I take every opportunity to add a little spice or a twist of fun to my home to pep up any dull space or any ordinary day. Often, just little things can make the difference from “ho-hum” to special. See if any of these easy tricks can make these lazy, sunny days last even longer to stretch out all the goodness we can find.
1. Weave In Woven
Add the nubby texture of a sea grass basket or a vintage wicker basket or just raffia wrap a vase and fill with a fistful of flowers or a tall green spear from your garden. Woven wood shades will add a natural focal point to create an organic flow in your home. These textured shades perfectly pair with any hard furnishings or wooden floors.
2. Dress The Tops Of Plants
Don’t forget to decorate the top layer of your plants. Crushed rocks, seashells, spongy moss, crumbled bark or even marbles all create more interest to your potted plants, whether large ferns or a small gathering of cactus or succulents.
3. Sharpen Up
If you are like me, I am always dumping my garden tools where I leave them. To keep them clean and sharp and organized, place them in a flowerpot or a tin bucket filled with sand.
4. The Rule of 3
I am always reminding you of the rule of three or any odd number. When you are arranging anything: plants, baskets, vases, pillows – group in threes and vary the heights for the best design.
5. Eye On The Prize
If you are adding new artwork or photos or rearranging, remember the center of the frame should be at your eye level and adjust if you are short or very tall. The center of the picture should be at a normal eye level. You may also adjust for hallways or dining rooms. If you are seated, the pictures can be lower and if in an entryway or hallway, adjust the height upward.
6. Dusty Plants
Have your green plants lost their luster? They need cleaning too. Once a month, wash the leaves with a damp sponge or cloth and gently support the leaves as you return the glossy green shine. You and your plants will breathe more easily.
7. Kitchen Hacks
Here are a few of my favorite kitchen ideas. Baking cookies and you find your brown sugar is hard as a rock. Just take that chunk and grate the brown sugar into your measuring cup. If you need a quick light for a candle, grab a strand of dry spaghetti and light one end from the flame of your stove and presto, candle burning bright. Do you have a crusty keyboard from eating and keyboarding? Grab a post-it note and use the sticky end to clean up those teeny crumbs. Steam clean your microwave with a bowl of vinegar and water. Zap for five minutes, wipe down and the germs and spills will be ousted.
8. Salt Fault
Salt is every cook’s best ingredient but invariably I get heavy handed and my sea salt flows a little too quickly. Any acidic ingredient will help, whether you choose lemon juice, cider vinegar or any other acid. A cut-up raw potato will also help absorb the extra saltiness.
9. Chopstick Trivet
It never fails; I am bringing a bubbling lasagna or crazy hot casserole to the table, and my trivets are always somewhere else. Grab four sets of chopsticks that are still stuck together and line them up about an inch apart and you will have an instant trivet that also looks very chic.
10. A Clean Scene
I have to give you one window tip as I want you to have sparkling windows to go with your awesome window treatments. This really works!
2 cups of water
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dish detergent (Dawn)
You can put in a spray bottle and have another spray bottle full of clear water. Clean well with the washing mixture and before it dries, spray window with clear water to remove any soap residue for windows that shine.
11. Oooey Gooey Goodness
My last idea is a final splurge to intoxicate yourself with the ultimate grilled cheese. It is my go-to comfort food full of melted cheddar and jack cheese and to give an extra crispness and crunch to counterpoint the oozing cheese, coat the outside bread slices with a slather of mayo on each side ( instead of butter ) before you pop the sandwich into your hot pan. The crust will be crackling as the rich cheese melts in your mouth. A day without a grilled cheese is a day without sunshine.
Make time every day for a little bit of goodness for yourself.
Featured Image Source: The Happy Housie