There’s been a lot of talk about resolutions this month, and I’m here for that. One of my sisters has a goal this year to “romanticize her life at home,” and I do love this. She is all about unlocking new ways to love where she lives and how she lives there. We had one girl talk about what it means to “romanticize your life” (as fellow Enneagram 3s, that can be a struggle at times), and I was surprised at how many ideas we came up with that were ideal. Our conversation renewed the romance in me. Some of these ideas are already carved into my home life, and others are things I want to return to. I hope there is something that inspires you. Here’s to a romantic new year…
Let the light in
Chandelier | Boucle chairs | Velvet bench (similar) | Rug
Every morning, as I move through the rooms in our house, I open the shutters, blinds and curtains. It is so refreshing and invigorating to let the daylight in. I’ve found that this amount of vitamin D jumpstarts my day and inspires me to be creative. It’s also a 100% free mood booster.
Designate a reading corner
Coffee table | Blue Velvet Couch | Carpet | Candlesticks | Faux Tree (similar) | Books Table Books
You don’t need a “TBR” list to designate a nice corner of your house without a book display. This can be just a quiet place where you flip through coffee table books and drink tea. Also, I love the Kindle and the audiobook, but there is something very romantic about books in print.
Refresh your stems
Tree Art | Faux Stems | Woven Ottoman | Table lamp | Coffee table | Faux Stems | Rug
There’s a study that suggests we get emotional benefits from nature, and even artificial plants can trigger these reactions. Our brains cannot (emotionally) distinguish between fake greenery and living plants. We register plant life as plant life and it makes us feel good. Aesthetically, it’s a romantic idea to swap out your stems for what’s in season. Store your favorite things and add to your vases as the seasons change.
Make a puzzle
Wallpaper | Gallery Frames | Sconces | Taper candles | Chandelier | Dining room | Puzzle Board Cover | Sweater | Dining chairs (vintage)
Remember that vacation at the beach where everyone was working on a puzzle and sitting around talking? You can do this at home! Like, anytime! Sometimes I feel guilty when I do a puzzle because it feels like my to-do list is a mile long, but I find it productive because I’m solving something, and it’s really meditative. Whenever I need to think about something I crave downtime, a puzzle is my go-to.
Create a vision board
Pinboards with a gold frame
It’s quite a romantic idea to physically cut out your favorite images from magazines or books (or printouts) and collage them together to manifest what you really want. I recommend putting up a nice bulletin board in your home office and adding inspiration to it often. If you can dream it, you can do it.
Add the string
Wood Armoire | Wicker basket (similar) | Carpet | Faux Stems | Black Pot | Globe Pendant
Last year I stained this little cabinet, and for added charm — hung a tassel on the cut. It was so nice! Tassel is a pure cover and it feels so good to give your favorite pieces a little upgrade that is purely aesthetic.
Have a ritual
Buy a Bonus room
We have a movie night at our house every Friday. Chris makes a big snack board and we pile on the couch with the girls, and it feels like the best way to start the weekend. Even when our daughters are busy with activities or playing with their friends — Chris and I keep the movie night tradition alive. It feels so good to have a weekly ritual.
Cook a meal for yourself
Shop in the kitchen
This doesn’t have to be fancy, but it has to be something you like. Make something just for you. It’s therapeutic (and romantic) to cook a meal when you’re the only one eating. I think too often I grab something from the pantry or grab a bowl of cereal when I’m eating alone, especially for lunch. But there is something beautiful about making something beautiful for yourself. It can be scrambled eggs! (I make a mean scrambled egg.) Bonus points if you’re home alone and humming along to your favorite playlist while you do this.
Listen to an audiobook while doing housework
Shop at the laundromat
Is there anything more romantic than getting lost in a story?? I’ll never forget the day I listened to Lucy Foley’s “The Guest List” cover to cover and did every load of laundry that needed to be done in our house (both towels and sheets!). I like to put on my headphones and listen to a book that you can’t pause.
Take up a hobby (and have a place for it)
Lounge Chair | Candlesticks (similar) | Abstract Face Art, Coal House (similar) | Trees | Faces
Mess with the instrument and display it in a noticeable way. Artists, create a home studio (even if it starts as just a desk). If you love plants, designate a small greenhouse for your botanical beauties. Your home is a reflection of YOU, so give your hobbies a central place.
Set the table for dinner
I can proudly say that we eat together as a family, at the table, almost every night. I set the table (not as fancy as the Thanksgiving photo above) and the girls help me — and that works it feels special and romantic to spend this time together every night. Now we have a teenager, so we had to ban phones at the table. We want dinner time to be able to reconnect as a family, and setting the table sets the scene for that connection.
Have a date night at home
Chandelier | Mirror | Pot | Woven Ottoman | Coffee table | Carpet | Blue Velvet Couch | Linen Sofa | Boucle chairs | Coffee Table Books | Floor lamp (similar)
At the end of the week, sometimes it’s exhausting to think about going out. Some of our best date nights have been at home. And if you’re trying to romanticize your life at home, planning a date around your own coffee table is a really great place to start. Order and play some cards. And flirt 🙂
Indulge in a skincare ritual
LED mirror
Skin care is my favorite care 🙂 Really look ahead on “me time” before bed when I wash my face and moisturize. I will do a mask once a week and I look forward to it. When I think of romanticizing my time at home, this is definitely indulgent and special to me. I recommend investing in a good mirror and doing this ritual sitting down if you can. Slow down and really take your time 🙂
Other ideas:
• Play music in the morning before school to get the kids pumped up and while you’re making dinner. Not a day goes by that I don’t hear Chris cooking in the kitchen saying “Alexa, stir my slow jams.”
• Make a weeknight dessert.
• Watch the show without alcohol, but slowly. I like to reserve one night a week for our shows. Right now we’re watching The Traitors on the peacock and it’s my new favorite. Instead of watching them every night. It’s such a special feeling to mark the night as “traitor’s night!” We look forward to the entire week and watch several episodes each week.
• Light a candle whenever you are at home – don’t wait for company.
• Turn off all overhead lights and focus on lamps only after the sun has set. (We set ours up on our Alexa and it’s a luxury every night!)
• I recently read that there is more to showering than “showering everything”. And that intrigued me. I feel like every time I take a shower, it’s either a shower that is a lot of work (shaving, exfoliating, hair washing yada yada), or an everyday shower with a quick rinse. But there is also just a relaxing shower. Meditative shower. Clean your feet before you jump in the shower and into bed – which, frankly, feels amazing.
• Everything you will use or look at every day – get the aesthetic version. I can’t tell you how much this has improved my daily life. To have nice cloths to wash. Nice scissors. A beautiful duct tape dispenser on the table. Aesthetic cutting boards. Every day I enjoy looking at the plates and cups. A cool trash can in my office. It’s all a romantic route and I think it’s worth it.
What else do you do to romanticize life at home??