Gracious Living: Creating A Home You LOVE

When helping clients decorate their homes, one of the first questions I ask is, “How do you want your home to feel?” Most people want homes that are beautiful AND welcoming. But how do you reflect that in your decor? To me, a gracious home is built around many small elements that elevate your day-to-day living. We’re not aiming for a spotless, ‘perfect’ home, but rather a warm, comfortable, and elegant space that welcomes people into it. Here are some (almost) effortless ways you can live graciously in your home, too.

Meaningful Accessories

A gracious home is one not filled with random things, but rather one with meaningful touches scattered throughout. Add decor that is special to YOU, regardless of what this year’s decorating trend may be. Our home is filled with family pieces that have been lovingly maintainted and passed down. So many of these things hold special memories of the person who owned it before.

This plate wall is full of dishes handed down from my from my great-grandmother, grandmother, great-aunt, and mother. I treasure these pieces for the ladies they represent. You just can’t buy that in a store.

The brass candlesticks were wedding gifts to my parents many years ago. Timeless decor adds an air of graciousness to your home that trendy pieces just can’t.

The Right Lighting

Lighting is absolutely one the most important aspects that influences how you feel in a room. Think about what is happening in the room, and tailor your lighting to it. Are you relaxing in your den after a long day at work, or are you prepping dinner in the kitchen? These activities call for different types of lighting.

Overhead lighting(also known as task lighting), is bright and focused. Use your ceiling lights for things like cooking, getting ready, etc.

If you are relaxing, eating, or visiting, use accent lighting like lamps instead of bright overhead lighting.

Here’s a simple mood experiment you can try: Turn ON all of the ceiling lights in your living room. Now, go about your evening as usual. Visit, watch tv, have a glass of wine. How do you feel? Now, let’s turn OFF the ceiling lights and use only lamps, sconces, and candles for lighting. Feel the difference? The softer lighting creates a much more relaxed, gracious atmosphere.

Now consider your lighting from guests’ perspectives: Most people would much rather congregate in rooms with soft, flattering lighting rather than one with harsh, shadowy lighting. Who knew something as simple as a light switch could make such a difference!

TIP: Make using lamps a snap with remote-control outlet switches.

Don’t forget about outdoor lighting! String lights, lanterns, and outdoor-safe lamps add an ambient glow that makes everything look cozy and comfortable.

Set The Table

A beautifully set table is synonymous with a gracious home, but that doesn’t mean it has to be stuffy or formal. Simply use ‘real’ dishes(not disposable) for an instantly-upgraded dinner experience. You should also invest in few sets of cloth napkins, some tablecloths, or placemats. Thrift stores are a fantastic place to find table linens – many times unused! Just throw them in the wash with some disinfectant detergent and you’re good to go.

Even takeout meals are enhanced when you use real utensils, dishes, and napkins.

Dine Alfresco

Nothing says gracious living quite like dining alfresco. There’s just something luxurious about eating a meal outdoors. Take a little bit of time to set a pretty table with a tablecloth and napkins. It will instantly elevate your dining experience into something special. You don’t have to be fancy though….we love using enamelware pie plates as outdoor dishes for an elevated casual look.

You don’t have to eat a full meal outdoors, either. Instead of taking your coffee in a to-go mug, wake up a little earlier and enjoy your morning brew outdoors. You’ll start your day in a much more relaxed way.

Fresh Flowers Or Greenery

To create a gracious, welcoming home, fresh flowers are a must. These small touches show you really care about the atmosphere in your home. I love to bring in cut flowers from my garden or wildflowers I’ve collected around our property. Rarely will I buy arrangements for myself – it’s so simple(and rewarding) to gather my own.

Don’t feel you have to limit yourself to flowers, either. Sometimes potted plants or cut branches are just what a spot needs to look fresh.

Beautiful Functionality

Utilitarian spaces and mundane tasks often make us overlook the beauty we could add to our daily lives. It could be something as simple as pretty woven storage, painted cabinets, or grouping cooking and cleaning items in an attractive way.

A gracious home is filled with tiny luxuries. Even something as simple as a pretty teacup to hold kitchen items will instantly elevate your space.

Signature Scent

Scent is very strongly tied to memories and emotions. To create a home you love, think about how it smells. Pleasant, layered scents are a wonderful way to make your home feel cozy and comfortable. I LOVE using High Maintanence Laundry Detergent on my towels and bedding. The scent lasts weeks and mellows to a beautiful, vanilla/musk scent. You can also cut it with unscented detergent to make the jug last longer. To freshen bathrooms, I also hang the High Maintenance car freshener behind the toilets for a subtle scent boost.

Pro Tip: Hang an auto freshener behind your toilet tank for a subtle scent boost in the bathroom.

If you are looking for a non toxic way to freshen your home, consider making a simmer pot on your stove. Once it’s bubbling away, you can take the pot off the stove and walk it through your home, wafting the scent throughout.

Use Your Whole Home

It may seem obvious, but living in your whole home is not something we always do. Gracious homes feel well lived in and comfortable…not perfect. You will get such appreciation of your home if you take the time to enjoy all of it. Clear out a small corner of space to relax. Sit on your front porch with a cool drink.

Rethink unused spaces and change them to meet your needs. We knew we would not use a formal dining room, so we turned it into a library instead. Now we gather in there daily to drink coffee, read, or play cards.

This is my favorite room in the house. It’s full and a bit cluttered, but I’ve read all of these books and spent hours at this game table. The mounted trophies are antiques from a family member long since passed. They speak of adventure from a bygone era. The point is: a space doesn’t have to be perfect for it to create a sense of calm and well-being.

Love Your Home

Creating a home you love is about embracing its beauty as well as its flaws, and adding your unique touch to it. Regardless of what social media or HGTV say, nobody has a perfect space. Take your time decorating, slowly adding meaningful pieces to your home. Don’t rush out to buy whatever decor trend is in fashion – be true to yourself and what you love. How will you embrace your home? Happy Nesting!