Best 4 Home Décor Tips That Will Improve Your Mood This Fall

featured this week on The Huffington Post by Diane Passage

Do you find that you’re dreading the colder weather because it means spending more time indoors? The state of your home can influence your sense of wellbeing more than you think.

Feeling overwhelmed by clutter and being unable to relax at home can be a real downer especially when coupled with shorter daylight time.

As a coach, I can safely say that the majority of my clients’ moods and behaviors are impacted by the condition of their home environments. This includes mess, perfection, design, decoration, and even domestic relationships with roommates, neighbors and more.

While dwellings are only a small piece of the puzzle, I usually take it into consideration when working with clients because, for some, it’s an easier area to start regaining a sense of control in life.

Plus, even a minor adjustment can boost mood drastically, which then improves attitude and outlook when attempting some of life’s bigger goals.

I reached out to a few pros to get their best advice on how anyone can make simple and smart decorating adjustments to feel more energetic, inspired, comfortable and cozy this season.

4. Diffuse

Many of us are aware that aromatherapy can be useful for relieving anxiety and stress, boosting energy, easing headaches and more.

Anjie Cho, Architect and Author of 108 Ways to Create Holistic Spaces: Feng Shui and Green Design for Healing and Organic Homes, recommends embracing the scents of the season and inviting them into your space.

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Your Guide to Choosing an Organic Rug

Taking steps to free your home of harmful chemicals and toxins doesn't have to mean you have a barren, minimalist home. With the increasing focus on organic materials and eco-friendly products, it's possible to design a beautiful, sacred space that enhances your health instead of hurting it. One easy way to reduce some of the VOCs in your home is to choose an organic option when adding rugs to your space, and thanks to Stephanie Holmes and Matt Budenholzer, of Organic Looms, we've got tips on how and why to go about it!

Why Go Organic?

Perhaps the most important reason to go the organic route with rugs is indoor air quality. We spend most of our time indoors, yet our internal environments are actually much more polluted than the outdoor atmosphere, due to off-gassing, VOCs and more. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the average person experiences 72% of his total chemical exposure in his own home!

How does this relate to rugs? Rugs and carpeting are two of the most common culprits of off-gassing, due to chemically produced material and backing. Since many traditional and machine-made rugs are actually composed of several loose pieces of yarn, they include chemical backing for cohesion, which can off-gas harmful VOCs over time. Many popular rug materials, like nylon and polyester, will eventually produce these gasses as well. With a truly organic rug, there will be no off-gassing. Organic rugs are made of more environmentally (and health) friendly materials like wool, silk and various plant fibers. These rugs are also longer lasting, generally of higher quality and have a low carbon footprint. 

How to Go Organic

So where do you start if you're on the search for an organic rug? Research! Go old school and call local rug companies, or head to Google and search "organic rugs" to get a good idea of what's available for your budget and needs. Be diligent and careful not to fall into a greenwashing trap, though, as the term "organic" has become a bit diluted over time and there are no regulations on what businesses can label with that term. 

Take care to ask about materials used in the construction of your rug, not just the primary material, as well as the process itself, including dyes used and construction method. This will help you determine whether each rug option is truly organic. 

Know ahead of time what the perks are for each option. For instance, wool is the most durable organic option and is easy to clean, making it great for high-traffic areas, whereas silk is a strong, beautiful material, but is more difficult to clean. If you're vegan, opt for plant choices like hemp, nettle and other animal-friendly materials! Check out these tips for finding the right material for your space. 

There are many organizations dedicated to producing high quality, eco-friendly rugs, like one of our favorites and our gracious all-things-organic-rugs educators, Organic Looms. Ultimately, it's about finding the right company and right rug for your space!

by Anjie Cho

15 Ways to Get Rid of Negative Energy in Your Home

featured this month on CountryLiving by Lauren Smith

Everyone experiences gloomy Sunday afternoon feelings from time to time. But if your home feels like it's been in a constant state of the blues, it's time to banish those negative, sad and downright depressing vibes that can have a dramatic effect on your mood once and for all. Trust us, you do want to try these techniques at home.

Be Sure to Repair or Remove Broken Things

Even though you've been meaning to get around to fixing that office chair, it might not be worth holding onto. "Broken things bring that stuck and negative energy into your home," says Anjie Cho, Feng Shui and holistic living expert and founder of Holistic Spaces. 

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