2022 Home Revival Series
How To Revive Your Home And Your Life-Phase III
A Cozy Lifestyle with Clearissa Coward
Last week I told you that this is my favorite season because I love the feeling of new beginnings but as I thought about it throughout the week, I realized that I love this season because of endings as well. I was happy to see 2020 End. But I was even more relieved to see 2021 pass away.
Handmade Crafts & Upcycled Items For The Home
Twenty-twenty and twenty-twenty-one were not easy years for many of us. We were quarantined in our homes. We began wearing masks. We were not allowed to hug each other any longer. So many changes.
Many of us were very sick, me included and many of us lost loved ones. Once again, me included. I lost my mother on May 25, 2021, and I think in my own quiet way, I am still coming to grips with being alone in this big, cold, sometimes cruel world.
I know what you are thinking, and yes, I have a husband. I have a daughter, and I have two grand. I am also blessed with a small and close-knit friendship circle. However, I am an only child, and both my parents are gone and that is a lonely and empty feeling. But here we are, in a new year with a chance for new beginnings. So let’s take part in a home and emotional revival.
 
Phase III – Entry Way
Once visitors or even you pass your curb appeal (we will get to that later) the first impression one receives of your home is your entry. And when you are entering your home, your entryway is the first space to greet you.
I have always believed that walking into your home should be a Whoosah moment, like a hug. However, if your entry is cluttered and messy, entering your home can promote extreme stress.
Where To Begin
That is easy and I know you all know where I’m going from here. You begin by decluttering and cleaning the space.
Remove everything from the space (within reason) and clean. Begin on the ceiling. With a long-handled duster or mop, begin with cleaning corners to remove dust webs and light fixtures. Move down and clean baseboards, doors of the entrance, and any other doors that be in that area. Touch up scuffed paint and lastly clean floors.
Now for the fun part, putting it all back together again.
Making It Inviting
For me, the entry should be inviting to your guest and offer you a hug when you walk in. I love to have some sort of greenery in the area, as well as a table and lighting. Now because my entry doesn’t have an electrical outlet (that will be changed sometime soon) I use candles.
The candles are on a convenient timer. They switch on at a certain time and switch off after six hours I believe It’s very convenient and cost-effective and it provides the light I love. I also love to add a personal touch. The white pinecones were a DIY. You can pick them up from the yard if you are lucky enough to have them. Or, you can do what I did and buy the ones that smell like cinnamon that are everywhere during the fall. I just spray-painted them for the added pop of color and placed them in the vase. I used some in my dining room refresh as well. I love the look and they are perfect for this time of year. Especially, in white.
I also love some sort of plant or florals in my entry. My entryway does not get a lot of light or any light, for that matter, so faux it is. I think the flowers/plants even if live or real should be something that will fit any season unless you’re like me and change out decor based on the seasons. 😉 The vases are yet another DIY. They were just plain glass vases, but I think the black makes them a bit more interesting. Don’t you? And the painting technique was fun.
Seating
Seating in the entry is strictly a personal preference. Some like it and some don’t. In my entry, the stairway is a very convenient place to stop and remove shoes before entering the rest of the house or to put shoes on when you are on your way out. And again, remember my space is cozy. But I wanted a bench. So I looked everywhere for a bench that I thought would be the proper size for my space. That is very important because you do not want to overcrowd your entry. You want it to remain open and inviting not look cluttered.
I finally found my bench at a yard sale. One of my neighbors had it just sitting there and no one else appeared to be interested in it. It was tan and it was small. The tan I did not love so much but the size and the price, $8.00, I loved. So I brought it home and painted it white, added a hello stencil and it is the perfect piece for my cozy entry.
Serving Double Duty
In a cozy space like this one, sometimes furniture pieces and spaces have to serve double duty. Like the table below, did I mention this was also a DIY? I love painting. This was just an old very rustic piece that I’ve had for a very long time. I painted it white and used a gel stain on the top. Added a stencil, and viola, what was once old is new again. It has held up well. The bottom shelf serves double duty..sort of. Or at least the basket that is sitting on the bottom shelf does. It is another DIY. It was a thrift store find and it was brown. I spray painted it black and it holds the shoe covers for when workmen come to the house and do not want to remove their shoes and for guests who would rather wear their shoes as well. It also holds brand new socks for those who don’t mind taking off their shoes. And they get to keep the socks. It’s a win-win.
There you have it for this week, my friends. Another area in my home that I have revived for the winter of 2022. Of course, I will probably refresh again for spring, but if I decided not to, this decor could stand the test of time because it’s neutral and it is not season-specific.
If you would like to see step by step how I revived this space, check out the video below.
Thank you guys for all of the support you show to me and my blog. I feel so blessed because of you.
Until next time…I remain in my Element – God Bless!
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Hugs & Blessings
