Related, I think a lot of people make an effort when hosting company... Dim the lights, put on some groovy tunes, light some candles, tidy up. Which is a tacit acknowledgment that these efforts have some effect on mood and mindset. And I think most see it as effective. Yet, when home alone, they don't extend themselves the same effort. Use the good china on yourself, so to speak.
YES, this is so true! I've got my book club coming over tonight and I go the extra mile with those little details that I skip on a regular Thursday night.
Placing hooks everywhere. I once read a tip from someone that a great guest room or hotel room should have plenty of hooks - for hanging a hat, wet towels and swim suits, the necklace you take off when you shower, a dish cloth, etc. I now have hooks in my bedrooms, bathrooms, and inside the kitchen cabinet doors under the sink, and it keeps things off the floors, counters, and dressers.
You are always spot on! We got a new couch 6 years ago and, while moving the old couch out to the curb, I thought, why not see if I like having a couch on the back porch? It turns out I LOVE having a couch on the back porch and take my best naps of the year out there. The kids hang out on it, the dog surveils the yard from it. It's now been there since 2019! My husband calls it the raccoon couch, although no actual raccoons have taken up residence, as far as I know. I would never invite a guest to hang out on it!!! Time for an upgrade.
Oh, I can so relate to the towels issue! I recently replaced some old towels with fluffy, new ones.
One of our vacations inspired a simple but marvellous change to our apartment. A few years ago, we stayed in a small hotel suite. Every morning we had breakfast on the patio. The patio overlooked the expansive, beautiful gardens. We'd sit there, watching the birds and squirrels while we ate and then go for a walk in the garden. It was lovely.
When we got home, my then 3-year-old son missed eating outdoors and suggested we get an outdoor table for our small apartment garden. We had benches, but we didn't have a table and never ate outside. I can't believe it never occurred to my husband and me to do that before.
We bought a patio table and now, whenever the weather allows, we eat meals and entertain outside. We love our garden - it has become an extension of our living space. I think of it as our 'outdoor living room.' It was the easiest and best, budget-friendly improvement we have made to our little home.
I love this idea and, yet, struggle to replace things that are still usable. From a financial and sustainability perspective, I know it's best to hang onto my threadbare and fraying bath towels. From an aesthetic and functional perspective, though, I would love to order new ones. I would love to hear what convinced you to make the upgrade! :)
Well, ours were nearly a decade old, so they had a good long life. When I could almost see my fingers through the fabric and signs of fraying at the hem, I decided it was time.
I know that animal shelters are always looking for donations of extra towels, so when I upgraded my towels recently I felt better that I knew that the old ones could get some use. There’s an organization in our area that does low-cost spay and neuters for cats/dogs and they are always putting out requests for old towels.
I was going to say the same thing! Many animal shelters WANT our old towels and pillows. It’s a great way to recycle them responsibly and it’s meeting a local need.
I LOVE the miracle at the very end of your post, Laura -- this is the most inspiring thing to happen in politics for a very long time, IMO. Thank you for including this!
Me too! I've been a supporter and volunteer for the campaign from the beginning, but I think every American who is concerned about democracy can be inspired about how people power overcame the dollars of billionaires.
Really love how many "no new things" ideas are in here. We live in a microscopic house I don't expect us to be in long-term (...let's just ignore the past 9 years we've been here...) so I'm very aware of everything I bring in. Is this something I want to be packing and moving in the near future? So it suits me perfectly to take on these ways of freshening up and making our home feel more vaction-y without adding a bunch more stuff.
Thanks for this essay. It really resonated with me because I live in a tiny house by the Sea and focus on tiny beauty at home every day. I decided when Trump got elected that I needed to focus on self-care. I built a brick patio into my bank overlooking the Salish Sea and erected a wood fired hot tub and sauna. I now spend my evenings in the PNW soaking or taking a sauna. It helps deal with the anxiety of this era and rejuvenates me to keep writing, protesting, and remaining active and healthy.
My partner and I often talk about building a life we don’t need a vacation from. We rent in NYC and have a monthly budget for what we call “tiny upgrades”. Replacing sad linens, a new pillowcase for a throw pillow on the sofa, framing a thrift find, buying a wireless LED light… if you use it every day, see if there is a way it can be a delight!
When I lived in Ithaca as a student there was a stamp system!! I do remember once my sticker fell off in my apartment’s dumpster and I got a ticket for an illicit bag of trash. It did begin a lifelong recycling thing for me! My area has rebates for the cans and glass and that’s a nice incentive to sort
Here in Zürich, Switzerland, the city charges for trash bags too. The Züri-Sacks, as they’re called, range from 10 litres in volume to over 100 litres.
Small upgrades make such a difference! I recently replaced a toaster oven that I secretly hated and as soon as the model I was coveting actually arrived I felt like I was in a luxury kitchen!
I think this is why house hushing really feels good…it’s not dissimilar to arriving in an Airbnb or vacation home. For me the major difference is our kitchen and making that pleasant rather than just functional. Recycling the glasses I hate so that the glasses I like have room to breathe, putting the Tupperware away properly so the drawer shuts, cleaning out all the miscellany that accumulates in my knife drawer
At one point, we were thinking of buying a small getaway home (spoiler: this never actually happened). My husband wanted to use it as an Air BnB also, and I was against the notion b/c it seemed like a lot of work. But then I realized that if it was also an Air Bnb, we'd have to keep the home virtually clutter-free, and I was IN. (Obviously I am the most clutter-sensitive person in the family.)
Related, I think a lot of people make an effort when hosting company... Dim the lights, put on some groovy tunes, light some candles, tidy up. Which is a tacit acknowledgment that these efforts have some effect on mood and mindset. And I think most see it as effective. Yet, when home alone, they don't extend themselves the same effort. Use the good china on yourself, so to speak.
YES, this is so true! I've got my book club coming over tonight and I go the extra mile with those little details that I skip on a regular Thursday night.
Placing hooks everywhere. I once read a tip from someone that a great guest room or hotel room should have plenty of hooks - for hanging a hat, wet towels and swim suits, the necklace you take off when you shower, a dish cloth, etc. I now have hooks in my bedrooms, bathrooms, and inside the kitchen cabinet doors under the sink, and it keeps things off the floors, counters, and dressers.
You are always spot on! We got a new couch 6 years ago and, while moving the old couch out to the curb, I thought, why not see if I like having a couch on the back porch? It turns out I LOVE having a couch on the back porch and take my best naps of the year out there. The kids hang out on it, the dog surveils the yard from it. It's now been there since 2019! My husband calls it the raccoon couch, although no actual raccoons have taken up residence, as far as I know. I would never invite a guest to hang out on it!!! Time for an upgrade.
Oh, I can so relate to the towels issue! I recently replaced some old towels with fluffy, new ones.
One of our vacations inspired a simple but marvellous change to our apartment. A few years ago, we stayed in a small hotel suite. Every morning we had breakfast on the patio. The patio overlooked the expansive, beautiful gardens. We'd sit there, watching the birds and squirrels while we ate and then go for a walk in the garden. It was lovely.
When we got home, my then 3-year-old son missed eating outdoors and suggested we get an outdoor table for our small apartment garden. We had benches, but we didn't have a table and never ate outside. I can't believe it never occurred to my husband and me to do that before.
We bought a patio table and now, whenever the weather allows, we eat meals and entertain outside. We love our garden - it has become an extension of our living space. I think of it as our 'outdoor living room.' It was the easiest and best, budget-friendly improvement we have made to our little home.
I love this idea and, yet, struggle to replace things that are still usable. From a financial and sustainability perspective, I know it's best to hang onto my threadbare and fraying bath towels. From an aesthetic and functional perspective, though, I would love to order new ones. I would love to hear what convinced you to make the upgrade! :)
Well, ours were nearly a decade old, so they had a good long life. When I could almost see my fingers through the fabric and signs of fraying at the hem, I decided it was time.
I know that animal shelters are always looking for donations of extra towels, so when I upgraded my towels recently I felt better that I knew that the old ones could get some use. There’s an organization in our area that does low-cost spay and neuters for cats/dogs and they are always putting out requests for old towels.
I was going to say the same thing! Many animal shelters WANT our old towels and pillows. It’s a great way to recycle them responsibly and it’s meeting a local need.
I LOVE the miracle at the very end of your post, Laura -- this is the most inspiring thing to happen in politics for a very long time, IMO. Thank you for including this!
Me too! I've been a supporter and volunteer for the campaign from the beginning, but I think every American who is concerned about democracy can be inspired about how people power overcame the dollars of billionaires.
Living in CA I hadn't heard of him until this upset win, and it has been such a shot of joy in this otherwise bleak landscape. YES to people power!!
Really love how many "no new things" ideas are in here. We live in a microscopic house I don't expect us to be in long-term (...let's just ignore the past 9 years we've been here...) so I'm very aware of everything I bring in. Is this something I want to be packing and moving in the near future? So it suits me perfectly to take on these ways of freshening up and making our home feel more vaction-y without adding a bunch more stuff.
Thanks for this essay. It really resonated with me because I live in a tiny house by the Sea and focus on tiny beauty at home every day. I decided when Trump got elected that I needed to focus on self-care. I built a brick patio into my bank overlooking the Salish Sea and erected a wood fired hot tub and sauna. I now spend my evenings in the PNW soaking or taking a sauna. It helps deal with the anxiety of this era and rejuvenates me to keep writing, protesting, and remaining active and healthy.
My partner and I often talk about building a life we don’t need a vacation from. We rent in NYC and have a monthly budget for what we call “tiny upgrades”. Replacing sad linens, a new pillowcase for a throw pillow on the sofa, framing a thrift find, buying a wireless LED light… if you use it every day, see if there is a way it can be a delight!
Diane, I love that framing: A life you don't need vacation from!
I can’t imagine anyone sitting in a wood-fired hot tub these days given what we know about the dangers of PM2.5 pollution.
This is true. Same story with fire pits. I think they are popular because they are less expensive than a traditional hot tub.
You might remember that Shelter Island also started charging for trash bags to use at the dump—more than 30 years ago!
I imagine islands are more likely to be concerned about the costs for their trash because there are extra expenses to take it away.
When I lived in Ithaca as a student there was a stamp system!! I do remember once my sticker fell off in my apartment’s dumpster and I got a ticket for an illicit bag of trash. It did begin a lifelong recycling thing for me! My area has rebates for the cans and glass and that’s a nice incentive to sort
Here in Zürich, Switzerland, the city charges for trash bags too. The Züri-Sacks, as they’re called, range from 10 litres in volume to over 100 litres.
Small upgrades make such a difference! I recently replaced a toaster oven that I secretly hated and as soon as the model I was coveting actually arrived I felt like I was in a luxury kitchen!
I think this is why house hushing really feels good…it’s not dissimilar to arriving in an Airbnb or vacation home. For me the major difference is our kitchen and making that pleasant rather than just functional. Recycling the glasses I hate so that the glasses I like have room to breathe, putting the Tupperware away properly so the drawer shuts, cleaning out all the miscellany that accumulates in my knife drawer
This is such a good mindset, especially as we don't have any travel plans this summer. I can't wait to bring the vacation vibes home!
At one point, we were thinking of buying a small getaway home (spoiler: this never actually happened). My husband wanted to use it as an Air BnB also, and I was against the notion b/c it seemed like a lot of work. But then I realized that if it was also an Air Bnb, we'd have to keep the home virtually clutter-free, and I was IN. (Obviously I am the most clutter-sensitive person in the family.)