In today’s fast-paced, chaotic world, you can create a home that provides a sense of peace and comfort, as well as beauty for your family. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money if you use your creativity.

Organize and order:

No matter the size of your house, be thankful for that space you call yours! Look around.

• Take one room at a time and get a notebook to keep track of what you need to make that room work better and look its best.
• Is there too much in the room? Is it time to mess up?
• Take out everything that doesn’t need to be in the room.
• Try arranging it differently to make the room look more open.
• You know how they say it’s more blessed to give, and when you donate items you don’t want or need, they always come back in a good way! Or earn a little extra money with a garage sale.
• Teach your children to put away their things and to respect your home. They too should realize how blessed they are to have a home to live in.
• Organize the room. You need shelves, or baskets, or hooks on the wall to hang coats, backpacks, shoes, etc… write it down in your notebook.
• Having a clean room can add peace to your environment, and if you observe, your family will act differently in a clean room.

Turning on:

• Do you have enough light in each room?
• Do you need to change the bulbs? Some bulbs give a warmer glow to the room than others. Make a note in your handy notebook of which room you need to replace the light bulbs or switch to brighter or not-so-bright ones.
• Maybe your room could use a new lamp. Lamps can add a lot of heat to a room, especially at night. You can make a lamp out of almost anything with the lamp kits you can buy today. Or if you prefer, buy a lamp or two.
• Maybe you just need to update a lampshade. Small accessories such as fabric rosettes, fabric or ribbons, trims, etc. they can give an old shade a beautiful new look. You can always buy a new lampshade if you prefer. Think outside the box.
• Add some lamps to your kitchen counter or by your sink for a slightly more formal look. With just one lamp, you can change the entire look of a room!
• Mini clear Christmas lights above kitchen cabinets or perched on a mantelpiece make a room look cheerful and magical.
• Don’t forget about outdoor lighting! Make sure your driveway is lit and your backyard has enough lighting to deter crime so you can enjoy being outside at night.

decorating ideas

• What style are you trying to create visually in each room?
• Decide if you want your room to look country chic, shabby chic, classic, etc. It doesn’t even have to fall into a certain design category.
• Looking at magazines, online sites like Houzz, and pinterest can be very helpful in helping you decide how you want to decorate a room.
• Start by looking at what you have around your house, in the garage, in the attic, maybe you can “upcycle” an old painting, picture frame or piece of furniture so that it fits perfectly somewhere in the room you are trying to redecorate.
• What about the paint on the walls? Do you have your book? Paint can greatly affect your mood and influence how you feel in a room.
• Look for room samples that make you feel a sense of peace in your home.
• You don’t have to spend a lot of money to achieve a feeling of peace or “zen” in a room.
• For example, take a comfortable chair and place it in the corner of the room with a small table next to it (it could even be an upside-down box covered with a piece of furry fabric or lace). Then sit a fancy lamp on the table. Above the chair, hang a mirror with a crown hanging over the top of the mirror. Attach a ribbon to the crown and hang it just above the mirror. Center it over the mirror. Then place a folded blanket or quilt over the back of the chair. This creates a nice comfortable space for someone to sit and read a book or watch TV. They can sit next to the warmth of a lamp and can also snuggle in the blanket.

make the room smell delicious

This step is easy because there are so many cheap ways to do it! The smell can contribute to peace in a home.

• Add a candle that smells good like sugar cookie, vanilla, apple cinnamon, nothing too overpowering or floral… just the smell of something baking in the oven.
• Air fresheners like add ons which by the way are now made with night lights can make a room smell cozy and feel warmer at night with a little light in the dark.
• Be sure to clean and spray litter throughout your home from time to time. Make sure you don’t have moldy odors in your laundry room, kitchen, or bathrooms, too!

money

Sometimes adding soft music can make your home feel calmer and more welcoming.

• Sure your kids like to listen to the sounds of the day, but set some limits there. Teach your children to choose healthy music and artists to support and listen to. Today there are many great artists who fit that description.
• Make sure everyone follows the volume control rules on your music to not only help create a calm environment but also keep your hearing healthy!
• For example, Piano Guys take popular tunes but put an amazing instrumental spin on them. His music is not only easy to listen to but inspiring for all ages!

meal prep

Take time to sit down and plan your meals and mealtimes.

• Plan your meals for the week.
• Have a specific meal during the day where the whole family can be together. Schedules are crazy and hectic, but MAKE time to make it happen. Trust me you will never regret it!
• By having pre-planned meals, you’ll know each day when to start preparing them and what you’ll do to keep ingredients on hand and reduce stress for Mom. Wouldn’t you say that alone will add to the tranquility in your home?
• This gives everyone a chance to bond, communicate, and connect with each other! Critical for peace in your home.
• Pass out a jar of questions for children to ask or answer if they are having trouble talking to you or their siblings. Just try it! You will see amazing results in your home and family if you take the time to bond!

Family time

You can achieve family fun time in a number of ways. This not only helps them bond, but also creates an atmosphere that your children will want to be a part of. They may want to stay in the house a bit longer instead of always asking to go to a friend’s house.

• Set aside a night (same night) each week! Do an activity, play a game, go bowling, play croquet in the backyard, shoot hoops whatever…do it as a family! Then end the hour or evening with a home-cooked treat or pick up some ice cream. This weekly time together builds mutual trust, respect and love, which later translates into peace at home.
• Why not have a little time to read the scriptures or think about the day before the kids leave for school? Once again it contributes to peace and stability at home.
• Have games in a convenient room in your home where you or your children can pull out a game when you have some free time.
• Families that pray together add a feeling of peace and comfort to their lives. Pray as a family in the morning before everyone leaves and then pray together at night before bed. This again invites peace into your home.

set house rules

There is a song that says that your home can be a paradise on earth. Why not? It can be a shelter from the storm for your family members.

• Establish rules about respecting your home.
• Establish rules about mutual respect in your home.
• When mom and dad use calm, controlled voices to discipline, this teaches the child to do the same, and children will respond better with consistency than by yelling. Shouting can destroy peace in an instant!
• Everyone needs to help around the house! Everyone must have their chores apart from keeping their room clean.

Special keys:

It is important to be home if you can when your children come home from school or work. With a few thoughtful ideas, your home can be a magical place for your family.

• Have a fun homemade snack such as biscuits or chips and dip, vegetables and dip, or fruit and dip ready for the kids when they come home from school. It gives children a sense of security and comfort if mom can be there after school to say hello. You’d be surprised how much this affects children.
• Do the unexpected sometimes by setting up a tent in the backyard and have a picnic. Make a fairy tent with cloth and Christmas lights in your family room and have a snack and play a game with your kids. Get creative and there are lots of great ideas online so don’t use the excuse “I’m not creative!” There are no excuses!
• Go on a little scavenger hunt every once in a while with little surprises at the end that tell your family that you love them and that they are important to you.
• Celebrate birthdays!
• Let the children decide how their bedroom is designed.

However you choose to decorate and create your home of beauty and peace, follow your heart and make it a special place for your children and spouse to come home to. Then, long after your children leave to start families of their own, Grandma and Grandpa’s house will still be the best place to visit! You can have peace and beauty in your home if you are willing to try!