Have you ever walked into someones’ home and thought “I wish my home could look like this” or “feel this cozy”? You may like their decor, their furniture, the size or arrangement of the rooms, the smell in the home or just the overall feel of the space. I have adored many homes and many styles of homes especially when we were looking at buying a house initially. I nitpicked and discovered a few things that I really wanted in my home: lots of light, nice stairs, a large kitchen and living (preferably open concept), a small-ish yard and an extra room or two (office etc).
However if you feel like your home is missing something or generally just want to make it a comfy oasis, here’s some things you can do that WON’T break the bank.
Place a Rug
For texture or just to add comfort, in any situation it’s not a bad idea. But not in your bathroom because that’s just weird. It’s very 70s and well one word is: MOLD. Fluffy, comfy, cushy ones or tightly wound ones that are easier to clean with pets and kids, doesn’t matter just get yourself a good rug!
Prints/Art
I love finding different random prints and pictures from Target. I don’t know if you’ve seen the highland cow picture from there; but yeah we own it, it was cheap and it looks so cute in our room. I believe we also found some great and cute pieces from Hobby Lobby at a very low price, good quality and ones that make me smile (llamas).
Chair
A comfy chair or set of chairs, again low cost ones… I found one similar ($145) to the ones we own and love on Wayfair which we use constantly. They are great additions for guest seating and add to an entertaining living room.
Faux Plants
Look I cannot (and do not want to) keep a plant alive. And I have many dogs so I worry that it would be a mess or they’d get sick ; I have many faux plants that I got from target or amazon for like 20$ maybe. It adds so much liveliness to a room and the green just makes it feel brighter. It may not actually add O2 but they will relax you enough to take a deep breath.
Candles
They add warmth, hygge and light and instantly boost the feel and mood of your home. They come scented and unscented, small and large and extra large, and I can tell you that Target, Amazon and Etsy has some great ones that just might be better than your local Bath and Body Works store.
Pretty (but cheap) Drink Coasters
Marble ones I think look super nice but you can find them in ANY color or pattern( also easy to DIY as well. They basically will save your furniture and it just elevates the look of any living room or entertainment space.
Throw Blankets and Comfy Pillows
What would be better than a cozy knit blanket and plush comfy pillows? Definitely go with a color theme or contrasting colors, like I added a bit of pop of seasonal colors to offset the beige and grey room of mine. Just an example: we also have a thick fleece huge throw blanket that has doxies on it! We love how cozy it is and it’s a staple in our living room.
Outdoor string lights
These are ambiance to the max. We put them around the inside of our fence for when I take the dogs out at night. The light bulbs burn out often but it’s great for enjoying the outdoor space. The light bulbs are cheap as well- so it’s okay, don’t let that deter you at all.
Indoor outdoor rug
Great to add texture to an outdoor space or to ground a table and chairs or just to have someplace to put your shoes on the back porch. Fully washable usually or you can pressure wash them easily, they wear well and look great for a long time. Plus an easy way to add a bunch of color to a basic back porch or deck area.
A good vacuum or two
I believe in getting a GREAT VACUUM but; there are sales or if you can invest go according to reviews and what the census is on YouTube from cleaning and motivation people- it’s like a job where they use the vacuums daily and really put them to the test. You can also wait for Amazon day and get a GREAT deal then too (that’s what we did).
A good coffee pot
Again a great investment but there’s ways to cheat here; again sale times through the year or buying second hand keurig or nespresso can save you some coin on a great luxury coffee/espresso machine. I know a drip coffee, like a pour over container is also a great lower cost choice and I’ve heard makes a mean cup! If you’re more into a Mr. Coffee situation- let the good quality beans speak for themselves..
^Or tea kettle
If tea is more up your alley then you should consider an automatic boiling kettle, or a SMEG brand one that you know you’ve heard of before!
A nice set of knives/utensils/plates
Nice place settings elevates any dinner party or holiday- this is another cheat way to get something that looks more expensive on a budget.I’ve found great plates and utensils at Target, HomeGoods and Big Lots before as well as of course, Amazon. Corelle is a plate manufacturer that is resistant to chipping, breaking and staining by melding three layers of vitrelle glass. I absolutely love having sets of these plate ware because they are easy clean and I’ve never damaged one, even by accident.
Having fresh flowers
Picking up fresh flowers when you go grocery shopping or like whenever you do a DEEP clean is a simple and pretty cheap thing to do. It really helps the ambiance and feel of the room even if it’s just cheap daisies. Or get an iris that is low maintenance and they last forever.
Letterboard, bulletin board
These are just fun! You can find these everywhere as well so they don’t have to be pricey at all. Dollartree, TJ Maxx or Home Goods have them and you can find them in all sizes and colors, available also on Amazon. So many unique and fun sayings to share from Pinterest- just search letter board quotes.
Curtains
Blackout curtains have weight and help a lot of people sleep better by blocking out the light and some sound, they come in lots of colors and patterns as well so it’s easy to match your style or color scheme of any room. Great in bedrooms but also for nurseries, child’s room or a living room when you want to watch a movie.
Photos/personalized items
Maybe not on every single wall has a picture or art on it (although I’m a big ‘no blank walls’ kind of person) but seeing your ownership and personalization gives others an idea for how much pride you take in your house. And shares memories that they may not otherwise see or know about.
Storage solutions-Organization containers, cereal bins:
Definitely something to do in any kitchen or pantry, it makes things last longer and easier to find as well. And fun to label in addition. The OXO brand is the best in my opinion but any of these kinds of organizers and containers are worth it.
&& A BONUS! Matching hangers
Do this! It makes such a difference even if you add one pack at a time, or save up or ask for these for Christmas. It has made such a big difference in my closet and eases my mind and eyes when I go in there. If you can have them evenly spaced it will feel like a boutique instead of cramming all your stuff into the closet (to make it all fit). In that case try to do a seasonal declutter 4 times a year- that really helps me stay on top of it and give to others when I don’t fit in it or don’t care for it anymore.
As a side note, I would also say, do the minimal repairs, if there’s stains or a leak, take care of it. If there are small nicks in your paint, do a touchup (which I need to do) it makes it look complete and like your house hasn’t been beat up and overall more polished. Small things outdoors help too- weed often, mow your grass, pressure wash or clean your walkway, sweep… These easy things make a HUGE difference when you and other people see your home. Keeping a tidy home and paying attention to detail is the best thing you can do to present the best appearance of your home from the inside out.
