Nesting for the cold months ahead? Ugh. Me too.
Readers, if you’re anything like me, you get a little antsy when it comes to your aesthetic. Cottage core, cabin core (camping core?), witch core, comfort cores, the internet is officially obsessed with branding our spaces. It can be overwhelming - What is my style? If I pick one style, does it mean I can’t mix and match?
The answer, dear readers, is simple: Go with what you LIKE. The rest will sort itself out.
Caveat: If you have trouble making decisions and/or if you are hopelessly in love with HGTV (ahem, ME), this might prove a bit more challenging. Using these easy (and mostly inexpensive) tips, your space will look like a freakin’ cottage-camping-botanical-witch-core dream come true.
Now, let’s get started.
7 Ways to Make
Your Space The Coziest,
Eco-Friendliest Thing EVER
1. Pick a funky wallpaper (or three!)
Okay, hear me out, because I already know what you’re thinking.
Wallpaper?!
It sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t.
When I moved in with my bestie, I completely underestimated how HIGH the dang ceilings would be. Painting the walls white proved to be an excruciating As a petite person, I couldn’t imagine mounting unreachable shelves or - dare I say - PAINT all four walls, just to change my mind and repaint in six months.
The solution? Haok Wallpaper.
Haok Wallpaper is affordable, user friendly, and the selection is outrageous - Floral to checkered to Moroccan tile; everything your little artsy-fartsy HGTV heart could possibly want. After hours of scrutiny and second guessing, I ended up going with 3 different wallpapers; one for the wall behind my bed, one for my 'gallery wall', and one for my recently-renovated closet office!
Best news? It's available on Amazon Prime!
2. Add Some Plant Life
Again, HEAR ME OUT. This tip is NOT reserved for the green-thumbed readers.
With the right YouTube tutorial, anyone can have a botanical garden in their space!
There are a plethora of indoor plants that require VERY little upkeep and watering, and they will make your space look like you live in a Pottery Barn (in the best way possible).
What plants do I currently have in my bedroom space? Here are my indoor plant recommendations:
Bird of Paradise
This little guy might not look like much, but he will far surpass your expectations. Considered “The Queen of Indoor Plants” (circa bloomscape.com), these water-suckers require very little light, and can make one watering last for weeks. They also grow wicked fast and you will love waking up to little green spikes of new growth poking through the foliage. My Bird of Paradise (named “Ficus”) brings me so much joy and rejuvenation. It’s always very rewarding to watch my plants grow! What started as a small little guy is now a MONSTER and I absolutely love it.
African Fig Plant
Admittedly, this was an impulse purchase (thanks, Home Depot), but I’m really loving the results. African Fig Plants are not the easiest to grow (they hate being moved around), but they do a lot of the hard work for you. With large, dark green leaves, and the promise of FIGS in years to come (fig pizza, anyone?), this plant adds a spruce of the African tropics to your autumnal space. Not only do these plants provide major eye candy, but their natural properties actually help to purify the air in your space.
Added Bonus? With the right encouragement, they can also grow up to 5 feet tall. That, my dear readers, is a LOT of figs.
Chinese Evergreen
If the thought of constant gardening gives you hives, look no further: THIS is the low-maintenance plant of your brown thumb dreams. Native to the tropics of Southeast Asia, Chinese Evergreen plants thrive in low light with minimal waterings (yay!). They also love humid environments, so just give your Evergreen’s leaves a little wipe when they look dry/dusty, water when the top soil is dry, and you’re all set.
Did I also mention they are based in Chinese folklore as a bringer of good fortune and wealth? Score.
3. Use Soy and Beeswax-Based Candles
We all love candles, right? Mood lighting, lovely scents, the whole shebang. Right now, I’m all about spiced apple orchards and pumpkin patch-scented candles, but typically I end up with a splitting headache. The lanolin, the fumes, who knows? I used to write off my migraines as an occupational hazard of loving candles too much. Turns out, my body really doesn’t like traditional paraffin candles. According to the internet (google.com):
"Commonly emitted VOCs related to the scent in candles include formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, limonene, alcohol and esters. These harmful chemicals can cause health problems ranging from headaches, dizziness and allergy symptoms to asthma attacks, respiratory tract infections and even cancer."
Yikes. So, bye-bye to traditional paraffin candles and a warm welcome to beeswax and soy candles.
What are the benefits of soy and wax candles?
They produce NO soot, which can permanently damage your home
They burn 50% longer than paraffin wax candles, due to the low melting point
More eco-friendly and sustainable than paraffin wax candles, which are derived from FOSSIL FUELS, which accelerate climate change. Yeah, remember THAT?
I think the benefits speak for themselves. I love my soy and beeswax candles, my headaches are GONE, and I’m helping to slow the rate of climate change, which feels pretty darn good.
4. Get A Hypoallergenic Duvet Cover
Maybe you’re thinking, “Ugh, but having a duvet means I have to keep changing the cover.”
True, that’s a definite obligation, but let’s think this through. Technically, we are supposed to change the sheets on our beds EVERY WEEK (according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America), especially if you are allergic to dust mites. We shed tens of thousands of skin cells every day...where do we think those dead skin cells are going? Oh, on your BED LINENS. This extends to your pillowcases, your sheets, and - you guessed it - your covers/comforter. I recommend THIS 100% cotton duvet cover, which has become my new favorite thing.
(P.S. If you are prone to ‘night sweats’, steer clear of microfiber. 100% cotton is the way to go. )
So, while swapping out your duvet cover every 2 weeks doesn’t sound ideal, do you like the idea of rolling around in a bed of your old, dead skin cells?
Hmm.
5. Pick Up An Aromatherapy Humidifier
Did your super suddenly crank up the HIGH HEAT, even though it’s 58 degrees outside? Mine too. *cue dry cough*
To keep your nose and throat from turning into a cactus, your best bet is to drink plenty of water before bed, and invest in a top-notch humidifier. As a person who has been prone to mid-sleep nosebleeds (so fun), I know how unpleasant a dry nasal passage/throat can be.
**Adding moisture to the air reduces bronchial inflammation, as well as soothes post nasal drip and other ENT issues that might make falling/staying asleep uncomfortable.**
Disclaimer: If you are a person with hair that has a propensity to frizz, the idea of sleeping in the tropics might not sound so great. But, I urge you to reconsider: the (possibly) frizzy costs outweigh the benefits.
But, you might ask yourselves, what benefits, Aurie?
Reduces symptoms of cold/flu
Helps you fall asleep faster
Reduces SNORING
Keeps your skin soft and moisturized
I recommend these Aromatherapy Humidifiers, which are the perfect combo between sleeping soundly and having lavender-infused dreams. Snag one for $22 on Amazon prime.
Sweet dreams.
6. Snag Some Eco-Friendly Paper Blinds
I HATE DUSTY CURTAINS, especially in the bedroom. Much like a dust ruffle, it reminds me of sleeping in a musty old attack/bedroom at a distant aunt’s house. The smell, the dinge, the overall mustiness...very unpleasant.
I am also a morning person and I crave sunlight, so it’s crucial for my bedroom to let in as much natural light as possible, making blackout curtains my worst nightmare. I don’t like traditional blinds (re: dust), and most NYC people (ahem, me) can’t afford the oh-so-classy-but-overpriced bamboo blinds that everyone is gushing about.
The solution? Paper. Blinds.
These light-filtering paper blinds are easy to install (no tools required), work like a charm, and are completely RECYCLABLE! During the big Hurricane Henri storm aftermath in NYC, my first paper blind was soaked. Why cry over wet blinds? I threw it in the recycling bin and grabbed another (I bought a 4-pack). Easy-peasy.
Conclusion? Save the environment, let the sunlight in, and keep your creepy neighbor from watching you sleep.
Of all the paper blinds on the market, I recommend THIS ONE.
7. Display Your Books (or favorite items)
Disclaimer: This particular to-do applies to books because that’s what felt relevant for me. But, try to make this list about what YOU like. Do you have a million Star Wars figurines in boxes under your bed? Put those ebay collectibles on display! Do you have a bunch of signed Broadway Playbills? Me too, and let’s get those framed and on display!
If you’re a reader (like me), your books are probably stacked on every surface of your bedroom. I like to have my books on display, not for guests (ha, what guests?), but for my own edification.
It makes me feel HAPPY to see my books displayed on the shelves and in the nooks and crannies of my living space. The books I’ve read 1000 times, the books I haven’t started, the books I found in kitchy secondhand stores, the books I ordered online and paid full price. I love my books, so why hide them?
I am currently in the market for a lovely display for my books. There are so many ways to go. Here are a few of my options:
Take your favorite items and put them in a place of prominence. It’s your bedroom, so it should represent YOU. Right?
FINAL THOUGHTS
Even as I write this list, my mind wanders to other ways I can improve and rejuvenate my ever-changing space. I hope this list provides you with some chutzpah, as you consider how you will revolutionize your bed, bath, and beyond. Your home should feel like a bright, welcoming reflection of you, so make it your own! Don’t be afraid to experiment with color, texture, and design.
It’s YOUR space, so make it cozy and inviting. But, whatever you decide, do it fast.
Winter is coming, after all.
XOXO AURIE SAYS
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