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Holiday and party guests may never see your bedroom or home office, but they’ll likely make a stop in the powder room. With a little extra care, you can make this small but hardworking space welcoming, whether for a special occasion or drop-in visitors. Here are 10 touches to help dress up your powder room for company.

Rebecca Driggs InteriorsSave Photo
1. Orchids

Longer lasting than a bouquet of flowers and undeniably elegant, orchids make a smart choice for the powder room.

While rare varieties of orchids can be expensive, you can often find budget-friendly potted orchids right in your local grocery store.

Orchids like bright indirect light, so a sink by a shaded window would be ideal.

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2. Scent Diffuser

You may not feel comfortable leaving a lit candle in the powder room during a party, especially if children are present. But having a pleasing scent in the space is a gracious detail.

Choose a scent diffuser in a subtle fragrance and set it on the sink or a nearby shelf. You’ll get the good vibes without the flame. Choose the right size diffuser for the space and consider one made with pure essential oils.

Waterstone City Homes, Inc.Save Photo
3. Nice Soap and Hand Lotion

Swap out your usual no-frills hand soap for a pretty matching set of liquid soap and lotion. It’s such a simple thing, but guests really appreciate it.

Bonus points if you pick a seasonally inspired scent like apple cider or pumpkin spice in fall and peppermint or pine in winter.

STEPHANIE BRADSHAWSave Photo
4. Vase of Flowers

In the powder room (already a small space), a mini bouquet can make a big impression. Place a bud vase or other small vessel (cream pitchers and julep cups work well) on the sink and fill it with a few stems of freshly cut flowers. And if you have a bouquet in another room already, just pull out a few stems for the powder room — no need to buy anything extra.

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5. Pretty Little Tray

Corralling things on trays is a staple decorator trick. If you don’t already have a small tray you could use, keep an eye out at flea markets for vintage trays. Setting your soap and bud vase on a pretty little ceramic or silver tray will make your powder room setup look intentionally designed.

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6. Statement-Making Mirror

If your powder room has an easily removable mirror, swapping it for something with more personality can be a great way to refresh the space.

Generally speaking, opting for a mirror the same size or larger than the old one makes for the easiest (that is, fewest holes to fill) swap.

C.R. Interior DesignsSave Photo
7. Posh Wastebasket

Is it silly that something as small as a wastebasket can make an impression? Maybe so, but upgrading this detail can boost your powder room’s stylishness just the same.

Look for one made from a material with a bit of shine like brass, copper, wire or ceramic.

Kerrie Kelly Design LabSave Photo
8. Seasonal Wreath

Around the holidays, including a wreath in the powder room can make the space feel really festive. Pick up a wreath of fresh greenery, preserved olive branches, magnolia leaves or winter berries and hang it right over the mirror.

William Guidero Planning and DesignSave Photo
9. Monogrammed Linens

Setting out fresh cloth hand towels with your monogram is a welcoming personal touch. For a budget-friendly option, go for a single-letter monogram. Triple-letter monograms are elegant but tend to cost more since they are made to order.

KGA Studio Architects, PCSave Photo
10. New Paint Color

Have a free weekend in your future and want to give your powder room a whole new look? A new wall color can offer the biggest impact. Don’t be afraid to go bold: Navy, charcoal and even black look elegant in a bite-size space.

Huffard House Interior DesignSave Photo

Your turn: How do you dress up your powder room? Share a photo in the Comments!



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Between navigating tricky family dynamics, missing loved ones we can’t be with, traveling, gift shopping and attending events, the holiday season can leave us feeling more swamped than joyful. There is no magic formula for transforming the holidays into a peaceful time, but these 10 ideas can help you start embracing calm and meaningfulness in the midst of your busy life this season.

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1. Create a Haven in Your Bedroom

When your bedroom is heaped with unwrapped presents and shopping bags, it’s no wonder that relaxing is hard — all of those things are visual reminders of your still-to-do list.

Even if you have to temporarily cram everything in the closet and under the bed, reclaiming your space is worth the effort. With a cleared dresser top, a freshly made bed and perhaps a strand of twinkle lights or a garland of greenery, your bedroom can be a peaceful place that helps you recharge.

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2. Make Some Lists

Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed? Grab a hot drink and a notebook and answer these questions:

What are your favorite parts of the holiday season? List the things you love.What’s stressing you out? List the things you could do without.How do you want this holiday season to feel? List up to three words that encompass that feeling.

Powell ConstructionSave Photo
3. Balance a Big Event With a Quiet Night at Home

We may be happy to get involved in some of the more festive aspects of the season, like holiday parties and cookie swaps — but too much of a good thing can leave you feeling burned-out and grouchy. Instead of avoiding the fun events you’ve been looking forward to, simply plan a down day or a quiet, simple evening at home on the heels of a big experience. Throw something easy in the oven and settle in for a low-key night of reading, watching movies or working on a puzzle.

Drew Designs,LLCSave Photo
4. Add a Peaceful Element to Your Morning Routine

Even if you can muster only an extra five minutes in the morning, you have the potential to start your day on a more hopeful, centered note. Consider adding one or two of these peaceful elements to your morning routine:

Light a candle or two in the dark of early morning while you wait for your coffee or tea to brew.Read a few pages of an inspirational book while you sip.Write a quick journal entry or jot down a list of little things on your mind.Add a few drops of an essential oil like eucalyptus, pine, peppermint or lavender to your bath and breathe deeply.
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Design Shop InteriorsSave Photo
5. Savor a Nostalgic Favorite

Whether it’s a favorite cookie, a holiday album or a children’s book you loved when you were a kid, taking the time to really slow down and savor the bits of the holidays that mean the most to you can bring a lot of joy.

The key word here is savor: Instead of grabbing a few cookies on the go or listening to music in the background while you’re busy doing something else, intentionally stop and focus all of your attention on this beautiful small moment.

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6. Have a One-on-One Date With a Friend

The holidays are often focused on group experiences, but it’s those big events that can drain our energy the most. To counteract a holiday energy slump, consider making a date to catch up with a good friend one-on-one. Take a walk with a thermos of hot cider or meet up for lunch and a chat.

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7. Reminisce With Your Digital Photos

In his book The Art of Making Memories: How to Create and Remember Happy Moments, author Meik Wiking — chief executive of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark — suggests choosing and printing your “happy hundred” photographs (of the happiest moments of the year) at the end of the year.

Browsing through your digital photos from the year acts as a reminder of the positive experiences and happy moments you may have forgotten, and helps cement those memories for the future — and if you can include a loved one in the process, all the better.

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8. Put Mindfulness on Autopilot

Consider turning an everyday routine into a reminder to bring your attention to the present moment. For example, every time you wash your hands, make that a signal to take a deep breath and focus on the warm water and soap suds on your hands and the feeling of your feet firmly planted on the floor. This simple action can center whirling thoughts and ground you in the present moment.

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9. Take a Catnap

Cats and dogs are pros at living in the moment and doing exactly what they feel like doing. Take a cue from your furry friends and do what you really want to do, whether that means taking a nap, eating a big salad instead of one more rich appetizer, or watching a great movie or TV show under the blankets.

Kevin Edge PhotographySave Photo
10. Step Outside

Whether you’re outdoors shoveling snow or simply on your way to run an errand, pay extra attention to the contrast between the wintry world outside and your cozy house. When you go back inside with a cold nose and flushed cheeks, warm yourself by the fire (or heater) and take a moment to appreciate the simple pleasure of being snug and warm.

Your turn: How do you recharge during the holidays? Please tell us in the Comments.

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Holiday Cactus

Once known as Christmas cactuses, the term holiday cactus came about because you can have these plants blooming from Thanksgiving to Easter. The true Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) blooms in December, while the more commonly found Thanksgiving cactus (S. truncata) starts blooming earlier. The Easter cactus (Hatiora gaertneri) blooms in spring. Fortunately, they require the same general care. They also make excellent houseplants during the rest of the year and can even go outside during the summer in colder climates.

During the holiday season. Put it in a spot where it gets bright, indirect light — a west-facing window that doesn’t get direct sun is ideal. Water regularly, but allow the container to drain freely and the soil to dry a bit between waterings.

Post-holiday care. Continue the same care while the plant blooms. You can move the plant outdoors in spring and summer if you live in a cold-winter climate or at almost any time in the warmest winter regions. Provide bright indirect light through spring and summer and into fall. Fertilize weekly with about one-quarter-strength fertilizer from spring through summer while the plant is growing,

Holiday cactuses are also considered short-day plants that are said to need a certain amount of darkness to rebloom. I have found that I can give my holiday cactuses that are both inside my home and outdoors in my mild-winter climate the same care I give my other plants and still enjoy yearly blooms, but you may want to be more proactive.

In September into October, you can reduce the amount of water your plant receives and put it in a cool, dry spot, such as an unheated garage, where it will get at least 12 hours of darkness per day for about a month. If you can’t ensure 12 hours of darkness, place a box over it in the evenings to block the light. Be careful that the covering doesn’t touch the leaves or you may damage them. Once the buds set, increase the watering and bring the plant into a more brightly lit area.

These cactuses can also grow outside year-round in USDA Zone 9 and above (find your zone).



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2. Avoid Project Installations if Possible

Because holiday schedules can be all over the map, trying to coordinate a project installation at this time of year can be a challenge. In fact, it can be such a challenge than many pros suggest avoiding installations altogether and waiting until the new year to schedule them.

“A lot of our installers and subcontractors are also taking off for the holidays,” says Rebecca Sutton of Kitchen Design Concepts in Dallas. “We have conversations with our clients during the sales process — if their project timeline runs over the holidays, we know to begin their project at the start of the new year.”

Ruchi Agrawal Mohan of DesignbyRuchi in New York agrees that project installations during the holidays are a hassle. “It’s always harder to schedule deliveries and installations during the holidays,” she says. “The buildings are shut down for deliveries, clients are hosting and vendors are not available. I try to put installations on the schedule way ahead of time or after the holidays have passed.”

Stephanie Frees of Plain & Posh in Clarendon Hills, Illinois, also tries to avoid holiday installations. “I have always tried to get projects completed by Thanksgiving,” she says. “No one wants workers in their homes when they are trying to decorate for the holidays and then hosting holiday events.”

How to Create an Engaging End-of-Year Newsletter



This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .

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