As much as you’d love to hit the beach or mountains for an escape from daily stress, sometimes it just isn’t possible. But you can recreate that retreat in the comfort of your own home. It takes some thought, rearranging, and a little creativity, but luxury and relaxation aren’t far away. 

Your first task is to find a space that can act as your escape. The bedroom is the logical choice. It’s your most private space and stays hidden from the rest of the world. If you have an ensuite, you could even turn your retreat into a spa. However, if the bedroom doesn’t work, any space that offers privacy will do. 

Clear the Clutter

A cluttered space can trip up your mind as much as it does your body, causing anxiety and affecting your ability to sleep. Move everything out that creates visual or mental noise. Get this room down to the bare bones. If books and magazines litter your nightstand or an end table, sort and take them out. If it’s overcrowded with furniture, pick the vital pieces and repurpose the rest throughout your home. As you get rid of visual stimulation, you’ll create space for your mind and body to decompress. 

Light

Bathe the space in natural light. Of course, if you’ve chosen the bedroom as your retreat, you’ll also have to block that light at night for the best sleep. Natural light helps set the body’s circadian rhythms, which regulate your sleep and eating cycles. 

Light also affects your mood. Light and airy often feel inviting and open, which is perfect for a daytime retreat. However, window treatments like blackout curtains, drapes, and blinds that give you the option of privacy night or day are a good idea. Add table lamps and floor lamps and other artificial light sources to keep the right mood no matter the time of day. 

Accessorize with Purpose

You decluttered, but now it’s time to add personality. Accessories add depth, and in this case,  the welcoming touches that make your retreat uniquely yours. Appeal to your senses. Soft inviting textures in pieces like rugs, throws, and pillows, especially natural fabrics like linen or cotton, are perfect for sitting down and staying awhile.  

Add a sound system or keep a portable speaker hidden in the room so you can add nature sounds or your favorite soothing playlist. Don’t forget about your sense of smell. A diffuser loaded with calming jasmine or lavender can leak stress from your body and fully prepare you for pampering. They can be hidden or become part of the decor with faux wood exteriors or those that allow you to change the color to suit your mood. 

Conclusion

Whether it’s leather or linen that makes you feel safe and far from stress or an animal skin rug and a chaise lounge, your retreat should fit your lifestyle and home. With the right design, a retreat can be a barrier from the stress and demands of the outside world.  

The red flowering poinsettia is by far the most popular flowering potted plant for the Christmas season. White, pink, and variegated white and pink are also available. If properly cared for, you can avoid the drudgery of cleaning up their dropped leaves.

To prolong the beauty and health of poinsettias, proper care is essential. Although poinsettias do not become acclimated to interior settings as well as most foliage plants, it is easy to be successful. First, select a location that receives some sunlight — interior hallways are a poor location. It is also very important to avoid exposing the plant to sudden temperature changes — this would be a problem if the poinsettia was placed near a ventilation system or in a drafty spot near a doorway. Temperatures found in most homes are acceptable. Ideally, provide 70 to 75 degree F. days and 62 to 65 degree F. nights.

Watering is the key to success. NEVER allow the soil-less medium in which the plant is being grown to dry out thoroughly causing the plant to wilt. To avoid this, water DAILY by adding ice cubes to poinsettias. Ice cubes should be evenly distributed DAILY around the surface of the pot in which the plant is growing. The ice cubes melt slowly providing uniform wetting of the planting medium. Since ice cubes are added DAILY, the medium never dries and the plant never experiences a fatal wilt and loss of leaves. Watering with ice cubes also avoids water or mist on the colored bracts and or foliage. Also, adding the small amount of water contained in the ice cube avoids soaking the root system. Letting the poinsettia stand in water for more than 30 minutes to an hour can cause root damage resulting in defoliation and/or plant death.

• Put 4 ice cubes (64 ml of water) per day per quart-size or 6 1/2-inch pot which is the most common size sold;
• Put 8 ice cubes (128 ml of water) per day per 8-inch pot;
• Put 12 ice cubes (192 ml of water) per day per larger, 10-inch pot.

Remember that this watering technique provides supplemental watering only. If the plant wilts or the potting mix in which it is growing feels dry, rehydrate the mix by soaking (floating) the pot in water (kitchen sink, clean toilet, bucket) until the roots are completely saturated – then begin the daily ice cube watering schedule again. Poinsettias are closely related to many desert plants. Their first response to dry conditions is to drop their leaves in order to cut down water loss. Plants should be checked weekly for moisture content of the potting medium, i.e., if moist, then continue the ice cube regiment; if not, water (soak) the roots.

Want more info? Here’s an article that takes all the trowel and error out of growing and caring for poinsettias: https://gardenerspath.com/plants/houseplants/grow-poinsettia/ 

Many people start the new year with a few resolutions. Over the holidays is a great time to set goals, but acting on them is what really counts. This year, I’d like to challenge you to consider some steps towards the goal of improving the livability of your home.

Imagine how much better our day to day lives would be if we could address even one of the of following areas:

The Kitchen Is King

A “modern/updated kitchen” tops the wishlist of most homeowners. You don’t need to rip your kitchen down to the studs; a smaller investment can have serious impact. For as little as $5,000, you should be able to add a new suite of appliances, as well as a new countertop and flooring, resulting in a fresh, coordinated look. Applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls or cabinets, and updating the hardware, can also breath new life into the space.

What is the trend for 2017?
Stainless Steel – Though it has been around for decades, this appliance finish conveys clean, contemporary design, so it will signal “updated” to guests of your home. For the latest spin on stainless, look for new versions of black stainless steel from KitchenAid, LG, and Samsung, each with a softer, less reflective finish but the same cachet as the original.

Quartz Countertops – Engineered from stone chips, resins, and pigments, quartz has started to challenge granite and marble as the go-to material in higher-end kitchens. It shrugs off heat, scratches, cuts, and stains, and it requires none of the upkeep of comparably priced natural stones. Expect to spend $40 to $100 per square foot, installed.

Buff up the Bath

Next to the kitchen, bathrooms are often the most important rooms to update. They, too, can be improved without a lot of cash. Even simple things like a new toilet seat and a pedestal sink are pretty easy for homeowners to install, and they make a big difference in the look of the bath.

We also suggest replacing an old, discolored bathroom floor with easy-to-apply vinyl tiles or a small piece of sheet vinyl. You may not even need to take up the old floor. You can install the new floor right over the old one.

If your tub and shower are looking dingy, consider re-grouting the tile and replacing any chipped tiles. A more complete cover-up some folks opt for is a prefabricated tub and shower surround. These one-piece units may require professional installation but can still be cheaper than paying to re-tile walls and refinish a worn tub.

Knock Knock

First impressions are important, especially when it comes to your house. Interestingly enough, your front door is likely to influence how visitors view the rest of your house far more than the siding, roofing, windows, or any other single element can. A handsome, well-designed entrance also does more to welcome friends and family than a manicured lawn. The irony is that most front entryways are boring portals that merely let people in and out.

Add a pop of color – ditch the dull paint and choose a bright, fun color that will make your front entry door warm and inviting. Do you have a flimsy little door knob? If so, spring for some nice hardware on the front door such as a substantial-looking handle-and-lock set. A brass door knocker and kick plate also signals to visitors that this is a solid home.

Carpet Diem

Look underfoot. Carpeting is another detail that can quickly update a home and make it look cleaner. A professional carpet cleaning is an inexpensive investment, especially if your rugs are in good shape and are neutral colors. If your carpet is showing serious wear, cover it with inexpensive, strategically placed area rugs.

Put on a Coat

Paint keeps your home looking its best while also defending its surfaces from wear, tear, and the elements. However, you don’t need to blow thousands having every square inch repainted. Instead, focus on high-traffic areas, including the kitchen and bathrooms. Give the trim a fresh coat of paint in your family room. If the back door is covered in scratch marks from the dog, fix that. Attack the areas that will give you the most bang for your buck.

So happy holidays. Take the rest of the year off and enjoy spending time with friends and family; but roll up your sleeves and get to work on one of these projects early next year!