Cultivate A Peaceful Home: 9 Ways To Do It Now

Are you struggling to cultivate a peaceful home? We live in a hectic world and that is all the more reason that we need peace at home. If you want your home to be a haven for your family this post will have some practical tips to make it happen. 

When people come to our home that is one of the comments I get, “It’s so peaceful here.” That means so much to me because it is something I’m very conscious of. We rent where we live abroad and we don’t have a fancy home. But I work to make it cozy and calm for my family and anyone who enters. There is also a lot of prayer that goes into it but we will get into that more later. 

Check out the new Framework over on The Grace Filled Mom Show! Create a peaceful home now even as a busy mom!

Let’s get into the peaceful home tips…

If you have a tip not on the list please let us know in the comments!

1. Reduce what you have to manage

A clean and organized home creates a more peaceful environment. The problem is we often have too many things in our homes to clean and manage, especially with babies and toddlers in the house. It’s not peaceful if we have to constantly pick up things to try to make our homes look clean.

The solution?

Have less to manage. Get rid of things that are not being used and create more free space. We don’t have to fill every nook and cranny with stuff. Less stuff can equal way more peace. It’s just more appealing to the eyes when there is space to move and breathe.

WHAT ABOUT THE KID’S STUFF?

You can focus on having fewer but higher quality toys but could also implement a toy rotation system. This will ensure that there are fewer things out to play with at a time and you can store other items away. You can rotate the toys on a schedule weekly or even monthly.

This inspires children to be more creative and gives them more space to play. You may be surprised how freeing children actually find less and how little they miss the things we get rid of.

CLEAR OUT REGULARLY FOR A PEACE-FILLED HOME

I have noticed more and more things accumulating in our home again. Regularly scheduling a clean-out every quarter helps. Then enlist family members to help keep things up. I also find that giving the house a good cleaning and moving the furniture around from time to time makes our home feel fresh and peaceful again.

You can decorate with what you already have this way. Switching things between rooms and moving things around can create a new feeling of space. 

Visual clutter is a real thing so you have to decide if things being on the counter for convenience is worth the visual clutter they cause or if you can create a space in cabinets to easily put things away and take things out. Coming home after a long day to counters full of clutter does not feel good. It does not feel good to wake up to them either. 

Reducing your clothes can be a huge help too. If you have ever felt the closet full of clothes but nothing to wear phenomenon doing a clear out can make getting dressed way more peaceful.

If you need extra support on clearing out and having less to manage one of my favorite YouTube channels is @TheMinimalMom.

2. Be Intentional About What You Bring In

We talked about clearing out and getting rid of clutter but to keep things peaceful we also have to be intentional about what we bring into our homes. We need to bring in quality things that have value. Value to our family and value to our living space. It’s so easy to let clutter continue to pile up. Our catch-all at the door is a mess as I type this.

And it’s not just things but attitudes also. Maybe you’ve seen the story about the father who hugged a tree in the yard every day when he came home from work. This made the neighbor curious so she asked. The father told her that is where he lets everything go from the day so he doesn’t take the negative things into his family. It’s ok to share the things you experience with your family and get support, of course. But we also need to be careful about the emotional atmosphere we create in our homes if we want them to be a peaceful place.

IT MATTERS SPIRITUALLY TOO

For my Christian mommas out there, we also need to guard against bringing things into our homes that could let the enemy in and make the Holy Spirit uncomfortable. Our physical space is a spiritual space too. Seemingly small things matter. 

Reminds me of one of my favorite Bible passages.

 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.PSALM 91:9-11

That is such a beautiful promise but we have to do our part. We can pray and ask the Lord if there is something in our home that we need to get rid of. Sometimes there are things that have been brought in and we are not even aware of them.

On a less serious note, we can start asking when we buy things if it is something that is really going to give value and joy to our home and family for a long time or if we should pass up the sale and save the money for something else.

3. Create Routines and Systems

There is not a lot that can crush your peace at home like feeling overwhelmed. Having systems in place to keep up with things can greatly increase happiness and reduce stress.

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.

Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there.JAMES CLEAR, ATOMIC HABITS

Little ones need routine and mommas too. I love that quote from James because it’s so true, especially for mommas. Motherhood is hard. We can get very tired and overwhelmed but if we have systems in place that help us take care of our families and accomplish our goals we can fall back on them. They become automatic and keep us going. We can have routines in place for rest too. This is not about going until you burn out at all. This is about creating space and balance in our days and weeks.

HERE ARE SOME IDEAS FOR ROUTINES AND SYSTEMS YOU MAY WANT TO IMPLEMENT:

• Cleaning routine
• Morning routine
• Afternoon routine
• Evening routine
• Workout routine
• Weekly reset
• Toy rotation system
• Meal planning routine

To figure out what routines and systems you need, think about your day and your home and family. When do things seem to fall apart? Is there a certain time of day when you feel extra overwhelmed or a certain time when that “mom anger” appears? Is there an area of your home that just drives you crazy? Would less clutter help? Is it something affecting your mental health? 

Start to figure out some solutions to those times and areas. Write them down and brainstorm. It may take a little time to figure out but small tweaks and changes to our homes and days can restore so much peace and make a big difference in how you feel in your own home.

4. How to Create a Calm Environment: Pictures, Candles, Plants

Simplifying your home doesn’t mean you have to have completely clear surfaces and blank walls. That can feel cold and uninviting. Pictures and art that you love can add so much to the atmosphere, especially if it is good memories of your family. Psychologists have even found that displaying family photos is great for our children giving them a greater sense of belonging. Plants get extra use too because they clean the air and add that calming green color to the atmosphere. And fresh flowers always make a space feel special. If you don’t have a budget for flowers you can always pick some wildflowers. We have a lavender plant outside I like to take cuttings from for our home. Natural materials feel especially healing. And fragrant flowers on the coffee table bring me joy and improve my mental state along with having a tidy home. 

Just looking at something natural can give us a greater sense of peace. Growing herbs in pots is a great way to add greenery to the kitchen with practical use.

Natural elements like wood benefit our homes too. Lamps and candles add soft light that helps give our hearts a warm glow.

It’s that Hygge concept of feeling cozy. 

hyg·​ge noun

: a cozy quality that makes a person feel content and comfortableMERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY ONLINE

You and your family get to choose how your home will look and feel. Now I know there are limitations to budgets and all. I don’t mean that. I don’t mean spending money and trying to make your home look like a designer one. A home that is lived in and loved and contains the things the family loves is peaceful, even if you rent your home as we do. Even if you are in a tiny apartment. You can create a cozy corner anywhere. A peaceful house is one that fuels you while reducing stress levels. 

6. Fresh Air and Sunshine

Just opening the windows and letting in some air can create a fresh and more peaceful home. Listening to the birds, and feeling the breeze come through is beautiful. Pushing the curtains back to let the sun in makes a home bright and cheery. If you are in a place where you want more privacy with the curtains open consider a decorative film for your windows. Natural light is so uplifting. 

Our dining area is dark. There is a window there that looks into the laundry room. I wanted to leave the curtains open but didn’t want to be staring at the washer all day. I put a decorative film over the window and it blocks out the laundry chaos but allows the light in.

Even on a rainy day, there is something beautiful about opening the windows and hearing the sounds of nature. Fresh air can help prevent illness, reduce the potential for mold, and deodorize our homes. But it can also create a more peaceful home and give our brains a boost.

If you have little ones of course make sure it is safe to have the windows open.

7. Take A Screen Break

Scheduling screen-free time for the whole family can create a more peaceful home. It is hard to be present when we’re on our phones mindlessly scrolling all day. It can waste a lot of time which causes more stress and it’s time we could do something that nourishes our souls. If you work from home it can be even harder but we can have time throughout the day to move and be present with our families.

I wanted to read more. When our daughter was breastfeeding or asleep on me I would find myself sometimes mindlessly scrolling through social media. I didn’t care about the stuff and it wasn’t helping my life so I decided I would start reading on my Kindle app during those times instead. I moved the social media icons away from the first page on my phone as a reminder.

I get a lot more reading done now and that is improving my life and the lives of my family.

I still catch myself being on my phone too much sometimes and remind myself that I don’t want that example for our daughter. I want her to have a present mom so it is something I will continue to work on creating that space to be free and present.

A PEACEFUL HOME IS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY HOME OF CONNECTION

We have set a goal to have one family night a week to play a game and to take turns having present, no-screen time with our daughter two different nights a week. During that time the other parent can have a short break time to refuel too. Life happens, we have a home baking business, but we are working on making these times a priority. It’s the simple ways that create a haven of peace even on rainy days. 

Larissa Leigh has some nice tips for eliminating screen time.

8. Make The Daily Things Special

There are things that moms do every day over and over again. The monotony can suck the life out of you if you let it. One way to create more gratitude and contentment is to start noticing the special things about every day and to work to make the days more special.

Maybe you have seen the quote about not saving the special china just for special occasions. It can be hard if you are still in the part of motherhood with little ones. Maybe you don’t want that special china broken but you can still make your dining room a beautiful place to gather as a family. There is something to be said for not waiting for things. For embracing the time we have now. Begin to think about the things that you do every day over and over and how you can make them more fun and special. 

It could be singing a silly song while you and the children pick up toys. It could be having a special creamer in your tea or coffee. It could be setting out nice dishes for dinner and lighting a candle.

It could be planning and trying out a different activity at a certain time every day or starting a new family tradition. We live in a world that caters to the new and the exciting. But there is beauty to be found in the quiet and the simple and that makes for a peaceful home. Let’s train ourselves to look for it.

9. Invite The Prince Of Peace

This is the most important part. For a peaceful home, we need The Prince Of Peace, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Praying for a peaceful home and nurturing home is one of the most important things I think we can do as mommas. Also taking the time to worship throughout the day and pray with our children, and with our spouse. Staying united as a family depends on this.

When God is present there is peace. The other things, the practical things we do are important but nothing compares to His presence.

 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.2 THESSALONIANS 3:16

This post was all about how to have a peaceful home. Let’s invite the presence of God into our homes through prayer, through the words we speak, and through the way we live and interact. May the Lord help us in all. Our mental health and our family’s peace depend on it. Determine to live a peaceful life. 

There are many different ways to create a more peaceful home. What are your favorite things in your home?