How to create a relaxation station at home

Here’s how to create a dedicated relaxation station where you can unwind from the stresses of the day.

Ever since I started working from home a lot more post-Covid, I’ve found that in some ways my house feels less relaxing. Though I’ve spent some effort making my home cozier than ever (since I’m here almost all the time!), now my dream couch is not just a place to relax, but it’s also a place I like to work in the afternoons. My basement den also doubles as my morning home office.

I decided I needed a dedicated “relaxation station” for when I was really frazzled – somewhere designed for the sole purpose of chilling out. Here’s how you can create your very own relaxation station in your own home.

Table of Contents

• What makes a place relaxing?
• Where to locate your relaxation station?
• What to put in your relaxation station?
• Other items to include
• What makes a relaxation station special?

What makes a place relaxing?

Relaxation is about calming your five senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. While there are general rules to follow, we each have our own unique things that calm us down. The best thing to do is to experiment. If a candle isn’t helping you relax, try an essential oil diffuser. If the space feels cluttered and is stressing you out, make it super minimalist. Your body will tell you immediatly if it’s working or not.

Before we get into incorporating the senses into your station, the first thing to figure out is where to put it.

Where to locate your relaxation station?

You don’t need a lot of room, but you do want somewhere that is farily quiet and doesn’t have any irritating noises. If possible, choose a place with a door that you can shut, particularly if you have a busy household.

I chose a spot that I don’t associate with work, that’s in a quiet relaxing room. Ironically, it’s in the room we call our “office.” A few years ago, we built a two-person desk, and Jon uses his section as his main computer area (he’s always on the computer!). My spot remained pretty much empty, and that’s what gave me the idea for a relaxation station. The spot is literally no more than 3.5 feet wide and 6 feet deep. And that works perfectly.

What to put in your relaxation station?

Ok, now, to decide what to put into your relaxation station, let’s go through the five senses one at a time.

Touch

Obviously, comfort is key. Look for a chair (you might already have one) that fits in your space, looks good, but most of all, is really comfortable. I wanted a chair that would recline, but wasn’t too big, and that I’d be able to use with my over-the-chair massage pad. After much searching and measuring, I purchased this one from Wayfair, though it’s also available on Overstock and Home Depot. I liked that it went aesthetically with the rest of the room and it had an ottoman included. It also reclines just about flat and it’s very comfortable.

You know I’m all about cozy, so I added a colorful, soft afghan and a cute bunny pillow to add to the comfort of the space.

You can also add some scented lotion or body oil to apply to really get the seratonin kicking! And don’t forget a fluffy animal, like Gerry the cat.

Smell

This one is so important! Smells can either stress you out, gross you out, or make you feel amazing. Let’s go for the last one! You have a few options here based on your preferences.

Candles: I love a good, clean-burning soy candle. I make my own, and I also really love the candles from Stonewall Kitchen. Ski Lodge and Lake House smell soooo good. I 100% confess to hoarding them. If you like the smell of candles but not the smoke, a wax warmer works wonders. I have this one, which works with wax melts or just with regular candles and requires no flame.

Essential oil diffusers: Essential oils are a wonderful, and completely natural way to add beautiful aromas to your space. There are types that you add water to, and those that you use undiluted oil. The type with water is probably best for this because the other kind can get pretty intense. Just add water to your diffuser and then a few drops of essential oil. Lavender is my go-to for relaxing. Lemon or another citrus is great for re-energizing, and for a more spiritual experience, try patchouli, sandalwood, or palo santo. Get a good quality oil from a reputable source, like Rocky Mountain Oils, Rose Mountain Herbs or Eden Botanicals.

Reed diffusers: If you’re sensitive to strong smells, but still want a nice scent, a reed diffuser is a good choice. Read my tutorial on how to make your own.

Sight

Your relaxation should be nice to look and make you feel happy and calm. In addition to the chair with afghan and pillow, I added a paper flower on top of my monitor and have some postcards of arwork that I love. I also keep this area neat, tidy, and clutter free, because clutter is not relaxing!

Sound

As I mentioned before, it’s best to put your relaxation station in a quiet area. If silence isn’t relaxing for you, be sure you have access to some relaxing music. We have a Google Home in the office so I can just ask Google to play relaxing music. I also have an area where I can put my laptop and plug in headphones. I like to go to YouTube and find videos that have both music and relaxing visuals, like this one. I like to use the big over ear headphones because it really sends out the signal, “don’t bother me, I’m relaxing!”

Taste

This one is totally optional, but to really cover all the senses, bring yourself a relaxing cup of tea, a glass of wine, or a few bon bons (why not!?) into your space and really savor it.

Other items to include

Add anything that you’d like to do in your station. Here are some things I always have handy:

A book. What’s more relaxing that reading? Whether it’s a paperback, hardcover, or a book on my ipad, a good book is my go-to escape. Current selection: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (who doesn’t love a good Dickens refresh?!).

My other favorite escape is playing Solitaire, Wordle, or the NY Times Crossword on my ipad, so I always have that in reach.

You could also add a puzzle, some paper for sketching, a journal and pen.

What makes a relaxation station special?

Here’s what I’ve noticed, at least for myself. We prioritize work over relaxing. Productivity over recharging. If I’m sitting on the couch, I’m thinking about… those dishes need doing, I should vaccuum, I should clean the litter box. Less and less often, I find myself seeking out ways to just be. So my relaxation station is where I go when I just need some time to fill the well.

The most important part of a relaxation station is that you dedicate it only to relaxing!

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