Try These 4 Unexpected Ways To Refresh Your Home's Atmosphere

Your living space is your sanctuary, but it's common to crave a revamp when things feel stale—especially now, as spring cleaning season starts to dwindle. Now that the clutter is gone, the clunky winter garments tucked away in the back of your closet, you might be wondering how to further elevate your free space. 

Houseplants won't purify the air nearly as much as, say, an air filter, but certain plants can be useful in absorbing harmful gases and cleaning indoor air.

mindbodygreen's dream mist smells especially divine (just take it from the rave customer reviews), as it contains specific aromas to help chill out the mind and promote a general sense of peace: Sandalwood grounds the formula and provides a warm, rich aroma, while lavender, roman chamomile, and linden blossom offer delicate, herby notes to soothe the senses.

OK, repainting your walls takes a bit more effort than a spritz of room spray, but if you're up to the task, it's a great way to enhance a soothing or energizing space. "We interact with color constantly—knowingly and unknowingly. It's such a beautiful, powerful tool that we all have that we kind of forget about and take for granted," color therapist Walaa AlMuhaiteeb once shared with mbg.

As a general rule: Nurturing shades (think light blues, grays, pinks, and soft earth tones) create a calming atmosphere, while brighter colors (like a sunny yellow) can stimulate the mind. And if you really want to go all out, you can introduce complementary colors with your bedding, window treatments, and art.

I'm not going to pretend to be an expert in feng shui (you can read our full guide to feng shui for more professional advice), but I do know that stylish vignettes can help make a room appear more polished—think of a beautiful still life sitting in every corner. Books, vases, lamps, houseplants, special trinkets—you can mix and match all of these items into silhouettes that make your heart sing.