We live very busy lives – early morning starts, long working hours and traffic filled commutes mean we spend less time at home and more time at the office or in our car. After a long day on the move, the last thing we want to come home to is a chaotic house.

With these simple tips, you can make the most of your downtime by making your home more relaxing.

Good entertainment system: Listening to music, watching a TV series or watching a movie is a great way to unwind after a long day. Invest in some decent home entertainment systems to make the most of your chill time.

Keep a good stock of treats: Chocolates, a bottle of wine, a couple of beers, and some frozen pizzas are good to have in your fridge and freezer. Comfort food makes you feel good, helping you to unwind.

A positive welcome mat: A door mat with a positive message is enough to put a smile on your face before you even step inside your front door.

Stock up on scented candles: Candles are great for heating a room and making that space smell nice. Always have a pile of scented candles in your home. Scents such as vanillas, lavender, and jasmine are good options to help you relax.

Pillows and throws: Surround yourself in pillows, blankets and throws. The comfort of these on your couch will convince your body and mind to relax fully.

Prepare your coffee table: Pile your coffee table with your favourite books and magazines. Having the things you like readily available will make relaxing a whole lot easier.

Eliminate clutter: Make sure no room in the house has clutter. Just looking at a pile of clothes will cause your stress levels to spike.

Invest in some poufs: Put your feet up (literally) with some giant poufs.

Have positivity in every corner: Photos of friends and family, prints of uplifting quotes or souvenirs from your various holidays are good things to have in every room. Reminders of good times are a great way to help you relax in your home.

Create a relax only zone: Make a place in your home where relaxing is the key function.

Paint your walls in relaxing colours: Consider neutral and warm colours such as white or beige. These natural tones add a cosy feel to your space, making the atmosphere more relaxing.

Invest in a decent bath tub: A long soak is highly recommended in order to relax, restore and refresh the mind and body. Make sure you have a decent bath and if not, invest in a good one, for example a bath with a hydro massage system is a good option as it targets back pain.

Invest in a wood burning stove: A warm room instantly sends signals to your body that it’s time to relax. A wood burning stove is a great investment as it’s reliable (you’ll always have heat when you need it) and the warmth generated from it feels cosy and more pleasant.

Rugs: Add rugs to the rooms you spend most time relaxing. Rugs make a room feel cosy as they prevent heat from escaping through the floor.

Improve the lighting: The wrong lighting can make a room feel uncomfortable. In order to relax, lighting below eye level is best. Invest in some floor lamps and experiment with their positioning.

Put away your smart devices: Keeping your phone beside you means you’re more likely to check and respond to work emails that come through. Ban all gadgets when you’re trying to relax. You’ve knocked off for the day, return to work mode in the morning.