3 Steps to Make Your Home Your Sanctuary
Sharing three easy steps to turn your home into your sanctuary.
Home represents a place we can repose or relax after a long day.
If there was a time in our lives when a place of refuge sounds so appealing, it is now!
Do you agree?
These 3 steps will take your home from being just a place to sleep to a place you can rejuvenate and find peace.
After all, home is where we should be able to let the worries of the day fall away.
To lock ourselves away for a moment and just be.
My husband and I have rented vacation homes from Airbnb many times.
Upon entering there was a calm feeling.
Everything had a place and a purpose.
Whatever we needed to make our stay comfortable was provided.
That letdown feeling came over us.
All we wanted to do was melt into the beautiful bed and rest.
Like the photo above of a bedroom in a vacation home rental.
Along with the fan and lighting on the nightstand, you open the drawers and there is a bible, notepad and pen, kleenex, and even some Tylenol.
What a welcoming thought to have these things ready for us when we need them.
Our whole experience was wonderful because we knew when we opened up the kitchen drawers there would be what we needed.
We brought our own food but all the utensils, plates, and pans were provided.
Note: These photos are examples of vacation homes we went to that looked similar.
This is my inspiration for this post and for our home.
To recreate a vacation home rental experience in our own home.
Having only what we need and everything in its place.
It’s amazing what the owners of these bed and breakfast or vacation rentals took to provide every detail.
This has inspired me to provide these thoughtful ideas to our home.
The difference between a breezy welcoming vacation home rental versus our home was there was no clutter.
That put fire in our hearts to recreate that same feeling in our home.
And to get there we had to declutter.
To accomplish this we had to start at ground zero.
This is the process I’m taking you on.
From ground zero to having a home that is your little piece of heaven.
What you will need:
- A large black garbage bag
- Box (donate)
- Cleaner and cloth
Step #1 – Pull everything out.
Whether it’s your closet, dresser drawers, vanity, nightstands, or under the bed.
Take every item and ask yourself:
- Have I used this in the last year? If not, donate it (put it in a box) or throw it away (put it in a garbage bag).
- Do I love it? If so, keep it.
It’s that simple.
Repeat this step for your bathroom, living room, kitchen, office, laundry room, and pantry.
Step #2: Only have what you need.
For example.
A well-functioning nightstand has only the necessities.
Here are some ideas: (affiliate links)
- Clock
- Phone stand
- A book, Bible, and/or journal.
- A place to put your jewelry
- Water carafe
- Sleep aid
If your bills, kid toys, or any other added things are in this zone, then put them where they belong and only have what you need.
If you don’t have these things at your fingertips, it’s time to gather them and create your little oasis.
Having a nightstand with drawers helps hide your book(s), sleeping aid, and whatever else is needed for a good night’s sleep.
Nightstands with drawers are easily found on craigslist, Goodwill, or any thrift store.
It doesn’t need to be a big investment, but it will change your nightly routine.
Other ideas to add to your nightstand.
Do you have a clock?
Having a clock is so nice to keep track of the time as you get ready.
Do you have a water carafe available at night for when you’re thirsty?
My husband and I love having these.
They are aesthetically pretty to look at and practical.
Another perk when going on vacation to a bed and breakfast or vacation home has been the bedding.
This is something that can instantly change the look of your bedroom.
Soft, cozy sheets that match.
Coordinating throw pillows that add a touch of charm.
A nice feather-down comforter folded at the end of your bed for when it gets super cold at night.
Or if it’s summer, as it is now as I write, a nice thin bed scarf at the end of the bed is a wonderful addition to make your bedroom feel like your sanctuary.
Aesthetics matter.
Our senses need to have beautiful things to look at.
My husband who doesn’t care about decor agrees that when I put together a room that is beautiful it makes him feel good.
It makes it all worth it to know he loves it, too.
You can repeat this step by going into your bathroom.
To give it a vacation home feel we need to take a serious look at what we have.
Are the towels grungy?
If so, throw away the stained and worn-out towels for lush thick ones.
Once we did this, our bath experience was wonderful! Try it! It’s amazing.
Are your bathroom drawers filled with unused products?
If so, it’s time to say goodbye to the added clutter.
It feels so good to open our drawers and not have to dig for what we need.
This needed change has made us feel we’re that much closer to having our home feel like a vacation home.
Some luxuries you can add to your bathroom are some nice, scented soaps and candles.
I filled an apothecary jar with scented bath salts.
You can use an old teacup to scoop it out.
You are getting closer to making your home your sanctuary.
In the kitchen, as it is the heart of the home, having only the appliances, dishes, and cookware you need is essential to making your home feel like your sanctuary.
Repeat step one and declutter.
Now, think about what it will take to make a meal in the evenings.
Do we really need 3 air fryers, 5 skillets, 20 plates, etc, for example?
Get rid of the things you haven’t used in your kitchen for a year or more.
As for dishes and utensils needed for guests, I like to put these in another cabinet to make my kitchen feel less cluttered.
If you haven’t used that Instant Pot or the waffle maker that is back in the cupboard collecting dust, then you may have to part with them.
I know, it’s so hard.
Especially when you spent good money on the appliance, I understand that!
I feel the same way.
I’ve kept things out of guilt because what if I need them?
Well, time passed, and I didn’t use it.
I finally accepted it and donated it.
You can sell things on craigslist. But I find it is swifter to take things to our local thrift store and donate.
It has been sobering and makes my next purchases more thought out.
Step #3: Clean once a week.
Now that you have this amazing decluttered home, to maintain it you will need to clean it once a week.
Not including the daily upkeep of the kitchen and bathroom.
I’m referring to simple weekly chores (list below).
It’s human nature to make a mess.
It amazes me how quickly things can get awry after one day.
Don’t you agree?
But the basic cleaning only takes a few minutes.
Here is a list of what to clean each week:
- Vacuum the floor
- Wash sheets
- Wipe down counters and nightstands
- Do a load or two of laundry (of course, this can vary per household. Especially if you have children, it could be a load every day.)
These are simple things that will add that vacation feel to your home.
The kitchen and bathrooms can be maintained daily.
Once a week, if you clean the mirrors, floors, shower/tub, and wash linens, rugs, and towels, it is possible to keep up with it each day by wiping down the counters, sinks, and toilet, and doing the dishes.
It has been a wonderful way to live as my husband and I keep at it and create our sanctuary.
It is my hope to inspire you to make your home your sanctuary.
It’s so rewarding!
I hope these simple 3 steps pointed you in the right direction.
It can take several days for each room.
Sometimes several weekends.
But only do a little at a time.
It doesn’t have to all be done all at once.
That overwhelms me.
But to plug away at it for several hours, you will be on your way to making a vacation home that you will never want to leave.
Doesn’t that sound nice?
Here is a YouTube video sharing my summer home tour.
For more home decorating inspirations, go here.
I have other housekeeping tips, here.
Thanks for coming by Victorian Lane Farms.
