How To Make A Sense-sational Home

One of my design philosophies is that it is more important how a house feels than how it looks. 

We can all make a room look lovely. We can copy a picture in a magazine, or buy everything out of a vignette in a store. 

However, to make a Home feel a certain way is , in my mind, Great Design. 

In my experience, how a house feels to those who enter, is what makes it a Home, not just a well decorated House.

One of the important things a Home should have in it are things that stimulate the senses: Sight, Smell, Touch, Hearing and Taste.

Below you will find a list of things that I like to have in my home for my guest to experience a peaceful and welcoming home.

SIGHT

I know this will be subjective, what is pleasing to one is not pleasing to everyone.  Generally speaking, a well appointed, tidy home is pleasing to most. This is where de-cluttering is key!

If it is night time, or the winter months a nice roaring fire is always an inviting sight. Candles will be pleasing to the eye, and to the nose if they have a delicate scent.

SMELL

Scents for the home will always be to the homeowner's taste.  Just make sure it is a pleasant scent and not over powering to your visitors.

 The scents above were found on a great blog  A Gift Wrapped Life. She is actually having a give away on these beautiful fragrances for the home by Charlotte Moss. 

I saw this darling idea on pinterest and this is something that anyone can do.....

 via

Small bowls filled with coffee beans and then you add the warmth of a vanilla scented candle to the mix and you have a home that smells like a welcoming, fresh brewed cup of vanilla coffee. 

Again, a very simple idea and easy to do. You could even do this last minute if you had to.

One of my favorite scents is Amber. I like to purchase it from Cote Bastide. It is a wonderfully warm scent for the colder months in Fall/Winter.

VIA

Fresh flowers that have lovely scents are pleasing to the eye, and the nose.  Paper whites, roses, lilacs just to name a few. Fresh flowers are always seen in my home, whether it is a single rose in a bud vase or a large bouquet on my table or counter in the kitchen. Flowers are just a requirement!

Keep in mind that a bowl of fresh lemons has the most refreshing scent or a wooden bowl full of fresh apples. It does not have to be fancy to be nice for the senses.

One big mistake a lot of homeowner do is to overly scent there home, make sure it is subtle.

Try to stay away from the large bags of potpourri that are artificial smelling and over powering.

TOUCH

Having soft and inviting textures in your home will only add to its appeal to all who enter. A nice fur pillow or throw is always a fun thing to wrap up in.

SOUND

The soft sound of a trickling fountain outside an open window is a wonderfully calming sound.

A very small bubbler can make a very soothing sound when the water hits the rocks. This little guy is on my back patio.

As you walk up to my front door you will be greeted by this happy dancing water. Not a big fountain, but it still is pleasing to the senses.

Soft music playing in the background can help make a home have a wonderful atmosphere. If you ever visit my home you will always hear soft music playing in the background.

TASTE

Offer your guest a simple cup of tea, coffee, or a cool glass of water with lemon.

It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just welcoming.

I would love if you would share some of the ways you  make your house a Sense-sational HOME

"Enjoy the Process" of: 

Filling your HOME with items that stimulate the Senses