We’re so concerned about perfecting the look of our space that sometimes we don’t give much thought to how it actually smells. But learning how to make your rooms smell good will make as much of an impacts as your skills with a paintbrush.
Fragrance has the power to instantly lift a mood or kill it in a flash. And once you think of scent as a must-have accessory for your home, you’ll be hooked trying out different combinations.
Scent is always well considered as a living room idea – either through candles or flowers. But it’s really worth thinking about for all rooms, as our experts explain.
Emma Loane, hotel business manager scent specialists ARRAN, has spent years working with hoteliers such as Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, Cameron House, Cromlix and G&V Royal Mile Hotel, and knows exactly how to make your rooms smell good through creating a luxury ‘home-tel’ experience.
‘Scent is a huge part of staying in a hotel,’ says Emma. ‘It not only makes it feel fresh, clean and inviting, but also when applying concepts of aromatherapy, has a huge impact on mood.’
Image Credit: ARRAN
‘Fancy hotels will often diffuse different aromas around the lobby, bathrooms and communal areas, as well as in the rooms themselves,’ says Emma. ‘In the trade, this is known as “scent scaping”. Not just filling the space with the same fragrance, but crafting an experience or “journey” through scent placement as you make your way through the building.’
Emma believe that it’s simple to apply this technique at home, but she warns against having fragrances in adjacent rooms that could clash. So try not to put two powerful combinations together.
Image credit: ARRAN
‘Many luxury hotels use a signature fragrance to perfume their rooms,’ says Swyft’s head of creative, Kelly Colling. ‘Using the same technique in your home will help make it feel like a hotel, and ensure you’re met with a delicious scent every time you walk through your front door.’
‘We are often brought on board to create bespoke scents for our high-end hotel clients,’ Emma continues, ‘because the sense of smell can be extremely powerful for triggering memories. This is due to the region of the brain responsible for memory and smell being very much intertwined.’
‘These “fragrant flashbacks” often serve to remind guests of the luxury and enjoyment they experienced during their stay. When used in this way, scent becomes a kind of “olfactory branding”.’
‘Introducing a signature smell into your home will have the same effect and your house guests will always associate whichever scent you choose with you and your home. Most home fragrance ranges are available in room sprays, diffusers and candles. And some extend to shower gels and hand wash, which makes it even easier to decant your signature scent around your house.’
Image credit: Robert Sanderson
Sure, it’s obvious, but how many of us do it on a daily basis? Stale air is a health and mood zapper and by opening your windows and doors for just a few minutes, especially on a flower-filled garden, you’ll get an instant – and totally free – air refresh. When it comes to how to make your rooms smell good, this is surely the cheapest and easiest option.
Image credit: Future PLC
Fresh herbs such as basil and mint give off a lovely aroma in the kitchen. Place them on a table or windowsill and ensure there’s good airflow to waft , or you could try planting a mini herb garden idea – a box overflowing with marjoram, lemon balm and rosemary – right by your back door. That way you’ll get an olfactory hit the moment you step outside.
Also, guests will know they’re in for culinary a treat if you do the same on your front porch.
Image credit: Freddie’s Flowers
From planting jasmine and lavender down the garden path to pansies by the front door, flowers never fail to raise the spirits. Inside, think artfully arranged bunches of roses, magnolia and lily of the valley, which not only look gorgeous, but smell divine.
Don’t undo all your hard work by forgetting to change the water daily, though – rotten flower water not only smells awful, but is a health hazard, too.
If you love how flowers make your home look and smell, it’s worth treating yourself to one of our favourite best flower subscriptions for a regular delivery of scented blooms.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Tim Young
For a quick and easy fresh smell, you can’t beat citrus. Slice a few lemons, limes and oranges and leave them out on the chopping board whenever you feel your space needs a zesty hit. It’s one of many lemon cleaning hacks that are toxin free and total genius.
‘One of the best things about staying in a hotel is the big, comfy bed and crisp, newly washed linens,’ says Emma. ‘Hotels nearly always use white bed linen. It’s easier to keep it clean and fresh, it won’t date and can be updated seasonally with cushions and throws. Opt for cotton percale if your budget stretches to it. As a rule of thumb the higher the thread count the more lavish (and expensive) it will feel.’
Using a pillow spray on top of a white bedroom idea will make your bed feel even more like a gorgeous boutique hotel. Notes of lavender and spearmint that will not only transport you to a haven of rest and calm, they reduce tension and encourage relaxation. So if you’re wondering how to sleep better, a pillow spray might be the answer.
Image credit: Future PLC
The quality of your candle is probably more important than its smell. Organic beeswax scented candles are a fixture in modern-day living rooms, but don’t let that be the exception.
Lighting a potent high-end fragrance in a hallway immediately ups the welcoming factor. An added bonus is that it masks the smell of cheesy shoes. Just make sure you don’t leave it unattended.
A few candles dotted around a bathroom will give even the plainest spaces a bit of sparkle. Choose soothing scents like lavender and rose to help you relax in the tub.
If you have guests over, opt for fresh citrus scents, which have universal appeal.
Image credit: Alun Callender
You don’t need an oil burner to benefit from essential oils. Simply add a few drops of relaxing lavender to a bowl of hot water for the ultimate chill-out atmosphere. Ditto warming vanilla or mandarin. These are the kind of smells that say home sweet home.
Oils are also a great mood booster if you’re working from home. ‘I love Rosemary to increase energy, focus and clear the mind,’ says Tipper Lewis, brand ambassador at Neal’s Yard. ‘Grapefruit with orange or lemon gives that zesty spring which is perfect for the morning and encourages positivity.’
Image credit: James Merrell
Boil up a pot of cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange or lemon zest on the stove for a subtly warming scent. And if you need to get rid of a particularly challenging cooking smell – say a potent curry or a fish stew – put a bowl of white vinegar on the kitchen worktop and those unwanted odours will soon vanish.
Image credit: Polly Eltes
Wondering how to make your rooms smell good? Take a tip from estate agents. An oldie but a goodie, the smell of baking bread is universally loved. It’s a cliche that people will have a loaf in the oven when they are having house viewings, but it works!
Even the aroma of yeast proving gets us every time. That’s why our Saturday morning baking will always be a ritual. No time? Cheat and use one of our favourite best bread makers. Or brew some coffee – another favourite trick of house sellers.
‘In homes, you don’t want to be overwhelmed as soon as you step through the door,’ says Emma Loane. ‘So I would choose something like our After the Rain reed diffuser, £33, ARRAN, in the hallway, which is a really fresh and welcoming scent in lime, rose and sandalwood.’
‘Then you need to think of which notes will complement one another as you move from room to room. So, into the living room I would opt for the uplifting floral notes of bergamot and geranium,’ says Emma. We also like woody and tobacco fragrances for a living room, which feel rich and masculine.
‘The invigorating zest of grapefruit in the kitchen to help dispel any cooking aromas,’ Emma advises. We’d also choose herb-based scents such as peppermint or sage here.
‘The bathroom and bedroom are relaxation spaces, so something like Wild Gorse candle, £33, ARRAN would work brilliantly here,’ says Emma.
The post How to make your rooms smell good – 10 scent-sational ideas appeared first on Ideal Home.
Searching for an autumn wreath to hang on your front door? A simple way to mimic the change of seasons into your home decor, an autumn wreath also ought to add a sense of welcome to your home – and it’ll ensure your front door stands out from your neighbours. Emanating a cosy vibe too, autumn wreaths are usually adorned with all of our favourite autumnal things, from maple leaves to berries, pinecones and sometimes even mini pumpkins. Pro tip: choose an autumn wreath that’s wrapped with lights to illuminate your home (or indoor space), all whilst brightening up your space by adding colour.
Not just for outdoor use, though, autumn wreaths are quite often used as table centrepieces on dining tables. Alternatively, you could use them to hang above a fireplace, or on interior doors to inject colour and life into a hallway. In other words: an autumn wreath is versatile, and you can usually use them year after year if they are artificial. Because clearly, Autumn isn’t just about pumpkins and trick or treat.
Related: Front door ideas – 17 inspirational tips for adding instant kerb appeal
Why an autumn wreath? We’ve seen this trend excel in previous years, all thanks to the likes of Stacey Solomon and Mrs Hinch. If these two are making them and using autumn wreaths in their home decor, then why aren’t you? It certainly has inspired us.
See below for 8 lovely autumn wreaths you’ll want to hang on your door, use on your table with a candle inside or bestow atop your fireplace in 2021. And buy fast before they all start selling out.
Image credit: Lights4fun
First up on our list is this super cute wreath from Lights4fun. It measures a pretty sizeable 50cm so as to make a statement indoors or out, while it’s faux so that you can use it year after year. It’ll be sure to bring all of the autumn vibes to your home, plus it subtly boasts a gold effect as a nod to Christmas. Use it from now right up until you switch it out for your Christmas wreath. Better yet: wrap some lights around it to give it a double purpose. Did we mention that you’ll get free delivery? Hurry!
Buy now: 50cm Autumn Wreath, £41.99, Lights4fun
Image credit: Mithrajewellery
Adorned with everything from mini pumpkins to pinecones and berries, this handmade autumn wreath is a true winner. It’s crowded but in a good way, and it will definitely catch eyes once hung on your door. Alternatively, style it over your fireplace to inject autumnal vibes indoors. At 40cm in diameter it’s perfectly sizeable – and also a bargain.
Buy now: Mithrajewellery Autumn Fall Pumpkin Wreath, £20.99, Etsy
Image credit: Livingandhome
Want an autumn wreath but prefer something a bit more subdued? Opt for this one from the range. It’s slightly less busy – which we still love – plus it even comes with lights wrapped around it. It’s your choice to switch these on or keep them off, but either way, they’re there! Giving off natural vibes with a wooden frame, it’s decorated with sorghum, maple leaves, berries plus lots more. What about its size? It’s a generous 50cm round.
Buy now: Large Autumn Golden Sorghum Wreath Door Harvest Wreath Decoration, £25.99, The Range
Image credit: Lights4fun
One for those who aren’t major fans of your classic autumn colours, this plain yet understated wreath makes a nod to both seasons. It’s decorated mostly with faux eucalyptus, with the addition of pinecones white pumpkins to give it an autumnal edge. It’s made for indoor use, and we think it would look lovely as a table centrepiece – or with a candle in the middle. It’s undoubtedly an elegant addition to your home, autumn or not!
Buy now: 50cm Pumpkin & Pinecone Autumn Wreath, £49.99, Lights4fun
Image credit: Lights4fun
We’re big fans of this nearly-naked autumn wreath, especially since it’s bang on-trend and wrapped with wheatgrass and foliage – all in autumnal shades. Plus, there’s the benefit that you can store it away and use it year after year. In fact, we even think it could work as an Easter wreath come springtime, too! Hang it on your door or use it as a table centrepiece – either way, it’ll work.
Buy now: 55cm Wheat Autumn Wreath, £34.99 £29.99, Lights4fun
Image credit: Lights4fun
Use this 46cm wreath to add some warmth to an otherwise neutral colour scheme – and to inject some colour. It’s decorated with lots of berries as well as artificial leaves, and you can even wrap it with LED lights to give it a warm glow. Talk about make an entrance…
Buy now: 46cm Autumn Wreath, £39.99, Lights4fun
Image credit: Mithrajewellery
Berries are the highlight of this autumn wreath as it’s imbued with spouting berries plus lots of leaves, all of which are in your classic autumn colours from orange to deep red and yellow. It’s definitely one for making a statement while it even comes in a colossal 60cm version. Use it to add colour to your table, above your mantle or on a front or back door to welcome guests. The best part? It’s handmade by a small business. Win win!
Will you be accessorising this Easter with a wreath? We hope we have inspired you to buy one from our list above…
Buy now: Mithrajewellery Autumn Fall Maple Berry Wreath, £23.99, Etsy
Image credit: Dibor
Need an autumn wreath but want to be able to use it at Christmas, too? This one from small brand Dibor is just the one for you, then. It’s bursting with pinecones, succulents, white berries and even moss. Plus, it’s eco-friendly since it’s real, which makes it look even more impressive hung on your front door for your neighbours to see. Plus, it’s handcrafted and also dusted with glitter for a fancy effect.
Buy now: Luxury Autumn Succulent Wreath, £21.95, Not on the High Street
Don’t miss: the Ideal Home edit of the best throws for AW21
Will you be accessorising this autumn with a wreath? We hope we have inspired you to buy one from our list above…
The post 8 cute autumn wreaths to buy in 2021 – for indoors and out appeared first on Ideal Home.
‘With our two sons getting older and space and privacy becoming more important, we decided to extend upstairs to create another bedroom and bathroom,’ says the owner of this five-bedroom modern detached house in Cheltenham.
‘We built the extension over the sitting room and knocked through the old bathroom, which gave us a corridor to the new rooms and a decent-sized shower room for the boys.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
‘I’ve learned to always start a scheme with something you really love. I fell in love with the palm print wallpaper for the bedroom and everything in the bathroom was chosen to work alongside that.’
‘Because our room is so tucked away, we didn’t need doors on the en suite. It means the light flows between the rooms and I can lie in the bath and watch the telly in the bedroom!’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
The extension cost £70,000 and the project took six months. They gave the new en suite a simple monochrome scheme, which can evolve with different accessories and artwork. ‘I’d always wanted a freestanding bath, so that was number one on my wish list!’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
‘I used a deep blue shade on one wall but kept the rest white and introduced texture and pattern with the tiles’ says the owner of the decorative bathroom flooring idea.
‘I added bits and pieces I found in junk shops and on eBay while working on projects for my company, Rachel Collis Design.’
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
The shower was built into the corner of the room, a space-saving shower room idea. A false wall was built to create the enclosure, which left the perfect nook for the loo, out of sight inside the doorway. A black shower frame won’t show fingerprints and smears like chrome.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
The owner bought the marble-topped washstand in a house clearance sale, deciding on a savvy upcycled furniture idea. Changing the handles and painting it black totally transformed the piece.
The mirror was another vintage find, which she painted black to match the washstand.
Image credit: Future PLC/ Heather Gunn
A hanging house plant idea adds style without using surface space.
‘This bathroom is our private retreat,’ says the owner. ‘It’s a grown-up place to relax in now!
The post Before and after: an extension creates space for a stylish monochrome en suite appeared first on Ideal Home.
