CHECKLIST FOR A RELAXED HOME

CHECKLIST FOR A RELAXED HOME

I’m no interior designer, but I know what makes me happy. I think you’ll feel that way too! I want to live in a relaxed home that’s not too fussy, but still looks beautiful. Here is a checklist for a relaxed home that can turn any house into a place that feels like a getaway.

PLANTS.

Plants not only add oxygen, they provide instant color and make you feel good. I like wreaths and pine in the winter, and palms in the summer. Succulents are easy, if you are like me and forget to water.

BOOKS.

Nothing makes a house feel cozy like stacks of books.  I have lots of bookshelves in my house and I still have books stacked on tables in several rooms. I never have enough time to read everything on my list.

SCALE.

Buy fewer items but make them on a larger scale. Less in a room makes it look bigger. When I first got married I kept buying knick-nacks because I didn’t want to spend too much at once. Until my husband told me to quit buying all this bull %*$* and get a dining room table. Point taken.

THROW BLANKETS.

For curling up. Even in the summer. I like the nice fuzzy ones, but I also love my grandmother’s quilt.

LIGHTING.

Ceiling lamps, table lamps, task lighting. Natural light. I love a lot of light! Take down your curtains. Not for everyone, but I don’t have curtains anywhere in our house. (I do have bamboo blinds and plantation shutters in rooms where we need privacy.)

CLUTTER.

Get rid of it. If you don’t love it or if it’s non-functional, get rid of it. Period.

FRESH AIR.

Open the doors and windows and enjoy a breeze when it’s not too hot or cold.

OUTDOOR FURNITURE.

A table outside for eating dinner. Growing up, my dad loved to grill out, and we often ate outside. We do the same thing now and eat outdoors every night when the weather is nice. Around here, that’s about nine months a year. I like to set the outdoor table with my ‘fancy’ Melamine plates and candles. Other times we just make a plate and carry it outside.

CLOTH PLACEMATS AND NAPKINS.

I buy them at Tuesday morning.

NATURAL ELEMENTS.

Lots of warm wood, sisal, rattan, or jute. I have lots of baskets and I use them for everything. Some of them handmade by my husband’s grandfather. 

WASHABLE SLIPCOVERS.

Mine are white. I’ve had multiple sets for over 20 years. People always asked how I kept them clean when my kids were little. I just bleach them when needed. (I admit, my kids only drank apple juice in the living room…I’m not sure they knew those little boxes were available in grape flavor.) 

SOMETHING UNEXPECTED.

I got this one from my mother-in-law, who had exquisite taste and a keen eye for design. She decorated very traditionally but there was always something interesting or unusual in each room. My very favorite piece in our house is the carved wooden chair that is shaped like a human hand.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

Nothing like the company of friends and a nice pot of soup or a big salad, depending on the season.

 

Want to read more about living creatively? I like this post.