C.J. Braden • 5 Minute Read
How to create an anti-anxiety room
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been dealing with some anxiety issues lately. Well, I say “lately”, but honestly, I’ve dealt with anxiety for many years now. I remember the anxiety starting when my parents got a divorce, which is a very common trigger in children.
Constantly complaining of a stomach ache at school, I spent many days of my second-grade year in the sick room while my parents battled through their issues. I wasn’t really sick, I just felt emotionally tired and drained, which took quite a toll on my body. Then I spent numerous years in therapist offices and reading books to help me heal, which was quite beneficial.
While I try my best to take each day as it comes now as an adult, I try to relax, stay organized, and breathe, yet sometimes the world seems to keep yelling louder and louder, making anxiety creep it’s ugly hold back into my brain.
You are not alone motivational quote
From COVID numbers constantly fluctuating, to terrible occurrences in Afghanistan, to businesses going back and forth on work-at-home policies/vaccination policies and more, it’s a lot. While I may preach about how to live your life "happier and craftier”, I do see all the stresses of the world, unfolding in front of me on a daily basis.
Take a tour of our 2023 version of my Anti-Anxiety Room via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
When this happens, I know that I, as one human, can only do so much; can only take so much. If you are like me, you may be looking for ways to cope with what is going on all around you. I hope that maybe I can lend you my hand for just a moment and help you understand you are not alone.
Read on to see how I created an anti-anxiety room in my home. It’s my escape when the world becomes too much to take.
My floor couch made out of futon cushions
My husband and I renovated this space called a cupola in our home. We did a lot to the small room, which you can read about by clicking this link.
After completing renovations and decorating it to be my creative office, I started rearranging some things and realized it needed to be cozier and more comfortable. I decided I wanted to create a “floor couch” out of some large cushions. After seeing how expensive floor cushions were (I would have needed a lot to create a couch), I wanted a cheaper alternative that was also very comfortable.
Anxiety can be calmed by meditation
I ordered two two long, futon-style cushions from Amazon and stacked them on top of each other. I plan to eventually make slip covers for them, but for now, I ordered a large, soft, faux fur blanket from Amazon to cover them. I have the same one on my bed. Combining these created the perfect “floor couch” or makeshift nap area.
I then ordered some small pillows from Target (I love their inexpensive “Bullseye Playground” line) and combined them with some pillows I already had to create the back of the couch.
My boho-inspired anti-anxiety room
I love how it turned out! It all came together in minutes, costing around $200. I could have created it for a little cheaper with only one futon pad, but I wanted it to be extra-cozy.
What I created goes well with my favorite large natural basket (from Target) and the plush gold and cream throw I purchased from Amazon. It also compliments the DIY neon wall hanging I created as well the boho-ish rugs and my modern writing desk.
I also have some crystals, sage, lavender-based essential oil roll-ons, and incense in the space to aid relaxation
This anti-anxiety space doubles as a creative studio
I find myself sneaking up to this room about once a day to look out our 360-degree window birds-eye-view (it overlooks the nature preserve behind our house), meditate, pray or lay down for a few minutes. I’ve even done Reiki on my mom in this space (she has anxiety too) and she loved it. We even saw a rainbow out the windows after her session, which was simply gorgeous.
Colorful pillows add decor to this anti-anxiety room
If you aren’t able to covert an entire room into an anti-anxiety space, read some tips on how you can create a more relaxed environment in your home in one of my other blog posts by clicking here.
Where ever you are, whoever you are, please know that it is important to keep your anxiety under control.
Understand there are many ways to cope with the stresses of the world and we truly are all in this together. I encourage you to seek help from friends, family members and from professionals if you have tried to cope and have been unsuccessful on your own.
Sending light and love to anyone who needs it! :)
C.J. Braden is a regular contributor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her by visiting our About Us page.