|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
Keep Your Home Happier
It turns out your mother was right after all -- Happiness really does begin at home, with the things and the people you are surrounded by. Your vision is one of the first messengers to send signals to your brain as to how it feels. Therefore, it follows that keeping your home happier will have a direct impact on how you feel. What do you see in your home --Clutter? Chaos? Angry faces? What do you hear -- Loud voices; bad music? What do you feel when you look around your home? Stress? Unhappiness? Frustration? UGGGGG! What if instead you could feel and "see" opportunity and optimism? Energy and enthusiasm? Ok, maybe that's going a little too far, after all it IS just the living room. Try these ways to let your environment help make you happier. 1. Subtract the Ugg factor Chances are if you're like most people these days, you are fighting tooth and nail just trying to keep up with your life. Getting organized will help you win the fight. Look for the ugg factors in each of your spaces (desk, office, living room, bedroom, garage). Start with the White Elephant, the first thing that makes you go UGG when you walk into the space. Fix it, clean it, organize it, get rid of it. Whatever. 2. Up the color factor Color is the accessory to our lives. Without it, while functional, it can be pretty plain. And scientists have long knows the effects that color can have on moods. Red and Yellows and Oranges inspire and stimulate. Blues and Greens are calming and restorative. Colors can also elicit memories, like "hospital green", or "college purple". In my family, we had a color called "Dad's blue shirt". Look at the colors around you. If paint is not an option check your accessories. Glue some inexpensive colorful beads or buttons to terra cotta pots to use as bright catch-alls for the bathroom, the desk, the kitchen table. Buy colorful frames for pictures. Wear a colorful top. When I wear red, I smile all day. 3. Don't forget the smile factor The smile factor is truly personal. I have a screensaver of my 2 puppies in a funny position. I grin every time I see it, no matter how stressed, no matter how irritated I am at my internet cable provider. Take inventory of your space, one piece at a time. Ask yourself, is it useful? Is it beautiful to me? Does it make me smile? Or does it make me remember how much my mother-in-law criticizes me? 4. Function is always a factor! Check the function of your space. Take a look around -- is your home functioning in a way that supports what you want and how you want to feel? If the room is for working and reading, low lights will make you uncomfortable and unhappy. Functionality is increased when a multi-purpose -- or multi person -- room is divided into zones so that more than one purpose or person can use it effectively. Use your creativity. Even the ubiquitous storage must-haves can be more than merely functional. With a little planning and thought, they can add visual interest and style to a room. The steps to happiness begin with what you are surrounded by most of the time. Use positive psychology, positive messages, and positive images to feed your brain positive feelings. If you put these ideas to work, your home really can help keep you happy. About The Author Kathy Gates is a Professional Life Coach in Scottsdale AZ. If you liked this article, you'll love her "7 SECRETS To A Great Life" program. Get more information at her website Real Life Coach, http://www.reallifecoach.com/success.htm and sign up for the newsletter.
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
An Interview with Design Psychology Expert Jeanette Fisher Interview with Jeanette Fisher by Gary Anderson, of www.abciowa.com Brighten Up Your Shelves With Picture Frames Would you like to add a personal touch to your home or office, but not sure how? Picture frames may be your answer. Picture frames are a fun and simple way to add color, character and style. Traditional Interior Design Traditional interior design encompasses a great variety of elements in a home. From the ceilings to the floor; including the trim, the wall finishes--all the way to the window treatments and the furniture. Scented Candles ? Take Me AWAY! Remember the old Calgon commercial-"Take me away Calgon!" There's only one thing that can take you away faster than a Calgon bath, and that's a scented candle. Whether you want a breath of fresh spring air, or you want to transport yourself to a South Sea paradise minus the hassle of airport security, crowded, delayed flights and lost baggage, grab a scented candle, and travel wherever your imagination leads. Smell is a powerful sense, and you can use it to alter your mood within seconds with the flicker of a candle. In fact, why not keep a supply of scented candles in the bathroom when you don't have time to luxuriate in the bathtub. Envelope yourself in fragrance while you shower, dry and blow-dry. The Four Major Types of Air Filters Hygienic air is essential to human life, and in this modern age, that requires air cleaners. There are a few different methods of air cleaning, like Filtration, Electro-static Precipitation and Ion Generation. Air Filtration cleans air through the removal of sub-micron particulate, gases and odors. If you are plagued by allergies or asthma, an air filter might help you. Air filters are the best tools for eradicating allergens from the house. Particularly for those people who are suffering from asthma and allergies, both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Lung Association recommend air filtration. Warm & Toasty Outdoors with Patio Heaters The Heat is On with Patio Heaters Any outdoor lover will tell you that the right patio heater will allow you to extend your love of the open-air life all year round. A 15-20 foot circle of heat can easily increase the outside temperature by 10-25 degrees Fahrenheit and that makes all the difference between having to stay inside and eating out. As with most patio equipment, the choice of the right heater for your needs isn't always such an immediate process. First thing to know is whether you really need or want one. Some factors to consider are your lifestyle. How often do you eat or entertain outside? What is the weather predominantly like? Now a few words concerning your budget. How much are you willing to spend? Prices for free standing models generally start at around $200-$250 and can go up to and over the $1000 mark. For normal domestic use, most sources indicate a $300-$400 model as being perfect. The more expensive models are generally intended for commercial use. The newer, better-made patio heaters offer a selection of safety features and temperature controls. They will allow you to entertain in the early spring evenings. Just take a family breakfast set outside, or simply have a barbecue anytime you feel like it. Modern patio heaters are: so safe, you needn't worry about firevery quietreally make having a patio or deck worthwhileFreestanding heaters are usually about 7 feet tall and resemble a lamppost with a conical umbrella type housing on top. This helps radiate heat downwards. Some electric models are available but the majority use propane or natural gas, and these are by far the best type to consider. The gas canisters are contained in the base of the heater. A quality patio or garden heater will generate around 45-50,000 BTUs, and that would be enough to keep you warm when you sit anywhere within a 20-foot diameter. Most models now come with wheels, which facilitate moving your heater from one place to another while some even come with carrying cases. When it's not in use, you can put the patio or deck heater in its carry case, or under an appropriate cover, and just wheel it away! Many retailers are also able to offer smaller tabletop, or footstool, versions of the freestanding models. So, apart from the price, the main things to look out for are the BTUs and temperature controls. The rest is really just design. Choose something you like ... and prepare to enjoy more quality time outdoors. In summary, garden or patio heaters will allow you to enjoy the outdoor life all year round. Installing a Home Theater System Thinking about installing a home theater system? You're not alone. Home theater is one of the fastest growing areas areas in home entertainment and the advent of DVD recorders and HDTV means your set-up can now be entirely digital, without an inch of video tape in site. Upholstery Fabric Will Give Your Furniture a New Look! Upholstery fabric will put some new life into your old and ragged furniture. If you notice that your furniture has been starting to look a little worn and shaggy recently, upholstery fabric may be just what you are looking for. There are seven different types of natural upholstery fabric: Linen, leather, cotton, wool, cotton blend, vinyl, and silk. Home Floor Plan Designing For Your Future Home Designing Your Own Dream Home for the New Home Builder:What is your dream home? Do you have an idea of what it will look like? Defining a dream home is very difficult, especially if you have a spouse or significant other that has tastes different than your own. Although you might be able to agree on a floor plan, do you both agree on what the purposes for each of the rooms? My solution to this matter is simple. Brain storm together. Make it fun! After all it's your dream that you are talking about. Privately each of you collect floor plan ideas from other sources, and prioritize what you like. List the top 10 bedroom floor plans, bathroom floor plans, kitchen floor plans and of course the floor plan layout styles. Dining Rooms: Designing for Your Emotional Well-Being I read an interior design book last night. Since I can't recommend it to you, I won't reveal the name. What I saw was a group of photographs asking the reader to choose her favorite dining room. After studying the rooms carefully, I decided that not one room presented good design for eating and conversing! Outdoor Decks - Understanding Seven Elements of Good Deck Design You're all comfortable in your favorite lounge chair, reading your latest novel with a cool beverage nearby...the aroma of your favorite BBQ drifting from the grill teases everyone...catching a few rays of sunshine never felt better. Warm weather calls us outdoors, and what better place to enjoy life than your deck! An Introduction to Waterproofing Systems Many homeowners find it necessary to invest in a waterproofing system for their home, especially if their home has a basement or cellar. In modern home developments, it is often required by state or local regulations to have a waterproofing system installed before the completion of the home. Without the proper installation of a waterproofing system, your home is at risk for water damage. In some areas, black mold is a frightful health concern. A good waterproofing system can help minimize water damage and the growth of black mold in prone areas. Other factors to consider when implementing a waterproofing system are the climate, landscape, weather and terrain of the area. How to Layout Recessed Lighting One of the most important principles to understand when designing a recessed lighting layout is beam angle. In recessed cans, the light is produced in the shape of a cone. You picture the light starting as a point at the light fixture and forming a circle on the floor. The beam angle is the angle of this light out of the bulb. For example a 60-degree beam angle will produce a circle of light about 9 feet across on the floor if the fixture is 8 feet off the floor. See a Diagram. Expansion for Heat Absorption In the refrigeration cycle, the refrigerant must undergo a change in state in order for the heat to be absorbed from the environment. Planning Permission Tips UK - What To Show And What Not To Show On Your application Drawings Many successful business deals are the result of being a bit canny with the information that you already know - keeping a tight lip when needed and only letting the other side know just the bare minimum requirement of information and never laying all your cards onto the table. Successful negotiators use this tactic all the time. I expect all of us can remember a time when we have left a meeting wishing that 'I hadn't of said that!' Well presenting a Planning Application can often involve the precise same tactics at times where you need to retain the advantage in your presentation or application scheme. Choosing a Home Builder So you've decided to build a new home. Like many home buyers you realize that buying a new home offers a wide range of advantages over buying an existing home. You are getting exactly what you want, demanding the highest quality construction, as well as learning how to operate and maintain your home's systems and equipment. You're also developing a relationship with the builder. Congratulations on making a great choice, however, you still have a big decision left to make. Tips For Breaking Away From White Wall Paint Paint is one of the most affordable and easiest ways to change a room. But choosing the right paint colors for your home can seem like an overwhelming task. Creating Dynamic Window Coverings Without Breaking the Budget When creating dynamic window coverings, it's important to choose carefully, because your window coverings will become the focal points of a well-decorated room. But choosing the right window treatments, at the right price, takes some thought about not only the look you're hoping to achieve, but also about the nature of the space itself. Lighter Fluid: The Best Label and Scuff Mark Remover The first time my husband saw me scrubbing the black heel marksoff of our kitchen floor with a toothbrush, he said, "You knowlighter fluid will take those marks right off." And it did! Noscrubbing at all, just a little lighter fluid poured on a papertowel, and the marks wiped right off. The Solar Energy Industry Grew 67% Last Year: Are You Making the Best Decision for Your Future? Are you considering using renewable energy resources to heat water or generate electricity?
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |