room should also be completely free of anything that looks like clutter. Human beings at their very core like order. While you may not realize it, looking at a room that’s a mess can actually be mildly stressful in ways that are completely subconscious. Keeping the room as free of stuff as possible is vital for relaxation.
Make use of soft furniture in your stress free room
There is a theme to these changes. The idea is not that the items themselves are relaxing (although white noise can be fairly relaxing) but that you avoid things that could counter your relaxation. Hard furniture, for example, may cause very mild back pain, and that is a type of stress. Soft furniture will cradle your body so that your back and neck are pain free.
Your stress free room should have empty walls
You should also clean your walls from any imagery. Even family images, which can be calming, may not be as relaxing – especially if you have an enlarged portrait on your wall watching you as you try to become stress free. Empty walls avoid this problem.
Soundproofing is important in your stress free sanctuary
Finally, if you have the budget, it would be a good idea to sound proof your sanctuary to make sure that the noises outside don’t disrupt your relaxation. The quieter your room is, the more relaxing you’ll find it.
For total relaxation, there are various other rules you’ll need to consider. For example, no using the stress free sanctuary for anything other than relaxing. Your body associates locations with events and emotions. If you occasionally do work in your sanctuary, for example, and that work is stressful, then anytime you’re in the room your body will gain a bit of stress. The sanctuary must always be a place that family members go to be stress free, and nothing else. Similarly, combining the stress free sanctuary with various anxious stress reduction exercises, the room can become even more useful.
If you’re willing to take the time to transform a room into a stress free sanctuary for your relaxation, you’ll find that the long term benefits are second to none, and that you’ll have a much easier time relaxing no matter how stressful your personal or professional life.
About the Author: Ryan Rivera is a family man that has set aside his time to help others reduce their anxiety completely on their own. You can learn more at calmclinic.com.
A white-noise maker. Available in stress-free open packages from Amazon. See other home improvement articles here.
I wish to have this type of room but I want to keep it as secret as possible. See people in our house are always looking for me asking for anything and everything and they just didn’t mind knocking at my door anytime at any moment. I just badly need this to relieve all my stress. Thanks for sharing Anne! This one is a great idea. Will do my best to have my own relaxation space in the future.
My wife and I work in very stressful jobs, and we thought of the same – having a stress free room that we could use one after the other. She has her own corner while I have my own in the same room. We did not want to have so much clutter inside, so we installed some storage cabinets that blend well with the entire design. We have used it constantly, either one after the other or together as a couple. Some of the ideas out here seem to be very doable, and hopefully we could incorporate these in our stress free room.
Great article. I think everyone should 1 room where they can go and just relax…I want to add that the room should have lots of empty space….I personally enjoy doing meditation and yoga so stress-free room would be perfect for that purpose!
Thanks
Leon
Leon recommends you read..Swing Basic Step – 1st East Coast Swing dance step!
Definitely, Leon. I agree with you. The space alone is relaxing, I think. And as you said, if you can do yoga or meditation in that room - better still. Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.
Your bedroom is suppose to be your safe sanctuary after all the stress that you have gone through at work. Disconnecting with technological devices is a great way of relieving yourself from stress. So, there should be no cellphones, tv, etc in your room so you will be able to relax and meditate to calm yourself.
What a relaxing article Anne! 🙂
I dreaming about a place like this. But unfortunately I don’t have a spare room to create such paradise!
In your stress free room I could like to add essential oils. Spearmint and Eucalyptus are very anti-stressing options!
elena anne recommends you read..Workout With Your Newborn to Get Your Physical Condition Back
I guess you have to wait until one of the kids leave home, and pounce on their bedroom as soon as they leave :-).
Seriously, I think we all can do with such a room. Maybe you can use a room you have as a dual-purpose sanctuary? Perhaps have the tools in your dining room or bath (for example) if you can’t spare the space.
My company installed white noise generators across our entire floor. I have a very stressful job, so it is hard to say if I have personally felt any reduction in stress from them. They are great at reducing anger though. They really help to drown out all the hallway conversations that occur right outside my cubical, which usually result in anger because it distracts me from getting my job done.
I like to add some plants and potted flowers to help reduce stress. I don’t know exactly why, but indoor plants just bring about a calming feeling. And I love catching the aroma of a fresh flower.
My best weapon for combating stress though, is just to get up and walk away for a bit every now and then. Clear your head, then go back and get the job done.
Thanks,
Greg
Greg recommends you read..Hammer Toe Splint
Thanks for your input, Greg. I know the white noise machine works wonders for stress (in most situations - especially in personal spaces). I didn’t realise it works for anger as well. I suppose it makes sense, if you can hear it, instead of random stuff going on you won’t be angered by them
I do agree with you about the plants. I find them calming as well, especially in rooms where there’s a computer. Some plants have properties that clean the air.
Sound’s interesting to decorate room that give you stree free I am a blogger and its best for me to implement that for my room.To feel stress free on rest time.
Rizwan Sultan recommends you read..IBS Breakthrough
I totally agree that stress is a serious problem that should be given immediate relief. Reading your post somehow made me relax, thanks for sharing this. I like the idea of a white, natural noise - the sound of water coming from a fountain or river is just relaxing 🙂
Hi Mae, I also do find the sound of water extremely relaxing. My most relaxing activity is sitting by a slow-running stream, looking out into the water and hearing the rustling leaves and the running water.
these are all wonderful ideas!
thank you for your help in
reducing stress in our lives.
lea recommends you read..things that are hard for me to do:
Thank you for dropping in, Lea. I could always do with ways to reduce stress, so I thought my readers could too. Hope you’re well.
I love a room with 2 colors, one with the same colors and a different on the other’s wall while putting the map of world into it. It is for the different one color wall. Anyway, I love my future room.
Your room is ok for me. thank you.
Ferb recommends you read..5 killer ways to Write a Magnificent Copy
Yes, Ferb. Two colours can really make a great impact, especially if the colours are different shades of the same colour. I’ve used that in my living room.
Twitter: HardworkinJudy
February 11, 2012 at 5:30 am #
Sounds like a wonderful and restful room.
Judy recommends you read..Are your Medical Records Accurate?