Everyone loves walking into a home that smells amazing. 

Unfortunately, many products, such as aerosol room sprays, plug-in units or wax melts, also come with questionable ingredients and unnecessary packaging.  

If you crave a wonderful smelling space in a more natural and earth-friendly way, it's never been easier. We've compiled this handy list, along with a few simple DIYs that will be as delightful to your wallet as they are to your sense of smell. 

1. Reed scent diffusers

Reed diffusers, a low-maintenance home scent option, use natural hollow reeds that absorb a scented oil and naturally disperse the fragrance into the air. It's easy to dial the effect up or down by adding or removing the reeds and the vessel can easily be refilled when the oil has evaporated.

Pro Tip: Keep these out of the reach of pets and young children to avoid finding a giant puddle of oil on your living room rug.

2. Eucalyptus in the shower

There's nothing like the crisp smell of eucalyptus to add a refreshing element to your bathroom routine. This plant has long been touted as an anti-inflammatory, so it's especially helpful if you're feeling a cold coming on. Roll a few sprigs of fresh eucalyptus under a rolling pin to unlock their aromatic oils, then tie the bundle with an elastic and hang it over the back of your shower head. The warmth and humidity of the shower will release the leaves' healing essence. Bonus: this trick will also make your bathroom look even more Pinterest-worthy.

Pro Tip: Some research indicates eucalyptus can be dangerous for young children and babies, so skip this option if you share your bathroom with little ones.

3. Orange clove pomander

A favourite around the holidays, orange clove pomanders bring a spicy, warm and delicious fragrance into your home. They also make for a fun family craft! All you need are some fresh oranges and whole cloves. Use a toothpick to punch holes in the orange peel, and press in the little clove “studs” in any pattern you choose. Soon you'll have a bowl filled with bedazzled, heavenly-smelling oranges.

Pro Tip: Dispose of fresh orange pomanders before they can develop mold–usually after a few days. To prolong their life, you can also hang them from a length of twine in a cool, dry place until dried. This will also enhance their irresistible scent.

4. Essential oils on your furnace filter or vacuum cleaner bag

A few drops of your favourite essential oil will easily diffuse throughout your home with a little help from the forced air of your furnace or vacuum.

Pro Tip: Sprinkle baking soda on your carpet before vacuuming to help deodorize at the same time.

5. Lavender linen spray

Refresh your linens between washes (and gain instant credit as the host with the most delightful-smelling sheets) with a DIY lavender linen spray. Believe it or not, low-priced vodka makes the best basis for this concoction: simply mix one part vodka (or witch hazel) with three parts water in a glass spray bottle, Next, add 10 drops (or more depending on your preference) of high-quality lavender essential oil. Spray whenever a sheet, curtain or closet is in need of refreshing.

Pro Tip: Lavender is known for its calming properties, so this spray can pull double-duty as a pillow spray to help you nod off to dreamland.

6. Cotton balls with essential oils

Adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil to cotton balls is one of the simplest DIY home scent hacks that can also go pretty much anywhere. Stash them in your closet or drawers, in bathroom cupboards or behind your computer at the office (if scents are permitted). Be careful not to add too much oil or the ball may leave a stain on surfaces.

Pro Tip: Scented cotton balls are an easy swap for plastic car vent air fresheners. Simply wedge a few into your dash vent or under the floor mats. When the heat is on, the hot air will swirl the fresh aroma around your vehicle.

7. Vanilla or almond extract on light bulbs

Here's a sweet way to scent your space at the flip of a switch— remove a cooled light bulb from its socket and apply a few drops of pure vanilla or almond. Allow it to dry fully and replace it back in its fixture. Anytime you turn on the lights, you'll be rewarded with a yummy glow, as the warmth of the bulb spreads the scent throughout your room.

Pro Tip: This trick also works with lemon juice if you prefer the zing of citrus.

8. Simmering potpourri

This eco-friendly method fills your home with fragrance using only water and what you can find around the kitchen. All you need is a simmering pot of water on the stove (or in a slow-cooker). Add a blend of your favourite scents: apple cores, citrus peels, extracts or whole spices such as cinnamon sticks or star anise. In no time, your space will be infused with delicious, comforting or invigorating smells. 

Caution: The use of certain essential oils may be hazardous to young children or pets. Always research the safety of any essential oil before using it in your home.

Source: realtor.ca

Get your bath right for the long haul by dodging these blunders in toilet placement, shower type and more

Fireclay Tile

1. No View Out

No one likes a dark, damp bathroom with bad circulation — it’s no fun spending time in a space like that. If you’re building or relocating a bathroom, try to site it on an outside wall with windows.

Shop for bathroom vanities on Houzz

aegis interior design ltd

If windows are not an option, installing an operable skylight can allow for the fresh air and natural light needed to make the space feel comfortable.

Find a bathroom designer on Houzz

Strandemo Home

2. A Clear View In

I once worked on a large remodel for which the existing design had a bathroom in the dining room — seems kind of like a conflict of interests, right? Whenever possible, avoid locating the bathroom directly off one of the home’s public rooms — like the kitchen, living room or dining room.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put in a long hallway, but create some sort of formal separation to break up the line of sight. The last thing you want is to be sitting in the living room with a glass of wine and looking straight into the bathroom at the toilet.

Dylan Chappell Architects

3. Making It All About the Toilet

That leads me to my next blunder: Avoid making the toilet the first thing you see in the bathroom, and avoid any sightlines to it from adjacent rooms. I like to put the toilet and shower in their own room while keeping the sink separate. This allows someone to take a shower while someone else gets ready at the sink. In the bathroom floor plan here, the wall between the two rooms adds only a couple of inches to the overall size of the bathroom but doubles the room’s functionality.

Studio Steinbomer

4. Curbed-Shower Enthusiasm

A curbless shower makes a bathroom feel bigger and look cleaner — plus, it’s very practical for aging-in-place homeowners, since it adheres to universal design principles.

Norman Building & Design

This look is fairly easy to achieve in a new bathroom or a remodel — just make sure you mention it to your architect or contractor prior to construction.

Adams + Beasley Associates

5. Thinking Bigger Is Better

That’s right: Bigger isn’t better; better is better. Whether you’re designing a large master bathroom in your dream home or trying to figure out how to squeeze in an extra bathroom for your growing family, the most important aspect of your new bathroom is that it has a great design that functions efficiently for your specific lifestyle.

 

CTA Design Builders, Inc.

The truth is, great design is less about how a bathroom looks (although it’s always nice when it looks fantastic) and more about how it works. Great design translates to a house that functions better, costs less to build, is more efficient to maintain and gets you more for less.

 

Source: Houzz.com

If there's one part of the house where clutter can quickly build up, it's the kitchen. With so many tools, cookware and gadgets, where can you keep everything without feeling like you belong on “Hoarders”? If you've tried some of these space-saving ideas and crave further inspiration, check out these 10 ways to make the most of small kitchen spaces.

1. Ditch the fruit bowl

Many people have the token fruit bowl—or basket—that takes up prime real estate on their counter. Try placing small bins inside a deep drawer to store fruit and vegetables that don't need to be refrigerated.

2. Store on the door

With just a little paint and some hooks, you're all set to make your own measuring station and conversion cheat sheet on the inside of a cupboard door. Just think, no more searching on your smartphone or tablet with sticky, food-covered fingers.

3. The great shelf recession

Installing shelves between inner wall studs is an efficient way to maximize space and an eye-catching way to store pantry items. 

4. Up your pegboard game

Pegboards are a fantastic way to make use of vertical space in your kitchen. Pegboard kits and components can be found at most hardware stores and adding a coat of paint will make them blend or pop with existing kitchen décor. Try using different styles of pegboard hooks (straight, curved and multi-tool) to hang your cookware and utensils in an organized and tidy fashion.

5. Spice things up

Clean up that jammed spice and baking cupboard with some magnetic spice canisters. Not only handy for spices, but also smaller baking ingredients like baking soda, baking powder, sprinkles or coloured sugar. They sit easily on the side of the fridge or metal strips on the sides of or underneath cabinets. Label them with a personal flair by using chalkboard paint or custom labels.

6. Sliding with style

An ingenious way to make use of extra space around your fridge is to build a sliding cabinet for smaller items like canned goods, spices and kitchen tools. Not only do they look good, but your guests will be all over your space-age kitchen design. 

7. Space with a repurpose

Small kitchens require getting spatially creative when cooking. A DIY stove cover means extra counter and prep space. Consider using a  beautiful wood cutting board or something personalized. 

8. Tip-out below your counter

If your kitchen has false drawers in front of the sink, you can convert them into handy tip-out trays that store sponges and scrubbers- keeping them off the counter and out of the way. 

8. Plain sight, on the side

A rail rack is a superb solution to avoid cluttered drawers by allowing you to conveniently hang utensils on the sides of your cabinets, within reach yet out of the way. They are usually low-cost to either purchase or make yourself.

9. File folders—more than just office supplies

These low-priced office supplies make great holders for things like food wraps, sandwich and freezer bags, container lids or cutting boards. Mounting them on the inside of a cupboard door keeps them within easy reach. 

10. The window of opportunity

If your kitchen has a window, consider making use of that space by installing curtain rods across it and using hooks to hang pots and pans. You could also consider adding a floating shelf or two across your kitchen windows, too.

It's amazing how much space you can find in a small kitchen by changing the way you approach storage. Plus, having a clutter-free space makes cooking more enjoyable. You might even be ready to host the next family holiday meal—a feat long considered impossible, until now.

Source: Realtor.ca