Thursday 30 December 2021

5 Tips for Making Your Home Feel Cosy in Winter

Whether you’re waking up in a winter wonderland, or it’s more of a grey-skied icy drizzle outside or you're in sunny Australia missing the snowy landscapes of Europe, one thing remains the same – ‘tis the season to be cosy! To help you transition into this cuddly, warm time of year, here are five tips for making your home feel cosy in winter: 
Get Scentsual
Scent is connected to memories and emotions, so it can be a great way to invite those yummy winter vibes into your home. Why not spread your favourite holiday scents and smells throughout your home with an essential oil diffuser?

Orange, clove, mixed spice, cinnamon, apple spice, pumpkin spice – they all create a deliciously cosy environment that helps you embrace the frostier side of the year. Blast your air with the scents of the season to instantly get in the mood for snuggle times. 
Embrace Hygge
Hygge is not something that can be neatly translated into a single English word. Instead, it is a mixture of feeling cosy, familiar, comfortable and finding contentment in special moments. It is not an item but a feeling or experience we have as humans. To get hygge (pronounced hyoo-guh) in your home this season, try:
  • Creating snuggly social spaces
  • Adding candles and mood lighting 
  • Enjoying warm drinks like this chilli hot chocolate 
  • Getting those thick socks, oversized jumpers, and fleecy sweatpants out
  • Inviting friends and family round 
  • Having technology-free areas 

Add All of the Fabrics
If there is ever a season to literally surround yourself in a wide range of fabrics that you can snuggle in, hide under, nest in, and even turn into a pillow fort for movie nights, this is it. Blankets, throws, squashy cushions, and bean bags – whatever gets you in the cosy mood. 
Velvet is back in fashion, so if you want some opulence, it’s a good choice. You could also try some faux fleece or faux wool throws. For extra indulgence, a faux husky blanket is super-soft and gives a winter cabin look to a space. Or, if you fancy crafting a very expensive-looking soft furnishing accessory yourself, it’s surprisingly easy to weave a chunky blanket.

Consider Cottagecore
Cottagecore is also known as granny chic or farmcore, and it is a style that mixes nostalgia with coziness to honor the English countryside (think The Holiday scenery). It is trying to mix that feeling of being welcomed and comfortable in Granny’s house with chintzy prints, doilies, retro items, and modern elements like sustainable materials and simple living. If you are going for a complete decor change this season, cottagecore could be a good choice if you want it to be cosy and chic. 
Declutter
Clutter in the home can make you feel stressed, scatter-brained, distracted, isolated, and more likely to suffer falls, allergies, and unhealthy weight gain. None of that really works with a cosy, relaxing vibe, does it?

With that in mind, before you start adding cosy elements to your home like the items above, strip it back and give it a good decluttering first. When it comes time to get snuggly afterward, you’ll find that your home feels a lot more fresh, clean, and cosy as a result of your winter clean-up and decluttering session.

“To stand at our window, wrapped in the half-dark and watch the day disappear…is a moment of hygge.” - Louisa Thomson Brits

With the suggestions above, you’ll soon be surrounded by the warmest, snuggly, homey vibes for this ultra-cosy season. 

Till next time... have a fantastic festive season!



Image source: 1, 2, 3, 4

Saturday 18 December 2021

Christmas Toy Giveaway on Instagram - Enter Now To Win!

I’ve partnered with Spinmaster to give away a Sonic Fin football signed by THE Russell Wilson! It’s the coolest Christmas gift for older kids, tweens and teens and a great way to get them up and outdoors this school holidays! The aerodynamic design gives kids the ability to throw like pro and farther than they have thrown before. 
The Sonic Fin’s custom calibration ring increases the spin rate, improves distance and creates its trademark sonic sound when thrown. 

Elie and Shiraz have been playing with it nonstop at the park! It’s engaging and hours of active fun!

To enter:
- LIKE THIS POST ON INSTAGRAM
- FOLLOW @ranienginer AND @spinmaster
- TAG 3 FRIENDS (one per comment)
- BONUS SHARE IN YOUR INSTA STORY AND TAG ME

You can enter as many times as you like! 

Giveaway will run from Friday 17 December - Tuesday 21 December. Winner will be announced in stories and in caption on Instagram on Wednesday 22 December. 

This giveaway is not associated with Instagram. Entrants 18+ years of age, in Australia.
Till next time... good luck everyone!

xox
Rani

How to Improve Your Curb Appeal in 4 Easy Steps

If you’re thinking about selling your house, we’re sure you want to get the most out of it. However, there’s one crucial factor you need to account for, and that’s curb appeal.

“What is curb appeal?” you may ask. Put simply, curb appeal is a term used to describe the overall attractiveness of your home from someone viewing it from the sidewalk. Curb appeal is crucial when it comes to selling any home. If your house doesn’t look attractive to buyers from the outside, chances are you’re going to have some trouble selling it. Not to mention, your home’s curb appeal is the first impression anyone has of your house when they come to view it.

So, if you want to sell your house and get the most out of it, you’ll need to put some work into improving your curb appeal. But how do you do that? That’s what we’re here to answer. This article will explain how to improve your curb appeal in four easy steps.

1. Give your home’s exterior a deep clean to freshen up its lookEnsuring that your house's exterior is clean is the perfect place to start improving your curb appeal. Not only will a deep clean make sure your home looks good, but it will also help you see what, if anything, needs to be repaired. Pressure washing your home's exterior can drastically enhance the overall look of your property. Not to mention, pressure washing can do wonders for your driveway, walkways, and entranceways, too. Once you've had them pressure washed, your curb appeal will improve.

Don’t forget window cleaning and gutter cleaning, either. These two essential services are both parts of giving your home’s exterior a deep clean. Your windows will look brighter, and clean windows can make your home’s interior look better by allowing more natural light to pass through. Gutter cleaning won’t just make your house look better. Gutter cleaning is crucial to regular home maintenance. No one wants to buy a home that looks poorly maintained, and clogged gutters are a surefire way to give that impression.

If you live in North Carolina, an excellent place to start is to call Labor Panes Cary, a professional home exterior cleaning service. Cleaning companies like this one will help you get your home where it needs to be before you’re ready to sell.

2. Add some greenery to liven up your home’s exteriorConsider having real plants delivered to give your home a more natural, lively appearance. The addition of some flower pots on your porch, small shrubs or flowers around the property border, or a flower bed in the front yard will drastically improve your curb appeal. Houses with beautiful landscaping are always more attractive to potential buyers as it shows that you cared about your home and took good care of it, which is highly important to any buyer. Not to mention, it helps make your place look like a home instead of just a piece of property.

3. Make your front door stand out with some vibrancyHouses with a high curb appeal usually have one unique trait in common: an eye-catching front door. Therefore, it's a good idea to upgrade your home's entry by choosing a paint color that complements the house's exterior while making the door itself stand out. For example, many homeowners opt for a splash of red, blue, or yellow in a semi- or high-gloss finish. With a bold color on your door, your home can make an excellent first impression.

4. Make any and all necessary repairsIt’s no secret that a damaged home is harder to sell. No one wants to dish out more money for repairs after just paying for the house. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to make any repairs before listing the place. For example, missing shingles on the roof, damaged gutters, and chipped siding should be addressed.

Till next time... have a great weekend and enter the Christmas toy giveaway now live on Instagram!

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