It’s not just a box where you keep your stuff. It’s not just a spot to binge Netflix. And it’s definitely not just the place you collapse into oblivion before heading back to the office.
Your home is your refuge. The place where you go to heal your body and mind after a day of challenges. Or at least it should be.
If your home doesn’t feel that homey or healthful, don’t despair. You can transform your abode into a healing space with a quick DIY decor project. And there’s more good news: doing the project yourself can contribute to your physical and mental health too. Let’s get into it.
Trust the process
Before you can step back and admire your beautifully decorated home, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves and start creating. Fortunately, putting in the work on a DIY home decor project has benefits beyond the final product.
Exercise
@_ottostudio Wallpaper is perfect for an entrance hallway and other high-traffic spaces, when you can’t hang art or bring in furniture pieces. We transformed Hannah’s foyer with some renter-friendly, peel and stick wallpaper. And in a few years when the kids have scuffed it up real good, it’ll be a cinch to take down and refresh when she wants! #renterfriendly #diydecor #apartmentdecor #wallpaper #kidfriendlydecor #beforeandafter
Putting up wallpaper isn’t exactly running a marathon. But it’s certainly more physical activity than sitting in an office chair all day. The light exercise you get from DIY decor can have significant benefits, such as reduced risk of heart attack, angina, stroke, and alleviation of…
Stress!
The scourge of the modern era, stress has far-reaching health implications. Decorating your home can help alleviate stress by taking your mind off life’s burdens. Plus, the creative expression you put into your project can help process feelings, reducing stress and supporting mental and physical healing. On top of that, DIY projects tend to be inexpensive compared to professional decoration, so if you’re stressed about money, a thrifty creative change to your home can be oh so calming.
@_ottostudio Did you catch the happy dance at the end? @facegod__ on IG did a gorgeous install of Lava Lamp in Berries and Cream from the @taybeepboop collection! #renterfriendly #wallpaper #colorfulwallpaper
Mind and body
Working on DIY decor projects can have more mental health benefits than just stress reduction and they can even help you heal physically. This survey of studies focussing on the application of art therapies in clinical settings found that creative occupation can improve factors such as:
- Depression
- Grief
- Positive identity
- Negative emotions
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Medication requirements
- Blood cortisol levels
- Length of hospital stays
- Medical outcomes
Relationships
Not every DIY project needs to be a solo pursuit. Buddy up with your romantic partner, a family member, or friend and you are likely to find that working together improves your relationship. The creativity involved can help you tap into emotions, release feelings, and express them to each other in positive, constructive ways.
@_ottostudio Wallpaper is so perfect for those random spots in your apartment that are hard to decorate – @allyschmaling on IG did a gorgeous diy upgrade of this nook using our renter-friendly wallpaper! #peelandstickvinyl #diydecor #decorideas #renterfriendlydecor #vintagestyle
And when it’s done
You get to enjoy your new, healthy space every time you open your eyes in the morning and each time you come home. A beautiful, consciously decorated space has its own mental and physical benefits including reduced stress, increased happiness, improved mood, boosted creativity, and more. But it can also give you a palpable sense of…
Satisfaction!
Thanks to factors such as the Ikea Effect, a DIY home project allows you to experience increased satisfaction with the look and feel of your space, which will make you feel all happy and squishy every time you enter a room. And the sense of accomplishment you get can also help to alleviate feelings of shortcoming that may exist elsewhere in your life, which is great for your mental health, as well as your…
Confidence
You did it! You finished your small decoration project and it looks great. Guess what? You can do more. That bathroom needs attention. The kitchen isn’t perfect. The guest bedroom isn’t ideal. But you’ve got the new skills, and yes, brimming confidence to tackle any decor project and transform your home into the refuge you deserve.