1. Brighten any room with low-maintenance plants and flowers. Bring the vibrant outdoors in! If you truly do not have a green thumb and are afraid of killing off real plants, there are many beautiful silk plants, including trees, on the market today. For plants, choose ones with broad leaves. They are much easier to clean. Fresh flowers don’t last as long, but their beauty cannot be surpassed.

2. Most agree that in the winter, candles create an instant, warm and inviting atmosphere. But, in the summer when heat is already an issue, use clusters of tea lights around the room. Also, invest in a couple large mirrors. This not only reflects light into an otherwise darker room and often makes any room look larger. Remember to securely anchor larger mirrors to the wall to protect from possible breakage.

3. Are your walls drab looking? With a little time and effort, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your outlook! And, this is a great time to do it. Don’t wait until winter when the house is closed up and there is poor ventilation. Before committing to a particular color, pick up some sample palettes from your paint store and tape to the wall. Or, test the paint by brushing some on a large piece of poster board and hang it on the wall. Either way, look at them during the day and night and under various kinds of lighting to see what is most pleasing on the eye. Many opt for colored walls and white ceilings to give a more “open” feeling. Note: Save money and purchase discounted paint which most stores offer to customers, if you’re not too fussy about the exact color. Often, these paints have been discontinued or another customer has changed his or her mind on the color.

4. Neatness counts. Set a timer and get the kids involved. Many things are fun when it becomes a game (”beat the clock”). Actually, housecleaning should never be a difficult process. It becomes difficult with the accumulation of “things”. Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! We’ll share hint and tips with you over time with easy ways to simplify! Our focus should always be to honor God with our time and in our homes.

5. If your family is prone to allergies, it is of utmost importance to vacuum your furniture every week, if possible. It’s best to vacuum the carpet one or two times a week. And, if you’ve been steering away from leather furniture because of the cold feeling in the winter, throws work great! If it’s the cost, be creative and scour second hand shops or estate sales. Prayer works, too!

6. Highlight the things that matter most to you. Display pictures, mementos, cherished family antiques, and so on. But the way you display them matters as much as the items, themselves. Get your pictures off flat surfaces and onto the walls with a grouping of frames or one of the beautiful collage frames out on the market. Barrister bookcases are great for collections. They’re bookcases with glass fronts on individual shelves. Or, visit yard sales and look for a lighted corner cabinet. Either way, it’s less dusting and more time for you to enjoy the look.

7. Changing your mood can be as simple as rearranging your furniture. Have fun with it. Be daring. You can always put it back if it doesn’t work!

8. Don’t forget about filling your home with music and the scents of homemade bread (or our favorite, popcorn!). Focusing on the five senses of look, smell, touch, hearing, and taste can enhance and balance any room of your house. As we said, be creative and have fun with the process! For ideas, check out books at the library or get ideas from women’s magazines. The possibilities are endless!

9. Always have a well, thought-out dinner table setting that says, “You matter!”, “Family is important and so is our time together!” At least once a week, bring out the fine china or other dinnerware you reserve for special occasions or for special guests. Isn’t your family worthy of such love and attention? If time really is an issue, a rose in a vase or a candle in the middle shows you’ve given some thought to it, at least. You could have a well thought-out dinner or grab some nutritious, fast food on your way home from work. It doesn’t matter as much as your investment of love and a listening ear to the ones that are most important in your life.