6 Ways to Create a Peaceful Home This Fall

By: Jenifer Metzger

May the Lord of peace Himself

give you peace always in every

way. The Lord be with all of you.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Everything inside of me craves peace and one of my deepest desires is to have peaceful home. A home that when my family walks in the door they can take a deep breath and feel the peaceful atmosphere. A home that doesn't create chaos but radiates peace. A home that even when there is noise -kids, dogs, life- we still feel peace. A home that is our haven.

Fall always feel like the perfect time to re-evaluate everything and work on creating a peaceful home. If you, too, desire a calm and peaceful atmosphere, even among the noises of life, here are 6 ways to create a peaceful home this fall.

Tidy your home. Whether you are a full time homemaker or also work outside the home, be intentional with setting aside time each day to tidy your home. It could be a couple of hours or just thirty minutes. On the days I have my grandsons over, I may only get thirty solid minutes of cleaning time. Where on the days I am alone, I can spend all day cleaning if I need to. Each morning as part of my get-ready routine, I spend ten minutes picking up our bedroom, master bathroom, and making our bed. This way even if I don't get to "clean" my bedroom, at least it gets picked up for the day. This makes a huge difference when it comes bedtime because I can unwind and relax far more in a tidy bedroom. Then, the kitchen and living room are my main focuses throughout the day. Even on days I don't get to deep clean -dust, vacuum, sweep, etc- my house can still be tidy. Every day the dishes get done, the counters get wiped down, the garbage gets taken out, and things get put in their place. It really helps to put things away as you go, instead of just setting things down anywhere.

Run an essential oil diffuser. Each morning I fill the essential oil diffusers in my kitchen, living room, and dining room. Essential oils have health benefits as well as they just smell good. There is just something relaxing about having an essential oil diffuser running throughout my home. I love essential oils from Plant Therapy. they have quality oils while being affordable. In the evening, generally right before dinner, I light a candle in the living room and kitchen. Like the essential oil diffusers, the candle just creates a beautiful ambience. My favorite safe, non-toxic candles are from Antique Candle Co.

Play soft music or nature sounds. For most of my life I was the kind of person that always had to have background noise, whether that was the TV or radio, I just needed some kind of noise. Then about five or six years ago, I realized that noise was adding to the chaos, not the peace. I still like to have worship music playing from time to time, but most often I enjoy soft instrumental music or nature sounds quietly in the background. We will often tell Alexa to play "calming music" or "calming piano." One of my favorite things is Alley of Ambience on YouTube. He has hundreds of seasonal nature videos with nature sounds; you can hear the fire crackle or the waves lapping. I cast the video to my TV and it is so relaxing.  The quiet and calm sounds of soft music or nature sounds add so much peace.

Breathe. Even through all I do to create a peaceful home, the truth is, life happens. My dogs bark (I hate barking). Salesmen knock on my door. Grandsons cry. My family is loud. It just gets crazy from time to time. When this happens, breathe. Smile. Enjoy life. Embrace the season.

Give yourself something to look forward to each day. Whether you enjoy that first cup of coffee in the morning, afternoon tea, sitting on the porch, reading a book, crocheting, working on a puzzle, or a piece of chocolate, give yourself something to look forward to each day. It doesn't have to be big, expensive, or time consuming. Just something small that you enjoy and can look forward to each day. For me, it's sitting on the deck in the evening with my husband or lying in bed reading at the end of the day, I love those times.

Most important, spend time with God. While listed last, this is by far the most important step in creating a peaceful home. Be intentional with spending time with God. When you wake up in the morning, say a quick prayer thanking God for the day and asking Him to walk with you. Be purposeful about reading the Bible. Have a dedicated prayer time. Throughout the day go back to Scripture and meditate on a verse. Pray as things come to your mind. And before you go to bed at night, read a few verses and pray. As you spend time with Him, you will feel the peace of God.

Discussion:
1. What is one thing you do to create a peaceful home?
2. We mentioned having something you look forward to each day. For you, what would that be?