Make Your Home Your Happy Place with These 5 Mood Boosters

About Brookdale Senior Living

Brookdale Senior Living offers multiple care levels for seniors in more than 600 communities nationwide. Brookdale helps you find the right care plan for yourself or your loved one. With amenities such as transportation services, salons and private dining rooms and activities such as gardening, fitness classes and trivia nights Brookdale caters to a wide range of interests and needs.

Home should always feel like a safe haven — a place to relax, a place where all your comforts are within arm’s reach, and ultimately, a place that makes you happy. Being able to enjoy your space is one perk of a happy home, but there’s another benefit: improved mental health.

Studies show that our immediate environment can affect our mood, motivation and stress levels. This can be true for people of all ages, but may be especially true for seniors who may find themselves spending more time indoors.

That’s why one of the simplest ways to potentially improve your mental health at home is to introduce small items that have a positive impact on your mood. Think: a bouquet of your favorite flowers to perk up a gloomy morning or a calming sound machine that helps you relax while lounging around the house. Read on to discover a few of our favorite mood-boosting ideas for turning your home into your happy place.

Fresh Flowers

Flowers are usually reserved for celebratory occasions, but who says every day can't be celebrated? Whether you get a bouquet from the grocery store, the florist or even from your backyard, a fresh bunch of flowers add the right amount of color and life to your home. They serve as a reminder that even the smallest things can feel special and can brighten up a dull day.

Note: Beware of any plant allergies or outdoor irritants that might compromise your happy home. If you have plant allergies, a bouquet of artificial flowers is a good alternative for brightening up your space.

Essential Oil Diffuser

Aromatherapy is the ancient practice of using aromatic oils to promote well-being. It is easy to incorporate around the home with the help of an inexpensive essential oil diffuser. With a diffuser and a few drops of your favorite oil, you can create a spa-like experience at home, filling the air with a gentle therapeutic scent. Don’t know which oils to try? Lavender oil, peppermint oil and lemongrass oil are popular options.

Himalayan Salt Lamp

These lamps have become increasingly popular. One thing is for sure, though: these beautiful lamps emit a warm orange-red glow that’s perfect for nighttime relaxation. Sleep studies show that gentle red light is the most unobtrusive light for sleep.

Plants

The same way flowers may be able to boost your mood, so can plants. While a bouquet has a shorter lifespan, plants are almost like companions. You can watch them grow, take care of them — even talk to them! Pick up a few from a local nursery or grow your own in an effort to boost your mental health. Read more about our favorite low maintenance indoor plants for seniors here.

Calming Sound Machine

Research around sound therapy has shown that it has the power to greatly improve the listener’s mood. Sound machines are a way to potentially get the sound therapy effect at home. You can usually find them used at spas, salons and even during meditation and yoga classes to create a calming environment. While specific sound machines vary, most feature an assortment of soothing sounds that are easy to have playing in the background of your day. You can listen to a babbling brook while reading, be transported to a tropical rainforest while preparing lunch or play white noise to prepare you for bed.

Want more ideas for making your home a haven? Read “Make the Most of Staying Indoors by Refreshing Your Home” and discover new tips to help you reinvent your home.

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