The retreat – creating spaces to recharge  

 

Every October, New Zealand comes together to shine a much-needed spotlight on mental health during Mental Health Week, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on October 10. While mental health isn’t something confined to a single day or month, the aim is clear: to spark conversation, break down the stigma around seeking help, empower us to prioritise wellbeing, and encourage us to support one another.

In 2025, the Mental Health Week theme, Empowering Communities, Thriving Workforces, reminds us that mental health isn’t just an individual responsibility – it thrives when workplaces, families, and communities come together. And above all, it’s a reminder to pause, acknowledge how we’re feeling, and take steps to prioritise our mental health.

Outside of the workplace, our homes play a huge role in shaping how we feel. Spending thousands of hours a year within our four walls, small changes can significantly impact our mood, energy levels, sleep, and stress levels. With that in mind, let's explore seven simple ways to create a home environment that better supports our mental health.

 

 

A home to retreat to

Retreats are a place to escape to – to break away from the noise and busyness of life, to disconnect and recharge. And while you might not have the luxury of calming water features, a lush green outlook, or a curated detox menu that you’ll find at an exclusive retreat, it’s entirely possible to carve out a sense of retreat at home. Here’s how:

 

1.    Declutter, balance Chi, and simplify

Drowning in a sea of things? When our spaces are overwhelmed with clutter, our mind often feels overwhelmed too. Shed excess items from living spaces, surfaces and even that junk drawer, and you’ll instantly notice a sense of calm. Look to Feng Shui principles to optimise energy flow (Chi) within your home, and you’ll also be guided on how furniture placement can help create a sense of security and stability. Your bed, for example, should ideally be placed against a solid wall, preferably with a headboard, with a view of the door.

 

2.    Dose up on nature's feel-good tonics – sunlight and fresh air

We all know that sunshine makes us feel good, and dark, dreary days have the opposite effect on our mood – and there’s science to back that up. Nature's rays offer us a dose of immune-boosting Vitamin D and stimulate our serotonin (the happy hormone) production too. How can you get more of these in your home? Cast the curtains wide open, allow fresh air to circulate to create a healthier home, and if natural light is limited, get clever – use warm-toned lamps, candles, and mirrors to create an uplifting atmosphere.

3.    Add more of Mother Nature’s charms
Not all of us are blessed with a home surrounded by nature, but you can bring elements of this into even the most urban environments. Incorporate houseplants, natural materials like timber and stone, or even create a small herb garden indoors. According to a study published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, indoor plants can reduce both physiological and psychological stress, and you’ll also benefit from their air-purifying properties. If you’re a serial houseplant killer, choose low-maintenance favourites like rubber trees or snake plants.

4.    Carve out a wellness zone just for you
Whether it’s a quiet reading nook, your yoga mat placed in a sunny spot, a designated mancave, or a cosy corner for arts and crafts, designate an area of your home for activities that help you recharge. To create the ultimate space for relaxation, choose a quiet spot with minimal distractions, add calming scents like lavender and chamomile through scented candles or diffusers, and incorporate some sound therapy with a nature-inspired or relaxing playlist.

 

5.    Create a sleep-friendly bedroom

A sleep-friendly bedroom might sound obvious, but all too often, bedrooms become a multi-purpose space where you work, scroll and sleep. According to the Sleep Foundation, there’s a strong link between sleep quality and mental health, so it’s important to set yours up for restorative sleep. How? Add calm, soothing colours, prioritise comfortable bedding, use blackout curtains to help with your natural sleep rhythm and ban electronic devices from entry.

 

6.    Make your home a space that encourages connection
Connection with others is a vital ingredient in mental and emotional wellbeing, fulfilling our fundamental human need for belonging. Creating spaces that foster togetherness is especially important if you’ve got teens at home (who often retreat to their bedrooms), so make sure you prioritise communal spaces where you can all gather for meals and shared activities. This staves off loneliness, invites conversation to flow, and strengthens our sense of belonging.

7.    Designate a digital sanctuary
Whether it’s the dinner table, the bedroom, or embracing analogue alternatives (like a good old-fashioned book), creating a calm, screen-free zone, or time period where you can unplug and recharge is crucial for our wellbeing. Research shows that our constant exposure to screens and digital devices is leading to a worrying decline in our physical and mental health and sleep patterns. So, free yourself from those dinging notifications and enjoy some much-needed respite in your digital sanctuary.

 

Looking to take it further? Head this way for more DIY retreat at home inspo:

 

·         Your backyard retreat

Take inspiration from Transforming your plain backyard into a fabulous family retreat and discover fabulous planting ideas, water features and clever decking solutions that turn a simple outdoor space into a welcoming retreat.

 

 

·         Bathroom bliss
Jump onto Pinterest and soak in ideas to create a spa-inspired bathroom sanctuary with simple yet stunning updates. Explore ideas like soothing water features, lush greenery, and stylish tiling inspiration that transform a basic space into a place of everyday retreat.

 

·         Go global with international trends
From Turkish baths to Scandinavian sauna culture, turn up the luxe factor with wellness features that make a statement. While at home saunas were once reserved for a select few, they’ve become more mainstream and more affordable in recent years. Head over to TikTok and you’ll see why saunas are so hot right now.

Your home, your sanctuary

Creating a home to retreat to isn’t about perfection – it’s about intention. Every choice you make, from letting the sun shine in to setting digital boundaries, is a step toward nurturing your mental health, enhancing the joy of living in your home, and even increasing its resale value. As we mark Mental Health Week this October, consider how you can refresh your spaces to prioritise rest, connection and mindfulness.

If you’re considering a new home or selling, now is the time to make a Winning Move. Get in contact with your local First National Real Estate office, and our experts will help you find a home you can retreat to – every day!

 

 

Disclaimer

The following advice is of a general nature only and intended as a broad guide. The advice should not be regarded as legal, financial, or real estate advice. You should make your own inquiries and obtain independent professional advice tailored to your specific circumstances before making any legal, financial, or real estate decisions. Click here for full Terms of Use.