Want to feel more relaxed and balanced in your home? You don’t need to invest a lot of money and time—a few simple home improvement ideas will turn your home from a simple mess to a gorgeous Zen oasis. Here’s how to do it.

Get rid of clutter

Clutter can be super stressful. If you ever spend hours searching for something in your home, you know just how stressful it can be. As a matter of fact, removing clutter is the first thing most interior designers address during a home remodel, so you might want to do the same. Start by taking a trip to your local home center and buy a few practical storage solutions. Remember, every single thing in a Zen home has its place and should be put in its place. A few minutes is all you need to find a “home” for all your necessities and if you always put them back, it will save you so much time and nerve.

Opt for neutral colors

Colors have a strong effect on humans. They can affect our mood, motivation, focus and emotions, so you’ll want to carefully consider your colors before you splash them around your home. The best way to create a peaceful atmosphere that will make you feel relaxed and balanced is to opt for earthy tones. There are so many beautiful soft shades to choose from such as white, light gray, beige, pink beige and so on. Don’t hesitate to experiment with color combinations until you find something that speaks to you and feels easy on the eyes. If you opt for a very monochrome color combination, you can introduce some color with accessories. These will break the monotony and serve as a gorgeous focal point.

Layer your lighting

The best thing you can do for your Zen home is providing it with natural light. Make sure to allow plenty of it inside by switching your heavy drapes for something light and airy and moving all bulky furniture that can block the light away from the windows. However, cloudy days and dark nights will require some help from electricity. But, remember that harsh overhead lighting is not very pleasant for the eyes and can cause headaches and eye strain. So, make sure to layer your lighting with lamps. Combination of floor, desk and table lamps is what you need in order to create warm illumination perfect for all sorts of activities from watching TV to reading and catching up with work.

Improve your air quality

If you want to boost Zen feelings but also improve your health, you might want to work on your indoor air quality. It can directly affect how you feel in your space both physically and mentally. Adding a HEPA air purifier to your home is an excellent idea since hepa filters can remove almost all airborne particles from your environment and even eliminate smoke particles. All allergy sufferers in your family will be more than grateful since they will be able to breathe easily in their home. Once your air is clean, you can add some scented candles (that don’t trigger anyone’s allergies) to create a pleasant smell throughout your home and create a stress-free feel.

Aim for symmetry

This step is definitely optional, but many people say that they feel much more balanced and relaxed when surrounded by symmetry. Sometimes, even moving your picture frame slightly to the right will allow you to achieve a better and more cohesive look.

Bring in some greenery

You know that feeling you get when you’re on a meadow or taking a stroll through a pine forest? Well, you can easily recreate that peace and relaxation by introducing a few plants to your home. And, don’t worry if you have a black thumb. There are low-maintenance plants like cacti and succulents that require minimal care and provide you with great results. Plus, plants will work together with your air purifier and clean your air from toxins and other pollutants.

Free your bedroom of technology

If it seems to you that technology is taking over your life, it’s time to do something about it and reclaim your peace. However, there’s no way to give up tech altogether, but you can at least ban it from your bedroom. This is the room that’s dedicated to your wellbeing and relaxation, so it’s a great idea to leave it tech-free. So, leave your TV, laptop and tablets in the living room and home office and try to create a peaceful environment without constant chimes of your devices. If you think you can leave your phone outside, grab an analogue alarm clock and you will even reduce the amount of static in your space. This might be a hard task at first because we’re so used to having tech at arm’s reach, but once you see how much more rested you are, it will be worth it.

These few interior design ideas will allow you to enjoy your home in a completely new way and feel relaxed, centered and Zen as soon as you cross your threshold.