Mindful Interiors: 4 tips for creating a serene kitchen

Mindfulness is becoming a more commonplace practice for so many. It has the power to relieve stress and help people connect better with the world around them. But, if you're trying to truly relax, why not invite mindfulness into your home? Here, Hayley Baddiley, the Global Marketing Director at Denby shares her top tips for creating a kitchen that soothes your stress. 

With so much going on in our daily lives each week, we could all do with a little relaxation. So, why not think about creating a mindful space within your home to better regulate your emotions and wash away those everyday stressors? 

If you're looking for a starting point or just want to try the style out, the kitchen is a great place to start. As one of the rooms in your home with the highest footfall and where you no doubt spend a lot of your time cooking, socialising and hosting, you'll definitely see a lot of benefits. Here, I will be sharing my top tips for turning your kitchen into a mindful space you'll appreciate after a stressful day. 

Use calming colours

The first step to creating a serene kitchen is to find a calming colour theme that will make you feel relaxed the second you step into the room, as well as looking beautiful and complementing the rest of your home nicely. I would recommend considering lighter, more neutral colours than darker themes as these can intensify negative feelings, while brighter tones such as white and cream can represent a clean slate and help your kitchen to feel more peaceful. 

If you'd like to add a splash more colour to your kitchen, pastels are a great choice, as their faded undertones will add interest to your walls without becoming overbearing. Sage is incredibly on-trend for 2020, and looks stunning when paired with gold accents, while pastel blues can imitate the sky on a cloud-free day, which is sure to instantly heighten your mood and make you feel calmer. 

Select simple and clean décor

Minimalism is key for achieving mindfulness in the kitchen, as cluttered spaces can increase stress levels, making you feel unhappy and clouding your judgement (WebMD). But, minimalism doesn't mean your décor has to be boring. Instead, focus on the little details that'll pack a punch. For example, adding some stunning hand painted tiles, such as these ones from Decorum Studio, on one wall of your kitchen will add a pop of subtle colour, while maintaining a fresh, clean look. Plus, as these are hand painted, they will be completely unique to your space so are sure to be a point of interest for your guests. 

To keep things simple, I'd recommend only integrating four main colours around your kitchen. For example, you might want to juxtapose your sage walls with additional dark green accents that mimic nature, as well as gold accents for a touch of luxury. And, if you'd like to add a rug to a tiled floor to ensure it's cosy underfoot, how about trying a fluffy natural-coloured rug? This is sure to keep with your minimalist theme and help you to relax in pure comfort after a long day. 

You could even add some beautifully patterned mugs to your décor to add a pop of colour and detail to an otherwise minimalist space. Looking at the brighter colours are sure to make you feel cheery. 

Invite nature in
Green spaces have been consistently found to lower the risks of developing a psychiatric disorder, as they reduce stress, increase mood and provide an escape for stressed minds (NASA Earth Observatory). This means adding natural elements to your kitchen décor will be important in creating a mindful space that lifts you up and makes you feel positive. 

Finding beautiful leafy plants that mentally transport you to somewhere hot and sunny is always a bonus, so investing in some philodendrons, Monstera Deliciosa or mini cacti is sure to add eye-catching detail to your space and boost your mood. It might even be a good idea to select some plants that omit a relaxing scent, such as lavender, gardenias and scented geraniums. Not only will they make your kitchen smell like a fresh flower garden, but they can add a gorgeous pop of colour, too. 

As it is your cooking space, you could even try your hand at creating a mini fruit and vegetable patch so you can harvest your own food to use in your cooking. Not only will it add another point of interest to your kitchen, but tending to your vegetables and plants can be a particularly relaxing activity so is sure to make the space feel more peaceful. 

Incorporate natural materials and fibres

As well as inviting nature into your kitchen, you may also want to incorporate natural materials and fibres into your décor to nod to outdoor influences. Some of the key materials you could use for this include jute, flax, hemp and bamboo. These don't have to be overbearingly used, but instead you could choose them for the smaller details around your kitchen. 

For example, having a jute area rug underneath your kitchen table won't take the attention away from it, but will be a cosy addition underfoot, and add some natural materials into your home. Similarly, setting your table with bamboo placemats and hemp napkins will look great. 

When it comes to selecting homeware, I'd recommend choosing some stoneware pieces that have been hand crafted with locally sourced clay. Not only will this keep your environmental impact down, which is bound to make you feel happier, but their versatility and durability means you will be able to cherish these pieces that match your mindful kitchen for longer. Keep with the theme by choosing plates, bowls and mugs in relaxing hues like pastels, blues, and whites. 

Mindfulness is an important practice that can help to relieve you of your stressors and think more positively. So, why not follow my top four tips for inviting it into your cooking space? It'll look beautiful and make you feel good, too.