Turning a house into a home is the best return on investment a property owner can make. Here are a few low-cost to no-cost ways to improve your space and create a peaceful environment. Here are five tips to a comfortable home:
- PURGE – Clutter in the mine is clutter in the mind. Research shows that we tend to be attached to our “stuff,” but once we let it go, the mental freedom takes care of an unseen stressor. New to decluttering? It’s easier than you think. Check out our blog 5 Easy Steps: HOW TO ORGANIZE THE ATTIC for a basic overview that can be applied to any room in the abode.
- LIGHTING – This one deserves a couple of sub-categories to apply as you see fit.
- Outdoor lighting – Consider adding strings of lights to back patios or mounted between trees. Where sunshine is available, solar lighting options do not cost much more and there are no extra cords to worry about.
- Indoor lighting fixtures – Ambiance can be manipulated in several ways by lighting. Replace mounted hardware to give a fresh look, swap lightbulbs for desired wattage, color and effect, and hang multiple options for natural lighting (blinds, blackout curtains, etc.).
- Lamps – One of the easiest changes to lighting that creates a calming affect is lamp lighting. One of the best additional tools for multiple options is the 3-way bulb. With a couple flips of a lamp switch, go from romantic to reading levels with one lighting device.
- FRESH FLOWERS & PLANTS – You know that great feeling you get when someone sends you flowers? Give it to yourself! Fresh flowers create a mood only a living, blooming plant can provide. Keep the feeling going by adding a plant to the family.
- CANDLES – A burning candle not only provides visual comfort, the melting wax can set the mood by scent selection. Burn those spring scents during the daytime, woody or sultry scents during the evening, and don’t forget the specialty seasonal candles for a variety of holidays.
- PILLOWS & THROWS – Transform a couch, bed or patio with comfy pillows and throws that say, “come snuggle with me.”
Here is a final thought as you embark on creating a comfortable home. When you walk into a space that just feels right, take a picture. What is it that you are drawn to? The color combination, the accessories and the lighting are all possibilities. Once you identify it, remember imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Spectrum Stone Designs is Lynchburg’s leading fabricator of natural stone countertops, surrounds and tiles for kitchens, fireplaces and baths. Serving Lynchburg, Roanoke, Charlottesville and all of Central Virginia, Spectrum Stone Designs imports top-quality granite, marble and other stone and expertly cuts and polishes before professionally installing in homes or offices. Spectrum Stone Designs strives for excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
