In these unusual times, being able to create comfort at home is more important than ever. For me, that usually means curling up on the sofa under a blanket to watch my favorite TV shows – true crime all day every day. But I also find joy and comfort in my morning routine of opening up all the window shades and letting in as much sunshine as possible. I recently shared on Instagram that Joe always knows I’m home because windows are open, the house is clean, and a candle is burning. It’s little things like that, that always bring comfort to being at home. (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
LIGHTING
Turn on a lamp instead of overhead lighting or use dimmers to adjust the lighting to be more soothing. We also love having our fireplace on with flame only instead of the heat.
CANDLES
Lighting a few candles will not only set the mood, but they also smell good too.
MUSIC
Play soft music in the morning or evenings when cooking dinner or cleaning up. Chrissy at Harlowe James has some wonderful playlists on her blog. Or blast your favorite 90’s song and dance your ass off in your kitchen. Music is a splendid thing and instant comfort.
REFRESH YOUR FABRICS AND FURNITURE
I love to freshen up the house with a fabric refresher and brighten up our white bedding. There is nothing better than climbing into a bed of fresh sheets. Tip: spray with lavender fabric refresher for better sleep!
DO WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY
Whatever that may be. It’s okay to just do what we love instead of worrying about cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and all the daily chores. Honestly, for me, that is watching a favorite movie, reading a book on my list, or catching up on the latest true-crime series. And if movies also bring you joy, I’m sharing a few of my favorites –
Legends of the Fall
“A passionate journey into the darkest secret of love, betrayal, and the unbreakable bonds of blood.”
The Breakfast Club
“They were five students with nothing in common, faced with spending a Saturday detention together in their high school library.”
Grease
“Grease is the one that you want! Go back to high school with the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds.”
Thelma & Louise
“In one of the greatest road movies of all time, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon ride to everlasting fame as two women who embark on a crime spree across the American southwest.”
10 Things I Hate About You
“A family rule forbids a teenager from dating until her unpopular, rebellious, older sister gets a suitor of her own. A modern remake of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.“
Clueless
“Jane Austen might never have imagined that her 1816 novel Emma could be turned into a fresh and satirical look at ultra-rich teenagers in a Beverly Hills high school.”
Edward Scissorhands
“An uncommonly gentle young man, who happens to have scissors for hands, falls in love with a beautiful teenage girl.”
Now & Then
“A nostalgic story of growing up in America.”
National Lampoon’s Vacation
“Chevy Chase mans the wheel and convinces his all-American family that the way to really enjoy their holiday is to hit the road west for Wally World.”
Pretty Woman
“A classic rags-to-riches love story.”
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
“… a battle of the sexes comedy.”
Father of the Bride
“…a befuddled father who has a hard time letting go of his young daughter when she unexpectedly announces her plans to wed.”
Dirty Dancing
“…spirit-lifting story about a summer love affair between a naive 17-year-old girl and a charismatic dance instructor at a Catskills hotel.”
The Money Pit
“Tom Hanks and Shelley Long buy their dream home, but life soon becomes a nightmare as their shabby mansion falls apart around them…”
Death Becomes Her
“… an outrageously entertaining comedy about greed, vanity, sex, and immortality.”
Footloose
“An urban teenager who moves to a small town dominated by a fundamentalist preacher wages an ambitious war against adult repression.”
It’s not often that I will watch the same movie or TV show twice. Joe, on the other hand, can watch every episode of Friends from start to finish and then start all over again. 100x over. But all of these movies I can watch again and again. These movies are definitely a comfort for me.
*movie quote descriptions from Amazon
