Mixing saves and splurges at home reflects my particular style and lifestyle so it may not necessarily inspire. How you spend and save is unique to YOU afterall. My own frugality goes back to a humble childhood and years my husband and I struggled with mortgage-sized student loan debt from graduate school. While I’m sensible and love a bargain, I understand smart investment pieces. Let’s peek inside our home with its serene, modern, spare European country look.
Saves and Splurges for a Decor Mix at Home
This post contains affiliate links which I hope you will use since they won’t cost you a penny extra yet may earn this blog a small commission.
I hope a daily dose of lovely is arriving in your email…Please subscribe!
Everyday Essential Splurge: Honeydew Sheets
I don’t blog often enough about bedding. Sheets are truly unsung heroes of the everynight!
And I like mine to be bright white and ultra-luxurious.
My thought is, if we’re gonna curl up in them for one third of our hours, every single night, why not be selective?
Why should pretty coverlets and quilts steal all the glory?
When you’re ready for a set that is anything but everyday variety, say hello lovely to splurge-y Honeydew sheets. If you’re someone who wonders how you can sleep cool (cool like the “totally cool other side of the pillow”), these may be the luxurious answer.
Everyday Essential Splurge #2: Pajamas
Never met a pair of men’s classic style pajamas I didn’t love.
I already have these linen pjs below in white, but I’m very tempted to pull the trigger on the French Blue – so elegant!
I also love the Positano linen robe in white:
I may own every pair of pajamas J. Crew offers, and sometimes will wear the tops as clothing when feelin’ saucy. Here’s the pair I reach for most often.
Did anyone else love Daniel Day Lewis in Phantom Thread?
That scene where he glides down the stairs for dinner in an ensemble with pajama top is thrilling! In the history of cinema, no one has worn sleepwear better.
#3: Pillow of Pillows
You already know their pillow is going to be something special when you visit Honeydew’s site and learn of the attention they pay details. The fact they’re thoughtfully made in the USA with a unique design to support neck and shoulders? Goodness overload.
But then. You experience the level of artisan quality! Seals the whole scrumptious deal.
you: YER TELLIN ME THE PILLOW WON’T GO FLAT?
me: Indeed. We have owned ours for years.
you: BUT WHAT IF IT’S TOO MUCH FILL?
me: Honeydew made the toxin-free fill and pillow customizable. Add more fluff. Subtract fluff. Be totally MID like me and love the optimal fluff factor out of the box, without temptation to tweak.
If you saw this lifestyle post, you know I plan to get away this winter and will bring my Honeydew travel pillow (see it below, center). This smart pillow with its clever pouch is plane and road trip ready. Just seeing it in the closet may get you excited to hit the road.
#4: Adult Sippy Mug
I need each and every nudge to be reminded to hydrate. This double walled insulation cup is the ultimate adult sippy cup. No, madame, all lidded mugs are not created equal.
#5: Mid-Day Yum
Heard of these? My fav may be the blood orange & honey. Pop one from its wrapper when 2 p.m. rolls ’round when all you’re thinking about is second lunch.
#6: Daily Skin Routine
Skin glowing naturally with and without makeup across the seasons does not just happen for me. Here’s the routine that works for my sensitive, oft-inflamed skin. Plant-powered and without gimmicks, it feels like food my skin wants to eat.
Oak Essentials is in demand so if THE ROUTINE is in stock, snag it since it could disappear for months when they have to make more!
You can also buy the products individually, but there’s significant savings with the bundle.
#7: Spa Cloths
Can’t say enough nice things about these lovely, hard working, multi-use cloths used morning and night to cleanse my face. Technically burp cloths, they can also be used for household cleaning, and I have come to rely on them. Don’t freak out when they arrive and don’t seem fluffy. Once they are washed and emerge from the dryer…dreamy.
Everyday Simplicity & Decor Serenity at Home
I shared our family room and how we made it feel more like home with simple changes.
Sofas in the family room are a shining example of saving and splurging! Inexpensive Ikea sofas wear luxurious Belgian linen custom slipcovers from BEMZ.
Also, a brand new fireplace surround with limestone or marble would have cost a small fortune.
Instead, we transformed it DIY style with paint and subtraction, removing glass bifold doors. The reclaimed wood and iron coffee table is a splurge from RH, but one that doesn’t sting any longer since we bought it 18 years ago. Our small living room is just steps past a pocket door from the family room:
See a short video I snapped:
This glimpse of the kitchen is indicative of splurges and saves in a single mix.
The Thomas O’Brien chandelier is the big ticket splurge while a collection of old English crocks from the flea market and new trays from Crate & Barrel charm without breaking the bank.
The Couristan area rug was a bargain ($120) found at Homegoods.
And invisible window treatments? Free free free!
Sometimes in photos, my quartz countertops (Viatera Muse) look solid white…
But they have lots of movement with grey veining in an airy, non-busy pattern.
When the Line Blurs Between High and Low
Not sure how you would characterize the choice of calacatta gold marble tile for the backsplash. While a backsplash is often a great place to splurge, it can get pricey when you are tiling more than the standard 18″ beneath cabinetry.
For our kitchen, we took the tile up to the level of the range hood. We also repeated the tile in the backsplashes of the laundry and pantry areas. Lots of marble! This house just can’t get enough white marble, and I refuse to argue with its wishes.
Did you notice I brought my rattan chairs indoors to use them in the family room?
They work everywhere should you need a bit of texture, and grey rattan is not always the easiest color to find!
It’s always fun to use old things in new ways after a move. These stools have lived life as tables, dining stools, and now, my piano stool.
A big splurge at our former home which we renovated completely were the white oak floors finished on site by an artisan. No regrets on such a splurge! The value seems only to increase over time.
Should you splurge on throw pillows?
I would recommend being more concerned that they are made from natural materials like cotton and linen. If you find quality at Homegoods, go for it.
The lantern pendant in our former dining room only looks like a splurge. It’s actually an exterior light from Home Depot that cost around $100.
Lighting is one of those essentials with a broad range of price points, yes? Sometimes you can understand straight away why a lamp is expensive, but often, the inexpensive knockoffs make a strong case for not overspending.
Wholehearted Wishes
I wish you:
the blessing of beautiful living in the shelter you call home,
sweetness, this very moment, to counter any bitterness within your being,
heart-fullness to soften the beautiful edges of your soul,
loving kindness, lavishly overflowing from hidden wholeness within and…
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!
Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
