A clean, simple design style can make your life less stressful.

Many of us have feelings of stress because we’re overwhelmed by the demands in our lives. Simplicity and order can provide a sense of calm.

What better goal to consider in your home decorating plans than to create a home environment that’s calming and relaxing, both on the eyes and on the soul?

Simple doesn’t mean plain or unattractive. Simple design can create a sophisticated, traditional, elegant look or a modern, minimalist feel. The bottom line is reducing chaos and over-decoration, and minimizing clutter and confusion.

Plan only one or two focal points per room, so you can really “see” the beauty, rather than having a hodgepodge of color and design elements.

Limit the number of colors in your design and stick with gentle colors, rather than bold primary colors.

Make color transitions gentle. Avoid making too strong a statement between dark and light colors, such as black and white. (However, keep in mind that you may want energizing colors in a room; for example, in a kitchen or home office where you’d like to be engaged and active.)

Once you’ve created a simple, clean design, enjoy it! Allow yourself relaxing time to read a book or watch your favorite TV show, without answering the phone or responding to text messages. Spend time with your family or friends in a quiet way, without over planning your activities.

Achieving a calm and simple home environment can help you find peace of mind every day.