Chances are, you have never spent as much time at home as you are right now. As any new mom can tell you, it can be isolating, lonely and hard to get into a sustainable rhythm when you find yourself suddenly spending the majority of your time within the walls of your home ... but it doesn't have to be. There are a few tried and true tricks that will help you get out of the funk and be able to appreciate the slow pace we are forced into right now. This is a time to thrive, not just survive, and it all starts with your senses ...
SIGHT: Make Your Bed
At Tiger Oak, we are firm believers that a made bed is the best way to start your day. The bedroom has always been the oasis of the home. It's where you start your day and where you end it. We encourage you to splurge on quality sheets and pillows; to create a place where you can decompress from the busyness of life. Since your bed is most likely the biggest piece of furniture in your room, it carries substantial visual weight. When things are cluttered, we naturally feel more uneasy and anxious. A made bed is the perfect way to mitigate those feelings and visually instill a sense of calm and order.
SMELL: Layer In Fragrance
Smell is intrinsically linked to memory. Often happening spontaneously, a smell can trigger a long-forgotten moment in time. Smell is also highly emotive. The entire perfume industry is based around the development of scents that evoke specific emotions and feelings, from power or relaxation to natural spaces like the woods or the beach. Do you have a signature scent for your home? If you don't, think about what smells make you happy. In a time where we are stuck at home, scents like cedarwood, lemongrass, or florals can help bring the outside in. The smell of vanilla has a rich warmth to it that adds a feeling of comfort. You can use candles, reed diffusers or an essential oil diffuser to create different scents within various rooms of your home, taking you on a journey as you move from room to room throughout the day. And best of all, you can purchase all of these online and have them delivered right to your doorstep!
SOUND: "Okay Google, Play Bob Marley" (we're a google home family)
Music is a transportation device. It is an easy way to alter a mood or relive stress. Listing to music you find enjoyable can literally release dopamine, the "feel-good" neurochemical involved with reward and pleasure. So find a great playlist or create your own and turn up the volume. Schedule a break for yourself every hour while you work from home and get up and dance around. Move your body! Change up your playlist throughout the day to create different moods and environments. Many of us who are working from home feel the absence of our co-workers. Turn on some light music in the background to combat the silence. Turn on something fun while you're cooking dinner. Most of us are so busy, that we only get to listen to music during our commutes. Since we're no longer commuting, try incorporating music into more of you day and see the difference it makes!
TOUCH: rugs, throws and loungewear, oh my!
You're spending a lot more time at home these days, which provides a great opportunity to take stock in how things feel. I love the transition from hard wood to soft carpet on bare feet, or from hard tile to a looped bath mat in the bathroom. Is your home lacking in any of these areas? Are your feet experiencing just one material all the time? If so, it might be time to invest in a new rug. If you have all wood floors, a soft wool area rug might be all you need. I also love to layer a sheepskin rug in a corner with set of chairs or under a desk. It's still fireplace season in most of the US, and nothing goes better with a nice fire than a soft, cozy throw-blanket. Barefoot Dreams and Anthropologie are two of my favorite places to find a good throw, and they're online! If you're looking to help a smaller biz, Etsy has tons of great options as well. Last but not least ... loungewear. I love slippers, and I have a great pair, but since I've been home the past week, I've realized I need to step up my game in the loungewear department. Now, it is definitely recommend to get dressed for the day to help you feel "normal". Maybe not full hair and makeup, but at least a pair of jeans and an actual top. But by 3:00, the comfy's are calling and I've never missed the old Juicy velour jumpsuits of my college days more than I do now!
TASTE: who are we kidding, I don't cook But Mr. Tiger Oak does! Thank goodness!
I have seen so many friends finally exhale from the hustle and bustle of life and dust off their chef hats. We've been alternating between take-out to help support our local bars and restaurants, and making dinner at home. One thing I have tried to do is come up with healthy snacks, because being home all day and not snacking nonstop takes a willpower I just don't have. If carryout it more your thing, what about upgrading your glassware, serving ware or even simple things like cloth napkins and placemats? Anthropologie has always been one of my favorites for fun items like pitchers, salad bowls and table linens, and even better, they're currently having a 25% off home and furniture sale! Introducing new and exciting textiles and serving pieces will help freshen up the vibe, even if it IS the 100th meal you've had in a row at your dining room table!
Lastly, don't forget to breathe. This too shall pass, and if we approach this pause with gratitude instead of fear, we will come out the other side stronger, better and more appreciate. What a great time to slow down and take stock in how we are currently living vs how we WANT to live. Use this unprecedented time at home as a gift. At Tiger Oak, we truly believe that your home should be your sanctuary - a place that gives back to you. If you feel like your home isn't doing that for you, now is the time to act. Visit our website and click on the Contact Us button for our Home Styling Service and begin the process of taking back your home! As our motto says, "when your home shows up well for you, you can show up well for others."
Be Safe - Natalie
"When your home shows up well for you, you can show up well for others"