Especially in the midst of quarantine, not knowing when we’ll be going out again regularly or traveling (my county is the epicenter of the Covid-19 outbreak in the US, so we’re on the slow boat to reopening everything), it’s imperative to make your surroundings at home spark as much joy and comfort as possible. Allow me to share with you 10 must-haves that help make home happy for me.
These are my top picks – my non-essential essentials, if you will – that I find to be the simplest and most reliable, dutiful items on the regular. A couple of my must-haves may surprise you, but I use and love these little luxuries daily, and I appreciate them doubly while staying at home so much more.
UPDATE: I DO have active shopping links now, and I’ve added them below! Woohoo!!! So without further ado…
10 Must-Haves that Help Make Home my Happy Place
1. Fresh Flowers
I’m lucky right now to be able to pull peonies in from our yard. They are full and delicate with a heavenly fragrance. There is something so hopeful to me about fresh flowers, and I’m pretty sure we can agree, hope is as essential as anything on this list these days.
If you don’t have blooms to grab from your own garden, get a bunch from the grocery store on your next outing. It doesn’t need to be a big, fancy arrangement. The simplicity of a single bunch of whatever looks prettiest to you will lift your mood instantly and make your home feel more cheerful.
2. Soft Bath Towels
The key word here is SOFT. We just replaced all of our towels recently (Costco has the softest towels for a steal), and they feel like an indulgent treat for my skin with every bath or shower. Pro-tip: To keep your towels in prime drying condition, do not use fabric softener or dryer sheets on them. Both contain oils that cling to the fiber in the towels, making them less absorbent. I was sad to learn this as freshly scented towels straight from the dryer are the BEST. Instead, be sure your detergent smells really great.
Experts recommend using vinegar in place of softening agents, which will cut through soapy buildup and residue deposited on the towels and prolong their loft and softness. Full transparency: I haven’t tried this yet as I don’t want my towels to smell like vinegar. I’m just the messenger from the towel authorities. If you try it, let me know how it turns out.
3. Mercury Glass
You’ll see this from me a lot. When all else fails, add mercury glass. While this is the furthest thing from a necessary choice in a critical time, it’s one of those décor items that is nearly always a win in my book. I use it throughout my home, and the glittery flicker never fails to make the house more cheerful. Mercury glass ranks high enough on my “must-haves that help make home happy” list that I will often gift it whenever I get the chance.
I love the vintage look that is inherent in any type of mercury glass, and that it provides a delicate bit of glamour and shine to our neutral furnishings all year long. Add flowers to make it softer (be sure to use another vase inside the mercury glass vessel so the water doesn’t dissolve the paint!) and candles to make it sparkle. My favorite set of 5 votive holders is at ballarddesigns.com.
4. Slippers
With summer upon us, it may seem counter-intuitive to don cozy footwear, but with so many options, you can find the perfect slipper to suit your season and climate. I just ordered these (on Amazon and priced well enough to grab one for now, one for later), and with their flip-flop styling, they seemed a perfect fit for warmer weather. They’re a treat for your feet whenever you’re at home.
5. Tea
You may recall that I go against the local grain here in Seattle, drinking tea in the Coffee Capital of America. But it’s my morning (and afternoon) ritual, and I’m sticking with it. Drinking a warm beverage always calms me when I feel anxious or ill at ease; it forces me to slow down and relax for a few minutes.
Black with sweetener is my normal choice. I like it just how it is, hot and unfussy. That said, Starbucks makes a delicious London Fog (an Earl Grey tea latte) which I grab on occasion, and for a change of pace at home, I love Ginger Peach by Republic of Tea. For a swankier cup, try Tea Forté.
6. Netflix
This really doesn’t need any commentary. We’ve all likely watched more TV in the past few months than ever before. I have my shows (Dead to Me, Schitt’s Creek), the kids have their shows (All American, Outer Banks), and we have our family shows (The Good Place and miscellaneous documentaries). Tom tends to get nostalgic watching reruns of baseball games from the Mariners’ glory days with Ben, airing lately on ESPN, but they enjoy some Jack Ryan, too, which I watch with them until I get too stressed.
Regardless, I’m grateful for Netflix and the variety of programming to choose from when we tire of the board games and jigsaw puzzles.
7. Chocolate Chips
Arguably, this doesn’t need any commentary either. It’s a solid choice for any occasion: chocolate chips go in pancakes, cookies, and popcorn; on pretzels and strawberries (melted) and ice cream, and are superb in a s’mores dip, topped with marshmallows just out of the microwave and scooped with graham crackers. They work exceptionally well simply by the handful, too. Mixing them with the saltiness of peanuts or cashews is a delicious twist, but optional. I find it works best for everyone in our household not to be caught without a good supply of chocolate chips on hand.
8. Kids’ Choice: The Comfy
The Comfy, in case there’s a chance your family doesn’t actually own one (or multiple) yet, is the snuggliest, coziest, most wearable hooded blanket. It’s roomy enough to move around comfortably in, but be warned: Heavy with layers of nubby Sherpa fleece on the inside and a soft microfiber on the outside, it is incredibly sleep inducing. As in, my son cannot wear his for more than 20 minutes or so in a supine position without dozing off, even if he’s just gotten out of bed. Maybe that’s the Comfy, maybe that’s the teenage boy. Either way, he snoozes incessantly in it.
They come in all colors and have junior and adult sizing. The kids wear them all. the. time. and are oddly reticent to let us touch them. Grab a Comfy for everyone with quick shipping from Amazon.
9. Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne
Being at home doesn’t mean you have to stop getting dressed. Or semi-dressed. Or smell anything other than perfectly lovely. I admit the effort to be fully presentable has declined significantly since mid-March, but wearing my signature scent is a welcome and happy pick-me-up for me and for my people, and helps instill a subtle sense of normalcy and familiarity when everything feels unknown and indefinite.
Many happy memories from my childhood include the scent of my mom’s perfume, also light and citrusy. This particular choice was recommended eons ago by a friend with excellent taste, and while I have tried several other scents, the gentle and refreshing Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne wins me back again and again. Among all the must-haves that make home happy for me, this one takes the cake. The gorgeous packaging makes it an extra fun purchase.
10. Candles
We light candles daily in our home. The flicker of candlelight offers instant serenity and ambience, especially when lit in a shimmery mercury glass candle holder (see item #3). While I try to avoid heavily scented candles and the inevitable headaches that comes with them, I have found a few along the way that are not at all overpowering and invoke a sense of calm and/or cozy, depending on the scent and season.
At Anthropologie: I love the mini Capri Blue Candle in both Volcano and Lagoon. Lagoon has the dreamiest scent of fresh gardenia. The Barr-Co. Apothecary Jar Candle has a lovely creamy fragrance, and you know there’s something perfectly on point about it when 15-year-old Ben comes downstairs and says the house smells homey! They last forever, too.
At your favorite boutique home store or at Amazon: The Park Hill Collection. The packaging on these is rustic and beautiful. My current favorites are some of the summery scents – Front Porch, Farmhouse, or Citrus Grove. They offer equally delightful fall and holiday selections as well.
It was hard to limit this “essentials for home” list to ten favorites! Which of these are on your list, too? What are your must-haves that help make home your happy place? Drop me a line below and let me know. Until next time,
