A little extra zen is something everyone could use. Having a meditation room in your home gives you the luxury and convenience of slipping away to find peace in your everyday life. A dedicated meditation space will signal to your brain that it’s time to relax and focus on your breath. If you’re looking to create a meditation room in your home, read on for tips to create the ultimate space to unwind.

Soundproof the Room
Soundproofing the room will help you tune out outside distractions, so you can focus on breathing, staying zen and clearing your mind. There are several ways to reduce outside noise levels, such as insulating the walls using acoustic foam or panels, and insulating the floors. You can also apply a sealant around the window and door frames and hang soundproofing curtains.

Selecting a Wall Color
The color palette will set the mood for the meditation room. Everyone is drawn to different colors, ranging from crisp and white, dark and moody, or muted and calming. The color palette is a personal choice, so select the color that makes you feel most at peace.

Deciding on Flooring
When you’re meditating, you will likely be sitting on the floor. Wood or bamboo flooring are natural choices, which may add to the overall tranquility of the space. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is an option that has a wood look, but may offer additional softness. However, tile flooring will be too hard and cold. Installing heated floors will also keep you warm during the colder months. Natural fiber carpeting is another flooring alternative. It will provide wall-to-wall softness and soundproofing qualities, as well.

Choose the Seating
Meditation is typically done while seated on the floor; however, if your own meditation space, you can incorporate a variety of seating options to best accommodate your meditation preferences. For example, meditation cushions will help support you during your meditation routine on the floor. Additional cushions, a window seat, a bed and swings are other seating options for you to achieve maximum relaxation.

Add a Water Feature
Water is naturally relaxing, so adding a wall-mounted water feature will bring immediate zen to the space. In addition, the sound of the trickling water will bring a sense of nature and tranquility to the space.

Layer the Lighting
Lighting sets the mood for any space. In a meditation room, you’ll want the lights dimmed with a soft glow. A meditation room is a space where you can skip the recessed lights and add several dimmable lamps, as well as flicker candles.

Set the Scent
Aromatherapy can help you relax and achieve mindfulness. Diffusing the oil for the mood you wish you achieve will help you maximize your meditation session. Whether it’s a citrus oil to re-energize or lavender to relax, aromatherapy will appeal to your sense of smell and overall meditation experience.

Include Greenery
Plants can help purify, add oxygen and bring life to a space. Placing plants throughout the room will help remove toxins and add a breath of fresh air to the space.

When we think of getting fit, the first thing that often comes to mind is cardio and heavy weight training. While these can be great ways to stay active, they aren’t always the best option. 

There are infinite ways to move your body to build strength and endurance. If the weight room just isn’t for you, try one of these fun alternatives to work towards improving your overall health and happiness. 

Yoga
This practice provides an abundance of benefits for the entirety of your wellbeing. Yoga is a great way to improve strength, flexibility and mindfulness. If an in-person class seems a little intimidating, there are plenty of online resources that allow you to practice yoga from the comfort of your own home. 

Swimming
An alternative to running, swimming is a fantastic way to improve your cardiovascular health without damaging your joints. This low-impact option is perfect for those who are recovering from injury. 

Rock Climbing 
This low-impact activity is a fun way to improve coordination, endurance and upper body strength. Find a climbing buddy and check out your nearest gym. 

Kickboxing
Trade the weights for gloves. This activity is a fantastic way to improve strength, coordination and agility. This full body workout is the perfect way to reduce stress and boost your confidence. 

Dancing
What better way to burn those calories than grooving to your favorite tunes? Dancing helps to improve coordination, endurance and cardiovascular health. Dance also offers an abundance of variety. Try different styles, class structures and music selection to find the best fit for you! The best part? You can do it from the comfort of your own home! Look up guided classes and videos online for an easy way to get moving throughout the day. 

As the new year celebrations and resolutions trickle away, and we head into a new month, it’s time to explore the savings that February offers. From Super Bowl sales to Valentine’s Day and President’s Day specials, shoppers can find deals on a variety of items to get them through the end of winter. Here are seven things that you can save big on in the month of February.

TVs and Electronics
If you missed out on Black Friday or Cyber Monday deals for a new TV or laptop, don’t stress! In fact, February offers even better discounts on these items. Because the Super Bowl happens during this month, many retailers offer discounts and specials around the hype of the big game. President’s Day also brings some of the best deals of the year to retailers like Best Buy, offering laptops, tablets, headphones, TVs, smart phones and more up to nearly 70% in savings.  

Snacks and Candy
Between Valentine’s Day and the Super Bowl, what better month for snacks and candy than February. Both online and in-store sales can be found on treats like chocolates, your favorite brand of chips and even beverages. Amazon offers discounts as high as 20%, as well as coupons, for items such as wing sauce and Doritos, and Target is known for up to 40% discounts on chips and dip. Check your local drug stores for deals on chocolate boxes and big bags of candy as the season of romance comes to a close. In fact, you can often find deals up to 80% off for candy in the days following Valentine’s Day. 

Jewelry
Shopping for a new necklace or a watch for your partner this Valentine’s Day? Keep an eye out for deals anywhere from 10% to 30% jewelry in retail stores or online. Many large jewelry stores, such as Jared or Zales, will often reach about 20% discounts, as well as free shipping specials during their Valentine’s Day sales. Not planning to buy a sparkly gift for someone else? Instead, use this month to treat yourself to something extra special by taking advantage of these holiday sales. 

Mattresses
President’s Day brings some of the biggest sales of the year to mattress stores across the country. During this month, shoppers can find discounts of up to 20% off select models, and will often include sheets, pillows and other accessories in their sales. Be sure to look online, as more and more online-only mattress retailers are growing in popularity, such as Purple and Casper, as they ship your mattress right to your door. These websites often offer up the same, if not better, deals and discounts on their mattresses with President’s Day sales.

Winter Clothing
Even though February can sometimes feel like the dead of winter, spring is right around the corner. However, many retailers will wait at least one more month to put out their spring collection of lightweight fabrics and sleeveless shirts. However, February is the perfect time to stock up on some heavier sweaters and winter coats. You can find deals up to nearly 80% off winter clothing and accessories both online and in-store, as stores are trying to clear out their stockrooms to make room for spring clothing.  

Garden and Grilling Tools
For colder climates around the country, February is likely not a month where you will be tending to your garden or grilling up burgers. However, this is the perfect time to stock up on the tools and items you will need when spring and summer are in full swing. In fact, gardening items in particular will be some of the best deals you will find this month. From plant food, mulch and gardening kits to grills, grill tools and even outdoor furniture, you can save up to between 40-60% on these items, getting you fully ready and outfitted for the first day of spring. 

Just like fashion, home designs come and go over the years. There are many styles that simply never need to be done again, but there are also some that come back into the home, even when you least expect them. This year, especially with more nostalgic-generations buying and designing homes, many home design trends are drawing inspiration from the past decades. Here are six home design trends that are making a comeback in today’s modern homes. 

Floral Wallpaper 
Wallpaper, in general, has made a massive resurgence when it comes to modern home design. From accent walls and ceilings, to covering every single wall in a room, this nostalgic trend has taken on a modern twist. Floral wallpaper, specifically, is impacting home designs across the country. However, you won’t find the same patterns that your grandmother had in her kitchen, but rather more modern patterns featuring bolder color palettes, unique designs and, of course, a wider range to choose from. Today’s wallpaper options have also grown in utilization, as you can now find both permanent and removable options, which are great for renters or those who like to constantly change up their home decor.

Wood Paneling
A popular and budget-friendly option throughout the 60s, wood paneling definitely had its place in home design. Over the years, it became dated and boring, and more and more people opted to remove it for a plain wall with no character. However, today’s homeowners are revisiting this texture-rich option and bringing new life and character back into their home design. Whether painting over existing wood panels with fresh, trendy colors, or installing them in unique ways, such as a shiplap style, diagonal or even chevron, this seemingly out-of-date wall treatment is here to stay.

Macramé Decor
Fast-forward another decade where you may have seen plenty of macramé decor all around the house. The 70s was a time where home design featured a lot of unique colors and textures, and macramé was a staple in almost every home. Nowadays, this woven decor is being revived, making its way into living rooms, bedrooms and bathrooms all over the world. From plant holders and pillows to wall hanging and window treatments, macramé adds a bohemian flair to any space, full of texture and the feel of nature inside the home. Many people have even started making their own pieces of artwork, tying knots into cording to feature unique, handmade creations throughout their space.

Brass Elements
For many years, decades and centuries, brass has almost always had an impact in home design. Depending on your style, or the outdated style of a room, brass has been known to make a home feel drab and old. However, this exquisite metal has made a big comeback, especially in kitchens where chrome and nickel have been the statement metals for the last 10-15 years. From light fixtures to faucets to hardware, you can mix brass into a room with ease. When mixed with warm wood and simple, classic palettes, such as a black and white kitchen or a gray bathroom, brass finishes can make a dominating impact that brings a whole new level of character into a space. 

Rattan Furniture
Another staple throughout the 60s and 70s was rattan, a lightweight, woven material that brings the outdoors inside. Because of its texture and muted palette, this furniture became quickly outdated as more modern pieces made their way into home design. However, with a resurgence of people wanting to mix their indoor and outdoor spaces, plus adding more plants to the home, rattan furniture has made a major comeback for a more casual and nature-inspired design. From baskets to hold your plants to seating options for the head of the dining room table, these pieces offer a modern twist on eclectic tastes.

Art Deco Motifs
100 years have gone by since the roaring 1920s, but that doesn’t mean that people aren’t still dazzled by the glitz and glam of this era. From unique shapes, like arches and curves to metallic finishes and bold lines, this luxurious design trend has made its way back into the home. From entryways to dining rooms, even bathrooms, this vintage trend introduces a sense of luxury into any space. Though traditionally the color palette for art deco design sticks close to black, white, gold and silver, today’s homeowners are adding in their own style, choosing to highlight these motifs with bold jewel tones for an added flair that showcases their modern personalities. 

We want the best for our children, and their birthdays are the perfect time to show them how much we care. Most parents want to throw them a fun-filled party that they’ll cherish forever. Try one of these unique themes to make your little one’s special day extra special this year!

Holiday Celebration
Pick the best part of each holiday for the ultimate celebration! Post up decorations from every time of year to transform your house into a holiday haven. 

Start the party with an unconventional Easter egg hunt. Follow it up with sparklers and poppers outside to celebrate like it’s Independence Day. Next, lay out costume pieces for a DIY Halloween costume contest. Feed those hungry little bellies with a delicious Thanksgiving meal, followed by a goofy white elephant gift exchange. Finally, finish the party with a good ol’ New Years style celebration with a countdown to blowing out their candles.

Battle of the Bands
Throw it back to the golden age of rock and roll! Split your guests into two groups and have them form the newest, hottest bands. Provide them with craft supplies to create their own band posters and hang them around your house. Set out costume pieces so they can dress the part of an ultimate rocker. Let them pick songs to jam out to in a fun lip sync battle of the bands at the end of the evening. 

Ultimate Chef
Let your kiddos explore their inner culinary genius. Give them reign of the kitchen with a make-your-own pizza experience. Lay out sauces, cheeses and toppings. Layer them on an English muffin or personal crust, stick them in the oven and enjoy. Finish the night with a cupcake decorating contest complete with frosting, sprinkles and candies.  

And the Oscar Goes To…
Bring out your kiddo’s inner movie star. Start the night with a grand red carpet entrance and you can play the paparazzi! Snap shots and ask for autographs for the full celebrity experience. Next, give your guests freedom to create their own play or movie to be premiered at the end of the night!