Photo by Bailey Anselme on Unsplash
No matter how hard you try, it often seems that your house never quite has that inviting “home” feeling. Luckily, there is help. Transform your house into a home with these six all-natural fixes that can help it look and feel more welcoming.
1. Use an Aromatherapy Diffuser
Aromatherapy has a lengthy history of use; it has been helping people feel better for thousands of years. The secret to making it work is to choose high-quality essential oils. These contain natural plant compounds that have therapeutic qualities. If you use fragrance oils, you won’t get the same effects.
Choose your scents for the benefit they confer. For example, many people use the Thieves blend from Young Living essential oils during cold and flu season. Ask any of them, and they’ll swear it helps purify the air. Lavender is known to soothe and reduce stress, while orange and other citrus oils can brighten moods and energize.
2. Let the SunShine In
Natural sunshine helps brighten a room without producing the harsh shadows and glare you get from artificial light. So, go ahead, pull back the curtains, and let the sun shine into your house. You’ll likely be amazed at the transformation from this simple — and free — trick.
You will want to take some precautions. First, be conscious of the weather if you open the windows. Leaving one open while you are gone all day can bring trouble if a thunderstorm rolls through. You will also want to protect your furniture, art and flooring from damaging UV rays. Adding a protective film to the windows can help.
3. Use Wood Detailing
Wood brings a war, homey feeling to almost any room. It can be used in a variety of styles depending on the finish you choose. For example, you can go with a blond color for modern decor or a deeper mahogany wood for a more traditional setting.
There are many ways to include wood in your decorating scheme. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Faux exposed beams
- Chair rails and crown molding
- Accent walls
- A wooden tray perched on an ottoman
4. Add Plants and Flowers
Research continually shows that nature is good for your wellbeing. Unfortunately, many people don’t get to spend the time outdoors they would like. If that sounds familiar, try bringing nature into your home with potted plants and cut flowers. You and your guests will get the benefits of enjoying nature while staying comfortable indoors.
5. Polish Wood With Homemade Lemon Oil
Instead of reaching for the spray can of furniture polish, try making your own. There are tons of cleaning recipes online, so you can take your pick based on what you have on hand. Most use a combination of oil, lemon juice (or oil), and vinegar to get the cleaning and disinfecting effect. However, one of the great things about DIY cleaning products is that you can use what works best for your household.
While you are at it, don’t stop at your wood polish. Look into other common cleaners that are just as good when made at home. For example, glass cleaner, scouring scrub and multi-surface spray can all be easily made with common household staples.
- Get Rid of Clutter
This trick is completely free and 100% natural, yet it may be the most difficult to implement. Spend a few minutes and motivate yourself, then tackle the clutter that has accumulated inside your home. Toss out, donate or recycle things you no longer use to reclaim your storage space.
Clutter exacerbates stress and anxiety, not to mention sap creativity. On the other hand, a neat house looks more welcoming and calming. If that isn’t enough motivation, maybe use the idea of earning a few extra dollars by reselling unused items to get yourself started.
You can make your home look and feel more inviting with a few simple, all-natural steps. Try decluttering, switching to DIY cleaning products, and adding an aromatherapy diffuser to help create the feeling you want.
