I’ve been a devotee of “well-being at home” ever since I read Marie Kondo’s famous book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up“

Creating an environment, a cocoon, where you feel WELL is an essential element of happiness. Because your home is a “refuge”, the place where you spend your evenings after work, or, if you’re like me, the place where you spend your whole day because you work from home.

A home is a place to be pampered. A cluttered, untidy interior that isn’t decorated to our taste will be anxiety-provoking, and will weigh heavily. It can cause stress, loss of patience, or simply a persistent state of depression.

What can we do about it? Start by sorting everything out, then defining a place for everything.

Choose your decor with care.

Tastes change and evolve. It’s not unusual to find that an object you once loved is no longer to your taste. That’s okay, it served its purpose at the time: you can now get rid of it or resell it. But if you’re looking for sure-fire values in terms of decoration or furnishing that will have a positive effect on your interior, you can turn to these 5 timeless items:

1 – MIRRORS
Mirrors brighten up a room, they enlarge a room. They come in all shapes and sizes. Today, they’re real decorative elements. We can combine small ones in geometric shapes, place a huge mirror in the entrance hall, change their place according to our moods… Let’s not hesitate to put them in our entrance hall, in our living room, and even in the children’s play corner, as they are also useful for their development and “self-awareness”.

2 – WALL SHELVES
They’re timeless, practical, there’s something for every taste, and they’re available at low cost. Wall-mounted shelves allow you to store objects high up, freeing up the floor (objects on the floor give a “clutter” effect that can be significant!). Be careful not to overload your shelves: it’s better to attach several than to store everything on a single shelf. What’s more, it’s more aesthetically pleasing to install 2 or 3 than to leave one isolated.

The shelves are infinitely adaptable, so you can store books, kitchen spices and decorative objects. I love the effect of poster frames on a wall shelf above the sofa.

3 – PLANTS
Whether you have a green thumb or not, there are plants you can adopt to add a touch of greenery, of zenitude. You can also choose your plants according to their benefits; in particular, there are plants that are good for purifying the air. Plants are beneficial in our interiors (unless we overuse them, but that’s like for everything), and offer the possibility of creating different atmospheres.

Opt for a fat plant to start with – they’re low-maintenance!

4 – SOFT OR COLORFUL RUGS
Adding rugs to your home is a real cosy and sparkling asset. Some rugs “light up” the room with their graphic, colorful feel, while others warm the heart with their soft look. A soft rug next to the bed is a little extra for getting up in a good mood! Just change a rug to change the style and atmosphere of your home. Simple, effective!

5 – CANDLES AND CANDLEHOLDERS
Especially at this time of year, when night falls faster and the morning dawns softer, candles are excellent morale boosters! They offer a real sense of cosiness and comfort. As long as they smell good and give off a relaxing scent, you’ve got the perfect combo! Available in all sizes, shapes and compositions, there’s something for everyone.

What do you think are the must-have decorating elements for a cozy, pleasant interior?