Sometimes it’s the little things that can make any house feel like a happy home. Here are five of our favorite little things that make our days just a little bit sweeter.
1. Our shower radio – it makes it feel more like a mini escape and helps us conserve water because we have a two song limit.
2. Large glass cereal jars – they’re so much more charming than pouring from the box- plus we always know when we’re running low.
3. Fresh flowers and green leafy plants – they purify the air and inject a nice dose of natural texture- plus it’s nice to fill a house with life, both figuratively and literally.
4. Our backyard firepit – when Monday looms there are always melty homemade s’mores on Sunday night to remind us that the weekend isn’t quite over yet.
5. Baskets full of magazines and stacks of hardcover books– they coax us to sit down and relax for a moment and they just make a room feel more lived in and inviting.
So that’s our quick little rundown of five things that bring a smile to our faces (all without breaking the bank). In fact we spent about $12 on number one, around $15 on number two, just $5 to $10 a pop on number three, a mere $28 to build number four, and just a few dollars a month on number five (thanks to subscriptions, which save us mucho bucks off the cover price). What about you guys? Do you have any affordable little upgrades that just seem to make life better at your casa? We’d love to hear five things (or even just one) that make you happy to be home.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
I’ve wanted to get large glass jars for cereal and other things for months. I love them too.
Alicia says
i love this post! thanks for sharing.
Amelia says
I love having candles burning in my apartment. It makes the small place feel warm and cozy.
Emily says
Tiny bamboo tongs for pulling English muffins, bagels and toast from the toaster. We have these: http://ow.ly/2jKiL, and they make me so happy. Simple things :)
Amanda at Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I love having roses in our yard. I can clip some whenever I want and they smell great. And, of course flowers are a great accessory: http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/06/30/flower-power-part-deux/
Do you have any tips on types of plants to buy for the home? I need something that needs low light… Thanks for the great ideas!
YoungHouseLove says
Here’s a post all about the plants that we love here at Casa Petersik: https://www.younghouselove.com/grow-on/
It’s mostly about trial and error for us, but once we find something that works we get a bunch and enjoy them for the long haul!
xo,
s
Janet says
Very cool. I’ve been wanting a firepit for a while now. Hopefully, they’ll go on sale at the end of the summer! By the way, do you usually save all your magazines and just keep them in baskets or do you recycle? I find myself going through them every several months and giving away or tossing the ones I’ve read, just because they can add up and turn to clutter. thanks!! hugs and kisses to clara!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Janet,
I keep all of my very favorites (like every old Domino issue and a bunch of House Beautiful and Cottage Living mags) and donate the rest to a local book shop so they get read at least one or two more times.
xo,
s
liz @ btb says
We also have 2 big glass jars for cereal and I -j u s t- bought some budget blooms at the grocery yesterday.
Nicole says
With a two song limit, my shower song would easily be Bohemian Rhapsody :)
Carol N. says
When we built the house, we had a button put into the doorframe of all of our closets so the light comes on when we open the door. Didn’t cost us but a few dollars a closet and it always makes me happy to have the light come on automatically.
And Emily, I have the bamboo tons also and love using them to pull out the toast and bagels.
Sophie says
1. Pillows. I have a daybed and during the day time it’s covered in so many pillows. So comfy to settle down on with a nice book!
2. My chalkboard. Sometimes my mom will write little messages on it to surprise me, and other times it has little drawings or pictures that inspire me or make me laugh.
3. Milo, my cat. It sounds strange, but I love how he’s always sitting around, just waiting for a cuddle (:
Cait @ Hernando House says
I totally agree about the stacks of magazines and hardcover books. I was just flipping through some of my mom’s old issues of Dwell, renewing my subscription to ReadyMade and thinking about hitting up the bargain section at B&N for some inspiring design books.
Reagen says
Speaking of magazines…have you guys heard of http://www.maghound.com? It’s a one-stop-shop for managing all those subscriptions. One monthly price (3 mags- $5; 5 mags- $7; 7 mags- $10) and you can select what items you want shipped to your house. Plus for those magazines that only come every other month you can substitute in different options (I do that with ReadyMade and NG Traveler)
I find it so much easier than trying to keep track of all the subscriptions, plus there’s no more paper “Renew now!” reminders coming in the mail, and if you have to move (like I’m in the middle of doing) there only one place to have to change your address.
Love all your great work! So nice to have inspiration out there that doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg…
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds smart Reagen! We get all of our mags for super super cheap on Amazon (like $2 for a year of Better Homes & Gardens when they run specials) but Maghound sounds like another great option. We’ll have to check it out.
xo,
s
Amy says
I bought these two glass bottles from the Salvation Army to add some color to the bathroom. Less than $2 for the pair and they make me happy every time I see them! :)
k+b adventures in renovating says
i love our warm fuzzy blankets that are functional and add color to the room. although these days, i want nothing to do with them with a heat index in the 100s!
i need a shower radio…thanks for the reminder ;)
Miranda says
My fruitbowl and clean floors make me happy. Also bins for all the kid’s toys.
On an unrelated topic, you’re much more ‘green’ than we are and I’m probably not interested in taking things as far as you do (e.g. 2-song showers every time?), but I get Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and we’re trying to get better at being ‘green’. But I’m stumped for some things. For example: the rug. It’s old and worn out, but it doesn’t exactly fit in the glass/platic/paper/etc. recycling category. What do you do with stuff like that? Old sheets, pillows, broken microwave — things that are just garbage? I’d love to see a post about how to handle items such as these. Even a lightbulb (half glass, half metal) or a fuse (half plastic, half metal)?
YoungHouseLove says
Miranda- We donate as much as we can so things like rugs and accessories get a second life thanks to someone else! There’s also a great site called freecycle.org where you can get people to come pick them up free of charge (and use them in their home). As for things that are actually broken, we recycle what we can and throw away what we can’t (of course after checking if there are places who take parts). For example, broken or old cell phones can still be turned in and recycled for parts at some stores like Best Buy. Hope it helps!
Sarah B- Adorable! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
Katie Murray says
My husband and I splurged on a gorgeous french press coffee pot. I savor my coffee every morning and pouring it from a shiny silver pitcher, rather than a glass caraf helps me enjoy it even more and start my day right! Here’s the one we have:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=14691138
Sarah B says
I know I read your blog way too much when I find new products and think of you guys! “green” hangers – who knew?
http://letsgogreen.biz/pages/hangers.html
too cute that they even have infant and baby sizes too so Clara can get in on the “green” closet action!
Tina says
I have throw blankets EVERYWHERE in my house! There’s nothing better than relaxing with a book or watching a movie and being able to pull a soft blanket around you.
Mary says
I’d love to have cereal jars on the counter, but I have this clunky microwave on the counter since there is no built-in space in this house. Where do you youngsters hide your microwave? Or, sigh, do you use one? My teens would not cope without one!
YoungHouseLove says
Mary- We love our microwave, it’s hung from above so we have counter space below. Here’s a shot of that corner of our kitchen: https://www.younghouselove.com/budget-blooms-take-two/
Kelly- We got our simple shower radio for sale at Target. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Kelly says
I was wondering where did you get that shower radio..my teenage son takes such long showers my husband calls him Hollywood :) He needs a 2 song limit…that is a great idea! I have the glass jars too and I love them…I found them at IKEA…great prices too!
susanne bloom says
The hammock in our backyard, under our giant pine tree….it definitely puts a smile on my face. (I bought the exact flowers in your post 2 days ago on sale at the grocery store! They last forever!…)
Amanda says
I store all my dry foods in glass ball jars. I love being able to see everything!
Libby says
I love glass jars for everything. I spend all day in marketing, and the last thing I want is to be marketed to in my own home. And with glass jars, you can actually see what you’re eating.
My favorite thing at my house that puts a smile on my face are the volunteer sunflowers that unexpectedly sprouted under our bird feeder, so lovely :D
Erin says
Candles are definitely at the top of my list!
My front porch! I love to sit there and wave to the neighbors and read a book…it’s my favorite part of my home!
The flowers/plants in my yard. I walk around my beds almost daily to see what new blooms I have, what clipping I got from a friend is finally filling out, what bulb I put in the ground and forgot about that’s finally making it’s debut! I get giddy when new blooms are showing!
Also my magazines! I can’t part with many of them, so I have them in baskets, under my bed in boxes, in my nightstand, pretty much anywhere I can stash them. And I pull them out often.
My leopard and roses printed fleece blanket my best friend made for me! She said no one in the world would like that fabric but me…so she had to get it make it for me….and I love it! :)
Anna says
This may sound like an odd question, but I have to ask… Your shower caddy looks so clean and rust-free, while ours develops rust very quickly from all the water droplets that end up on it. What is your trick for preventing rust build-up? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Anna,
Our only tip would be to point your shower nozzle away from it so water doesn’t trickle down all the time. We aim ours out more towards the center of the shower and it seems to do the trick.
xo,
s
Design Love says
I love the radio in the shower! Don’t you just love the comforts of home! We enjoy our firepit in the summer, so relaxing.
Cindy
Sarah @ The Ugly Duckling House says
The brand new carpet we just had installed this weekend is quickly topping the list. We didn’t spend only $5 on it, but I’m enjoying these moments of new-ness before we start taking it for granted (and getting to the rest of the never-ending to do list!). The simple plush feeling under our feet is something even our pup Colby can enjoy!
As for small items that simply make life better, my basket full of beautifying products has always been my go-to for relaxation. I light a candle, give myself a facial scrub, and inhale the chamomile scent. It wipes away the day.
Sheryl J says
I also do budget blooms (every 2 wks) at the grocery store, and magazine subscriptions. Definitely can’t live w/o my Netflix, cuts down on movie outings.
And I love bargain stores like Berlington Coat Factory where I recently scored 2 pairs of Phatfarm shoes for my brother for $37 total!
Kim at Yellow Brick Home says
I love the simple pleasure of a shower radio. Funny, because we don’t even own one. We’re actually dealing with major water issues in our building, but we should be back in business this week. Perhaps as a treat, we should invest in one of those, eh?
Maggie says
I am always inspired by your projects! Here’s what I did yesterday…it reminded me of YHL!
Happy Monday!
http://bellissimoandbella.blogspot.com/2010/08/sunday-funday-closet-re-do.html
jennifer f says
those are sooo simple and yet make such a difference. I love pillows and blankets because when I’m not at work, I’m lounging on my couch curled up. Oh…and candles..esp in the winter time.
Love the glas jars…do they really keep your cereal nice and fresh? Do u use them for anything else? I am def going to look at your plant post…I need a little life in our house – and something low maintenance :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Jennifer,
We go through cereal really fast around here, but they always keep it fresh! We also use them for granola sometimes. On and we have three other glass containers on the other side of the kitchen with flour, sugar and brown rice in them. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather says
The two song limit is a great idea!
Holyoke Home says
I couldn’t agree more about having shelter magazines laying around. I actually created a three ring binder with tabs for ‘garden’ ‘bedroom’, ‘living room’ and the like, that way, I can recycle the magazine after I pull out and hole punch the images I can’t live without!
AnnabelVita says
Two songs in the shower is a super good idea – much better than more formal timers.
My favourite thing today is my travel coffee mug – I have a new longer commute and this makes getting out of the house a bit easier.
In general, good bedsheets and lots of pillows make me happy. Oh! And my sunny orange le creuset dutch oven.
Suzie says
I love this post!! Sometimes the simplest things can take my mood from crabby to quite chipper!!…like pumpkin spice creamer! :)
Anyway, do you guys really use your firepit in the heat of the summer? We live in AZ and know it would be worth it to have during the cooler months, but now, not so much. The thought of s’mores every Sunday night sounds delightful though!
YoungHouseLove says
Any even remotely cool Sunday night is cause for s’mores (although lately it’s been pretty warm here). We probably make them most in fall and spring, but we still get our fair share of summer s’mores!
xo,
s
Tiffini S. says
I’ve been wanting the glass cereal jars for months, too. But my issue with them is that our household is very Seinfeld-esque in our cereal consumption. I never have less than 4 kinds of cereal on hand, usually more like 6. I don’t have room for 6 cereal sized glass jars, and using small jars seemed pointless (filling them up constantly, hiding the excess away, etc).
FINALLY came up with a solution, so I am on my way to buy my jars this week! I’m gonna use a piece of heavy cardstock and cut out a divider for the jars. Then pour one kind of cereal down one side, and another down the other. I might even be so nerdy as to make sure they look “pretty” next to each other. I’m very happy right now.
Other than that, my easy upgrade was buying extra cleaning supplies for each area of my home. I used to have a HUGE tote filled with all the cleaning supplies – how easy to move from room to room, right? Wrong. Seemed like a giant pain every time. So finally I just started buying an extra cleaner for the bathroom. I mean, you already have special cleaners in the bathroom anyway. Why not just keep it’s own surface and glass cleaners in there, too? I just love the convenience. I have a duster in my bedroom and one in the living room. Commercial comes on, I jump up and dust for a few minutes. Same with other cleaning supplies being where you need them, when you need them. Soooo much easier.
Robin says
I love that these are things I can do in my rental apartment! Well, except maybe the fire pit. :-)
Gina says
We had to make a firepit when we saw yours last spring…we made it a little bigger and now use it to grill as well…perfect size for our old grill grate we saved.
I hope the picture shows up
sonya says
Love this post! Mine are candles everywhere, magazines and hardcover decor books, and my cute new coffee mugs that make me look forward to my morning coffee, less than $4 each from Crate and Barrel!
Barbara says
So you shower to “Stairway To Heaven” and “Freebird”?
Did you put rubber bands on your lids? I have those canisters and mine have no rubber, and they don’t fit snugly.
YoungHouseLove says
Hi Barbara,
Ha! If only we could plan what was on the radio to be extra long. :)
Our canisters don’t have rubber either, but so far the seal made just by resting the tops on has been good enough to keep our cereal fresh… at least fresh enough to last the week-ish it takes for us to get through one canister-full of cereal.
-John
jja says
Nice elegant scent. From good candle. They are not cheap but they make my home really cozy for me, love Le Labo, Comme des Garcons or Kai. Scent lasting for days but not being obtrusive.
Jackie says
I love my set of clean white dishes from Ikea. I think I paid like $30 for the whole set, which included bowls, dinner plates, and salad plates. I used to live with roommates and we had a bunch of hand-me-down, mismatched plates, so now that I have my own house, I just love having a modern, matching set! They make simple meals seem fancier and even washing the dishes is kind of fun (um, what?).
I also have to agree about the travel mug – coffee on the go definitely makes commuting more bearable!!
Handy Man, Crafty Woman says
some things we love to have around that we always find cozy: books, candles, framed photos, magazines, and baskets to hold various items.
Jill Stigs says
Burning Hazelnut Cream candles I get inexpensively at Walmart………love the smell.
Alice says
Wow! I’m impressed with your 2-song shower limit. I’m not sure I could wash and rinse both me and my hair in that amount of time!
We have no firepit, but I have actually made s’mores over the electric stove before!
Michelle S says
I, too, love flowers; however, I typically have tons of fake arrangements that my best friend makes. So many people come over and have to touch them to see if they are real!Plus she uses lots of fun things such as peacock feathers and pussy willows. She has a gift!
Being an English teacher I also love books, books, and more books. My husband built me a bookshelf several years ago, and although I have three others, that one has all my favorite and autographed books on it. I love to just look at it sometimes :)
My number three sort of goes with number two–anything wooden that my husband has built for me: my cedar chest, bookshelf, wall shelves, etc…I love things made of good old-fashioned solid wood! Handmade by him just makes it better, I guess.
My last go-to would have to be all of our pictures. My husband loves photography (as a hobby) and I love picture frames, so I guess we go well together. Just looking over my pics and remembering all the memories puts me in a good mood!
Thanks for the great post!
Amanda says
I could never do a 2 song limit in the shower! Unless they were 10 minutes each lol. November rain followed by stairway to heaven? lol I do take long showers, but in my defense I have all energy efficient appliances (including a tankless water heater, and dual flush toilets to conserve water) and i always make sure to turn the faucet off when brushing my teeth, just like Seaseme Street says! ;)
Mandy says
Love so many things about our condo that you should just look at the pictures!
http://picasaweb.google.com/108740647012852742769/Condo?feat=directlink
Becca says
Do you guys use a scoop to get the cereal from those jars? They look so nice but unfortunately we don’t hav the space now n
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, no scoop, we just pour cereal directly from the mouth of the jar into the bowl. We thought we might need a scoop at first but soon learned that it’s not hard to keep all the cereal in the bowl without one- so why bother!
xo,
s
Rachel says
Is it possible to have too many of those glass jars? I have 3 of the gallon-size ones for sugar, flour and oatmeal resting on a buffet in our kitchen. I’ve been on the lookout for something decent to store our dog food in (other than the original bag)and realized they also make a 2 gallon size. It easily holds a week’s worth of their food and I now keep the rest of the bag out of sight in the basement until it’s time to refill.
I love pretty new dishtowels, potted plants (latest favorite is my selaginella moss from Lowe’s), and my perennial gardens (which can be considered a “little thing” because many of the perennials hail from the clearance sections at Lowe’s, Home Depot and my favorite local garden center.