Just as every person is unique, every home is too. Your home functions both as your physical shelter and an escape for your mind, and emerging mind-body research shows that the relationship between environment and health is strong. Read on to find out why your environment can influence your health and ways you can improve your space in light of this knowledge.
The psychology
It’s normal to want to rearrange and change your furniture—as you grow, your space should change with you. Furniture placement and the shapes of the pieces themselves can help or hurt your room’s functionality, and, by extension, your stress levels. After all, you can feel your most productive when your furniture works for you rather than against you. As expert feng shui consultant Rodika Tchi puts it, “What feng shui decorating means is that you create an environment that has the best energy to support the specific activity, or activities intended for that space.” Additionally, furniture with a variety of rounded and straight lines is thought by some to create a pleasing balance for your brain.
Tip: Rearrange
To achieve the best furniture functionality, go for light, easily movable furniture. Play with different arrangements to determine what functions best for you and can be adapted for various purposes. Consider placements you normally wouldn’t, such as your bed against a new wall across the room. Additionally, try simple rearranging, like moving a floor lamp to a different corner of the room.
The psychology
It’s no secret that lighting can affect your mood: your body responds differently depending on the type of lighting, such as natural or artificial light. For example, many people’s best memories are of places with abundant natural sunlight, like the beach. In fact, studies show that natural light is not only mood boosting but also used by your body’s internal clock, and when your internal clock is ticking optimally, you’re bound to feel more energized, alert, and satisfied.
Tip: Embrace natural light
Bring in natural light wherever possible, such as by opting for sheer curtains rather than blackout ones. Open your blinds during the day, and sit near your windows to work—uniform natural light is best for inspiring creativity. When you don’t have natural light, such as in the evening, choose warmer tones, such as yellow or orange, for a greater sense of calm. To achieve this, consider purchasing adhesive wall lights or smart bulbs that change colors.
The psychology
It’s thought by some that color choices can impact bodily functions, so choosing different shades for different areas can theoretically promote better health. When purchasing new furniture or paint for a space, choose intentionally, understanding that it could influence how you feel there for months and years into the future.
Tip: Create a color palette for every room
Each area of your home should have a color palette that is in tune with the activities you do in that space. For example, using green in an office can help promote creativity depending on its shade. In a dining room, consider red to add a feeling of comfort. Here are a few other general color suggestions for other rooms:
The psychology
Everyone has a style preference, and one way to reflect this is through your decor. Even though decor may seem purely cosmetic and not as necessary as furniture, it is still important to a healthy design. For instance, touches like photos of loved ones and art of beautiful landscapes can help you feel comfortable and surrounded by positivity. In addition, generic decor like vases ties a room together and can be equally as important to include for a visually and mentally satisfying aesthetic.
Tip: Bring in the outdoors
Natural elements like plants, a small fountain, and an aquarium can promote peace through their visuals and relaxing sounds, making them particularly helpful in a place where you might encounter stress, such as an office. Consider placing a few low-maintenance plants, like succulents and ferns, near or on your desk and windowsills.
The mind is complex and beautiful, and, for reasons still being researched, the design of your home’s environment can potentially benefit your well-being in various ways.
The warmer weather in the final weeks of spring beckons us to crank up the grill and savor some seasonal flavors. These scintillating barbecue recipes fit the bill, offering comforting classics with a twist by combining delectable mainstay ingredients with punches of herbs and spices.
This vibrant recipe won’t just make you love chicken burgers—you’ll actually prefer them to the standard beef version.
Flavors like fresh herbs and zesty peppers help marry two of America’s favorite comfort foods: tacos and barbecue.
Recipes from The BBQ Companion: 50 Recipe Cards for Grilling Perfection by Oscar Smith. Smith Street Gift, 2023. Photography © Billy Law
Serves 4
Serves 4–6
Real estate is often a desirable choice for investing because of its potential to generate a return on investment, diversify your financial portfolio, and potentially improve your financial future.
As an appreciating asset, it can also be a continuous source of generated income, whether you invest in residential, commercial, or undeveloped properties. And these investments can be short- or long-term, giving you the option to choose what’s best for you.
Many people believe that to begin, you need a cash reserve, good credit, and assets. However, this is not always true. For example, if your funds are limited, you can potentially secure financing from several sources, such as a hard-money lender, a home equity line of credit, a personal loan, or a cash-out refinance. So if you’ve been thinking about entering the world of real estate investing, consider taking the leap. With the right strategies, understanding, and guidance, it can be an excellent way to invest in your future.
The types of investments that follow are among the most popular, but it’s a good idea to discuss the best option for your specific situation with a real estate agent or financial advisor.
House flipping
Purchasing a run-down property or one located in a low-valued area (generally referred to as the worst-looking home in the nicest community) is one way to begin your investment career. However, while flipping a fixer-upper for a profit may seem easy on TV, it’s important to remember that the professionals on most shows have experience doing such projects. Unless you’re a contractor, it’s best to consult with one to discuss the complexities involved and get an estimate of what it will cost to complete the project. Then you can decide if it will be profitable enough to fund your next investment.
Commercial real estate
You can invest in a variety of commercial real estate properties, such as shopping centers, warehouses, industrial parks, or dwellings that have five or more units. (Residential properties usually have only up to four.) There are many benefits to commercial investments, including a regular rental income stream, the potential to earn a higher income, and possibly less competition and longer lease terms than a residential property.
Lease options
If you’re a first-time homebuyer without enough cash or credit to buy a home through a bank or lender, this arrangement can help you get started in the world of real estate. The owner will not only rent their property to you but also give you the option to buy it at a preset price when the lease agreement ends. This could provide you with more time to save money and build your credit to qualify for a loan.
Long-term rentals
Investing in real estate through the buy-and-hold strategy is a traditionally popular method, with the goal being to make the property an appreciating asset that will build your real estate portfolio. When selecting a property, the most important consideration is location: the more desirable it is, the higher the future rental income and potential selling price.
Vacation rental
Investing in a vacation rental can be incredibly lucrative. However, before you make a purchase, weigh its potential as rental income versus its costs, which include the purchase price, maintenance, and fees associated with its ownership. Also, research the local market to determine the best time to purchase and when to raise rental prices to make your investment worthwhile.
To help you better understand investing, its inherent risks and rewards, and how to make the most of it, seek outside resources such as a real estate investment class. A real estate agent is also a valuable asset to help you on your journey from start to finish.
Every homeowner has the same curb-appeal wishes for their property, with a core element for many being a lush yard. However, hiring a landscaper isn’t always financially feasible, especially if extensive work is needed to fix up your spruces and other plant life. Luckily, with just a few simple steps, you can improve your outdoor area all on your own.
Start as any landscaper would: by analyzing the conditions on your property and in your region. Regarding the former, purchase a soil test kit to get a better idea of how much water and nutrients your greenery needs to thrive; for the most accurate results, send a soil sample to a professional lab. For example, if your soil is rich in clay, you might need to place compost over top or mix it in, among other practices, for grass and plants to grow. Likewise, consider determining where your locale falls on the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, which will indicate its typical coldest temperatures. Look for this number on a plant’s tag to ensure that it can withstand your climate.
In addition, establish your goals before doing any work. Are you aiming to do a complete makeover or just specific changes here and there? Do you want your yard to display your tastes, or are you improving it for the sake of selling? The answers to such questions are key to deciding what direction you take.
There are many ways you can go about your landscaping, but a good general rule of thumb is to strike a balance between doing too much and not doing enough. Flooding your garden beds with plants or adding ones that are too large, for instance, can create an eyesore. Conversely, installing a simple water feature or a walkway with strategic lighting might be an ideal way to accentuate your home and its lush exterior.
Also, giving your yard clean edges can make a world of difference—nothing says neatness like crisp lines, as modern interior design can attest to. Here’s one way to go about it: Simply take a flat-end shovel to the edge of your garden bed, digging a four-inch-deep and few-inch-wide trough that’s straight on the grass side and slightly graded (around 45 degrees) on the bed side. Clean out the dug-up dirt, trim any overhanging grass with a string trimmer or dedicated edger, and add some mulch. You’ll be amazed at just how professional your edging looks. (You can use the same technique—with a much narrower trough and no mulch—with your walkways.)
Speaking of garden beds, here’s another landscaping point to mull over: even though you may frequently see them abutting houses, there’s no rule that says yours must do so. Instead, consider creating a dedicated planting area away from your home, which would serve as an eye-catching standalone feature in your yard.
Finally, don’t neglect to mix in year-round plants with the often more exciting seasonal ones in your yard or garden. If it were a recipe, perennials would be your base ingredients and annuals the add-ins that provide extra flavor. This combination will help make your yard look robust and striking no matter the time of year. Just remember to read each plant’s care tag to ensure that your soil and hardiness zone match its needs and that you know how to nurture it for maximum growth.
These starter tips can help put you on the path toward a more stylish lawn and garden. That said, keep in mind that yard makeup and conditions can vary wildly, so if you run into any hiccups along the way or simply decide that your thumb isn’t very green, hiring a local landscaping pro is always a sound option.
