Small Indulgences to Enhance Everyday Life
The little things can make a big difference in improving the way your home feels
Jo Simmons
April 9, 2023
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Big-ticket home improvements can transform a house, but there are many small and inexpensive ways to give a home a boost as well. Thoughtful touches and simple treats can send comfort and style levels skyrocketing and leave your bank balance largely intact. So focus on a few little indulgences and get ready to reap big benefits.
Reboot Your Bedding
Even if you’re not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, you will still be spending much of your life between the sheets, so treat yourself to quality bedding.
Cotton with a high thread count or crisp linen feels wonderful against skin. And while good-quality bedding will cost a little more, it will repay you with night after night of comfort. It’s also generally more durable than the ordinary variety.
Browse bedding in the Houzz Shop
Even if you’re not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night, you will still be spending much of your life between the sheets, so treat yourself to quality bedding.
Cotton with a high thread count or crisp linen feels wonderful against skin. And while good-quality bedding will cost a little more, it will repay you with night after night of comfort. It’s also generally more durable than the ordinary variety.
Browse bedding in the Houzz Shop
Enjoy Fresh Flowers
Cut flowers create a pleasing splash of color in any space, bringing some of the natural world indoors. Splurging on big bouquets can be costly, but you can use small bouquets or single stems instead.
Separate blooms and dot them around your home for a floral detail in every room, or cut pretty flowers from your garden.
10 Kinds of Flowers and Foliage for Modern Spaces
Cut flowers create a pleasing splash of color in any space, bringing some of the natural world indoors. Splurging on big bouquets can be costly, but you can use small bouquets or single stems instead.
Separate blooms and dot them around your home for a floral detail in every room, or cut pretty flowers from your garden.
10 Kinds of Flowers and Foliage for Modern Spaces
Energize With Pieces That Make You Smile
Add details to your space that make you smile. They may not be super stylish or crazily classy, but if they appeal to you, they will enhance your home. Quirky objects chanced upon in unlikely shops, found treasures or knickknacks from a flea market — whatever makes you happy deserves a place in your home.
Find an interior designer near you
Add details to your space that make you smile. They may not be super stylish or crazily classy, but if they appeal to you, they will enhance your home. Quirky objects chanced upon in unlikely shops, found treasures or knickknacks from a flea market — whatever makes you happy deserves a place in your home.
Find an interior designer near you
Indulge in Statement Wallpaper
Statement wallpaper, by definition, works best in small doses. Refresh a hallway or a powder room with an eye-catching print. You won’t need to use much in a small space, making this a fairly purse-friendly option.
Statement wallpaper, by definition, works best in small doses. Refresh a hallway or a powder room with an eye-catching print. You won’t need to use much in a small space, making this a fairly purse-friendly option.
Thoughtfully Organize Shelves
A lovely display is a small luxury any of us can pull off. Empty a cluttered shelf or surface and rearrange it with a selection of your favorite pieces. Once isolated and creatively displayed, they will become a positive focal point.
A lovely display is a small luxury any of us can pull off. Empty a cluttered shelf or surface and rearrange it with a selection of your favorite pieces. Once isolated and creatively displayed, they will become a positive focal point.
Buy Good Hangers
Wire hangers can stretch and distort clothes, and often become tangled inside a wardrobe, so ditch them for decent hangers instead.
Wooden designs are strong enough to support bulky garments and should last a lifetime, while hangers covered with a soft nonslip material will keep your clothes from falling off.
Wire hangers can stretch and distort clothes, and often become tangled inside a wardrobe, so ditch them for decent hangers instead.
Wooden designs are strong enough to support bulky garments and should last a lifetime, while hangers covered with a soft nonslip material will keep your clothes from falling off.
Weave In Colorful Accents
Even if you’re committed to muted tones or love clean white, consider introducing a little zingy color into a room. Nothing reinvigorates a space more than a bright flash of color, adding a playful note that helps lift the mood of the room.
A vibrant pillow or rug, a funky chair or a painted table can be a simple and inexpensive way to wake up a room’s decor.
Even if you’re committed to muted tones or love clean white, consider introducing a little zingy color into a room. Nothing reinvigorates a space more than a bright flash of color, adding a playful note that helps lift the mood of the room.
A vibrant pillow or rug, a funky chair or a painted table can be a simple and inexpensive way to wake up a room’s decor.
Freshen With Subtle Scent
It’s easy to overlook the positive and pampering effect of delicate fragrance in a home, as the visual and tactile appeal of a space tends to take priority. Softly scented rooms welcome you before you’ve even had time to admire the pillows or artwork.
Buy scented candles, diffusers and room sprays or, at the very least, throw the windows wide for an hour or two to refresh your rooms.
It’s easy to overlook the positive and pampering effect of delicate fragrance in a home, as the visual and tactile appeal of a space tends to take priority. Softly scented rooms welcome you before you’ve even had time to admire the pillows or artwork.
Buy scented candles, diffusers and room sprays or, at the very least, throw the windows wide for an hour or two to refresh your rooms.
Make Room for Marvelous Mugs
Many of us drink several cups of coffee or tea a day. Turn this ritual into something really enjoyable by investing in beautiful mugs.
Your morning brew will taste so much better sipped from a pretty vessel that’s been thoughtfully designed to sit comfortably in the hand, rather than from a chipped and chunky old cup.
Many of us drink several cups of coffee or tea a day. Turn this ritual into something really enjoyable by investing in beautiful mugs.
Your morning brew will taste so much better sipped from a pretty vessel that’s been thoughtfully designed to sit comfortably in the hand, rather than from a chipped and chunky old cup.
Showcase a Terrific Tray
An attractive tray is a treat for your home. Use it to organize a display, frame a selection of objects or simply show off your snacks.
In the bathroom, group candles and beautiful bottles on a tray. In a living space, use one as an informal drinks trolley, holding everything you need for a delicious cocktail.
An attractive tray is a treat for your home. Use it to organize a display, frame a selection of objects or simply show off your snacks.
In the bathroom, group candles and beautiful bottles on a tray. In a living space, use one as an informal drinks trolley, holding everything you need for a delicious cocktail.
Tell us: Do you have any small indulgences that home? Please tell us about them in the Comments.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about creating a feel-good home
Find a home pro
Shop for decor and accessories
More on Houzz
Read more stories about creating a feel-good home
Find a home pro
Shop for decor and accessories
The Columbus based, Daniel Russo Home Team, recognizes the importance a well-thought-out interior design. The... Read More
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Sculpture, whether bookshelf-size or large-scale, creates sophisticated interest like nothing else. We have found wonderful pieces at auctions, tag sales, and flea markets that were relatively inexpensive (a few hundred dollars or less). They can transform spaces, both inside and outside.
If you can sew...or know someone who enjoys it, buy choice quilting cotton from a fabric store and make your own sheets and pillowcases. You will get better quality sheets for a fraction of luxury sheets. You can even determine the fit for the mattress!
Dazzle your doors with delightful doorknobs!