5 Easy Ways to Beautify Your Life
Ridiculously simple tweaks that will make you ridiculously happy
You may have caught my post about the classic Parisian apartment. While in Paris, I stopped in a shop carrying stationery, notecards, gorgeous gift wrap and writing paraphernalia, including rubber stamps. Impulsively, I bought one.
It sounds crazy, but the small design element I can now add to my paper communications has brought me much joy. I decided to find a few other things that have surprising decorative or therapeutic power—or both.
Here are the five I came up with—some are obvious, some are not. All of them have the potential to lift you out of bad habits of simply using any old thing because you’re not paying attention to your aesthetic surroundings. Try something that elevates—you won’t be sorry. I’ll get you started.
Rubber stamp style
Rubber stamps have been around for a long time and are great for addressing bills and wedding invitations. In my opinion, a stamped address is a cut above an adhesive label.
What is even more fun are stamps that add decorative elements. These are used widely by mixed media artists, scrapbookers and junk journalists. Essentially they turn you into an instant artist. It’s so fun.
I found an intricate rectangular shape (here are some similar ones) and decided to use it as a framework for my handwritten return address. It added instant appeal to a simple thank-you notecard I sent to a friend. It is also fun to stamp quick notes to your family or highlight parts of your journal or notebook that are important.
Look for stamps depicting botanicals, florals, animals, motifs, words and symbols; anything that captures your own personality. Don’t forget the ink pad.
These silk ribbons at Tinsel Trading in Berkeley, Calif. are divine and make even a fistful of wild Queen Anne’s Lace wildflowers look like a million dollars.
Tie a ribbon on it
If you’ve ordered anything remotely crafty from Etsy recently, chances are the product came to you wrapped with a ribbon. Didn’t it look nice? Nordstrom used to give out silver boxes and real satin ribbon during the holidays and it was a class act. I’m not sure if they do it anymore but you can start your own ribbon embellishments with ease and very little cost.
Use ribbon for: Items you sell on Facebook Marketplace, wrapped or unwrapped gifts, supermarket flowers, an impromptu bookmark, headband for your bed head, folded towels for guests, napkin rings, a holiday card banner or curtain tiebacks.
This ordinary-looking comforter is actually elasticized along the bottom for a 10-second bedmaking experience. (Photo: Target)
Make your bed, always
If there is any one thing you should do every day, it’s making your bed. I’m not your mom and I know that many people consider it an exercise in futility (“I’m getting right back in there anyway!”)
Consider this: Smooth sheets, plumped pillows and a bedspread or comforter pulled up high are not only psychologically inviting, they serve a purpose. Bedclothes are there to protect your sleeping area from dust, cat hair, germs and mites. A well-made bed stays cleaner, longer. Even if the rest of your room resembles a high school locker room at homecoming, if your bed is made it’s pretty much a win.
The ingenious down alternative comforter shown above has a flexible elastic band at the bottom to keep the comforter (and sheets!) firmly in place.
Add a huge boost to your bedroom look with a quilt throw like this one from Auntie Oti. It’s a perfect complement to the Covermade comforter shown above and protects your bed at the same time. (Photo: Auntie Oti)
Top it off with a vibrant organic quilt or oversized throw and you’ve got yourself an easy, one-minute bedmaking routine that will transform the entire room.
Catchall trays like this one from Rifle Paper & Co. are timeless holders of stuff that comes out of your hands, pockets and purse at the end of the day. (Photo: Rifle Paper & Co.)
Tray chic
We all do it. Tired from a long day, we fling all kinds of stuff on the: a) kitchen counter b) hall credenza or c) bedroom nightstand. It accumulates all week and becomes an unsightly pile that keeps us further away from being featured in the NYT Style section.
Trays are an utterly overlooked resource and should be recognized as the genius organizing accessories that they are. Try putting a small ceramic tray on your nightstand or bathroom vanity to hold wedding ring, earrings, AirPods and more. The items not only remain where you left them, but the surrounding area looks more put together as a result.
You can find lots of lovely options like this vintage Venetian oval tray and make an impromptu gathering with friends into a memorable event. (Photo: Etsy)
Have fun searching for trays that suit you and each room in your home. Look for small ones (bathroom), medium size (bedroom) and large (kitchen and dining room) that can serve a variety of purposes from toiletries to cocktail service.
Whose laundry basket looks like this? Not mine, sadly. This handsome wicker basket is made practical with small wheels that really take a load off. (Photo: McGee & Co.)
Making dirty laundry beautiful
Every time I go to Target I look longingly at the new plastic laundry baskets. Mine is old and broken but for some reason I resist buying a new one. We all try to make do with what we have and that’s a good thing. But every once in awhile, an infusion of fresh and functional tools can make our daily grind a little happier.
You probably do laundry at least once a week. It’s essential to make this never-ending chore as pleasant as possible. I really like this basket not only for its natural willow weave and sturdy construction but also that it has wheels. Wheels! No more lugging! Suddenly wash day is easier on the eye, and the back.
They say that the voice of God is a whisper. Beauty is also quiet, and the best kind of beauty requires no large budget or special training. Enjoy the journey of bringing more of it into your own world.