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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Bringing Lovely Back Into Your Home!


With all the high speed technology in the world today I think we often forget about the gentleness we all need in life.

The simple yet lovely elements that make us feel content inside. These are never costly items, just simple little touches that any of us can do.

Having a lovely home is more than a home that is well designed. A lovely home is a feast for all the senses.

I think we often forget the little things we can do to bring back the LOVELY to our homes.

Today I thought I would share some of the things I try to do in my own home to make it lovely not only for my guest, but for me!

These are simple ideas that cost very little, or in many cases cost nothing, like this first idea……….

BRINGING IN NATURE


My bottle is empty as well.:


Go out in your back yard and cut some greenery, or a single blossom and put it on your desk or guest bathroom sink, or on your dining table tonight for dinner.



When executed correctly, choosing something like olive branches can make an amazing impact. | 9 Ways to Save on Flowers  http://www.nowkissthebride.com/9-ways-to-save-on-flowers/:

Add a little sparkle to your water with sequins. Just think about how this would glimmer next to a flickering flame of a votive candle.

 ferns, recycled glass bottles:
 via


Even a sprig of fern can look lovely in a simple glass bottle.

greenery:



Often we tend to think we have to have company to do these special little touches. 

THE SOUND OF MUSIC

I think it is important to do add loveliness to our homes on a daily basis.

 music:

Every morning I wake up and open my blinds and turn on my stereo. I always have soft ambient music playing in the background.

 music:
You would be surprised at how it can lift your spirits, just to have the soft sound of beautiful music playing. Another no cost way to add a special feel to your home.

AMBIENT LIGHTING  
LIGHTING
candles:

Candles are always an extra added bonus in a room. Whether they add a scent or just the beautiful light that glimmers in a room.

 CANDLES:
Often times we think it has to be dark, or a candlelight dinner to have a candle lit. I light my candles even during the day. I have one on my desk that I love to light when I first wake up in the mornings.

 PRETTY REFRESHMENTS
Throughout the day we will all be drinking, coffee, tea or just plain water. Why not make it a little more special by drinking out of a special cup or glass, adding lemon, or ice cubes with fruit in them. Simple and very little cost to do this.

Lemon Water, or with lime. Anyway to get my 8 glasses of water a day:
 Add lemon slices to your water, and make it a little more special not only in taste, but visually.


 Fill glass with pink cotton candy and slowly pour Lime Perrier over it. Pretty and non-alcoholic! Perfect for friends who don't drink (or are preggers), so they don't feel left out from all the fancy party cocktails! My kids would LOVE this and think it was really cool! Maybe for New Year's Eve or some other special event/party.:  

FRESH AIR AND LIGHT 
 If the weather allows, open up those windows and let fresh air flow through your home….

 Open windows:

 FRESH SHEETS

Fresh sheets on the bed sprayed with your favorite linen spray or fragrance.

Sometimes I just spray my fragrance on my pillow case because it is such a pleasure to lay my head down at night.
You already have the perfume, why not use it. Just think about how your spouse will be surprised when they lay their head down at bedtime….

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m5i95sHJdH1rrhhm1o1_500.jpg


Another thing I do is to take a dryer sheet and rub it on the edge of the sheet that I fold over and on my pillow case.

Don’t forget you can also change your pillow case every night if you love the freshness of just laundered bedding.  You don't have to wait until you change all the sheets.
All of these things are no cost, yet they add loveliness to your day!

FRESH PRODUCE
If you have fresh fruit and/or veggies in your refrigerator bring them out, and put them in a colorful bowl for a pop of color on your counter.

 fresh produce summer goodness, just as pretty as flowers:
These are things you already have so why not utilize them in a lovely manner.

 produce on kitchen counters can be just as pretty as fresh flowers,  Goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com:


None of the above ideas are costly and they are so simple to do in your own home today!!


 ASSIGNMENT FOR TONIGHT
Tonight when you have dinner, light a candle, put a little vase of greenery next to it. Pull out your cloth napkins instead of paper. Use a tablecloth! Have music playing in the background, and have a LOVELY dinner!!



  

22 comments:

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

I love all of these ideas, Kathy and my favorite is the sequins in water!!! I am going to try that!!! Thanks for ALL the suggestions. XO, Pinky

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

"Lovely" ideas, Kathysue! We often forget to treat ourselves like we do our company. Love your suggestions!...hugs...Debbie

Karen at Home Sweet Hollywood said...

These are all great suggestions...we always make things special for guests but not usually for ourselves. Good advice.

Merlin said...

This was SO RIGHT ON!! We are staying in an "old" vacation spot and I just "flipped the bed comforter (palm trees & pineapples) to white, brought in a flower from outdoors for the bathroom, put towels over the old lawn chairs, etc. etc....works for me!! franki

Grace @ Sense and Simplicity said...

Such good ideas - really we need to do something for each of our senses. The thing on your list that I do most consistently is that I almost always have a tablecloth on the table, flowers and candles in the centre of the table, and coordinating china so it is a pleasant atmosphere for dinner. We also put the gas fireplace on and turn the lights down so we can all relax while we have dinner. I love it.

Linda Hartong said...

I have a sunporch on which I keep plants. At one point I added a small fountain to enjoy the sound of water. I like ambiant music - but I also keep cd's of bird song which I like to play very softly. All this brings the outdoors in a little.

Sarah said...

Love your suggestions, Kathysue. Our home always has fresh flowers or greenery and the sound of music playing in the background. Fresh sheets once a week, but I'm going to try the change the pillow case daily routine. Love the feel of clean sheets!
Have a great day.......Sarah

Woodside Park said...

Hi, Kathysue -
Such wonderful and doable ideas. I love them all. After days in bed, I'm ready to put this cold behind me. Enjoy the house, again. Thanks for all these gracious ideas.
Take care,
Loi

Patty Day @Pattys Epiphanies said...

Lovely!
No more words needed!

Elizabeth "Libby" Day said...

Such great ideas. You continue to motivate and inspire us to go beyond the ordinary. Thank you.

Melissa said...

I love your icecubes, what a beautiful idea.

I always use my good china. My everyday white was looking very chipped and missing a few and rather than replace, about 10 years ago I started using the 'good' stuff. None have chipped or broken so it shows it really is 'good'!! I always set the table with proper linen napkins in silver napkin rings.
Fresh flowers from the garden are always in the bathrooms, by my bed and on the table and hall table, especially gardenias in summer and daphne in winter. I love the fragrance.
I iron using scented linen water to damp linen down.
I hide the ugly tangle of elctric cables on my desk behind a pretty small chinese screen of ladies in the garden.
I keep my roll of stamps in a lovely engraved silver stamp box.
I keep the tablets I need to take during the day in a vintage cigarette case or perhaps it is a calling card case. It stops the blister packs from breaking and the pills from crushing and is so elegant to use.
Thanks for this blog, it is good to stop and think how to make our everyday more lovely.

Melinda said...

Lovely ideas and thank you for the reminder. I know all this, but when you get stuck in the day to day of life, you forget to put all the nice things in your home and the little touches that make it especially nice get overlooked. Thanks for reminding me how important these things are.

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

These are great tips, Kathysue! Hubby and I made a resolution to use all of our finer things everyday...china, crystal, silver. I love lighting candles first thing in the morning, as well. I love for the house to smell wonderful. Love your tip of using the dryer sheet! I'm gonna have to try that one!

Unknown said...

With 35 degrees today and rising the lemon and mint cubes is now on my list Thank you for sharing this wonderfuly refreshing tip!

Mumbai said...

You are so right. Every day I do something which lift my soul. Today I putted some white Franchibani flowers which has fallen from the tree in a silver bowl with water, an other day I let a candle swim in a bowl accompanied by my preferred music and an other day I just spoil myself with having time in the bathroom. It's all so simple and at the same time so generous.Isn't it?

Mumbai said...

You are so right. Every day I do something which lift my soul. Today I putted some white Franchibani flowers which has fallen from the tree in a silver bowl with water, an other day I let a candle swim in a bowl accompanied by my preferred music and an other day I just spoil myself with having time in the bathroom. It's all so simple and at the same time so generous.Isn't it?

Carol@6WilsonBlog.com said...

Hi Kathysue! Your title got me today. I crave the loveliness. And I agree, it wins over design any day of the week for making a house a home.

michele said...

sweet tips to lovely, kathysue. the lighting makes a big difference to me, and sheets! what a lovely detail that packs a big punch. i so agree.

happy monday.

michele

Wendi @ Classic Chic Home said...

Everyone deserves a little bit of lovely in their lives! It's the simple things that stir our senses and fill our soul.
Have a LOVELY day, Kathysue!
~ Wendi

Splenderosa said...

I think you just hit a home run with this post, KathySue. It's wonderful, full of great ideas and reminders.
Have a lovely week !!

pam {simple details} said...

LOVE your simple ideas that make everyday seem just a tad special for our families! These kinds of little gestures will be long remembered!

Coulda shoulda woulda said...

i am going to steal that chanel no 5 idea!