Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Kate Hliznitsova @kate_gliz

Photo by: Kate Hliznitsova @kate_gliz

Create a fall picnic this weekend! Choose your favorite location, a park, beach, farm or a winery to set up a relaxing and healthfully indulgent feast. If you’re short on time, consider having a picnic in your yard. The point is to take the time to prepare enjoyable snacks and quiet time for yourself or with someone special. Be sure to lie down and take in the nature that surrounds you. It wouldn’t hurt to say a few kind things to the person or people with whom you may be sharing this picnic.

Enjoy this beautiful first weekend of a new season!

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Sarah Dorweiler @sarahdorweiler

Photo by: Sarah Dorweiler @sarahdorweiler

This weekend, choose a favorite home decor piece and create a table setting inspired by that item. Consider the colors that you’d like to bring out or support the main piece. Look for fabric around the house that could coordinate as a table runner with the centerpiece. Now, add some dinnerware and cloth napkins if they are accessible. If paper napkins are more convenient, then have some fun folding and making sculptural shapes that will compliment the centerpiece. This exercise is for your eyes only so listen to your instincts and create like a child, then take some pictures, change it around and take more pictures. The more playing and experimenting you do with centerpiece arrangements, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become.

For guidance, refer to Monday’s post “Choosing Tasteful Holiday Decor.”

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Georgia de Lotz @georgiadelotz

Photo by: Georgia de Lotz @georgiadelotz

Attempt to create a fall room spray using your favorite fall essential oils and make a spicy wellness drink to enjoy over the weekend. Recipes are below for a starting point.

Fall Room Spray Recipe

Choose a spray bottle of any size

10 drops of Pumpkin Spice essential oil

8 drops of Vanilla essential oil

5 drops of Orange essential oil

1 teaspoon of Himalayan Pink Salt

Fill with distilled water

Shake well


Wellness Spice

1 serving

8 oz of oat, almond or soy milk

1/2 teaspoon Turmeric

1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper

1/4 teaspoon Cardamom

Dash of Cinnamon on top

This recipe can be enjoyed hot or iced!

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

Photo by: Lea Böhm @alleslea

Photo by: Lea Böhm @alleslea

How does your home feel? Go outside and enter your home through the front door. How do you feel when you take that first step into your sanctuary, your escape, your safe place? What do you smell? What do you see? If you feel like you need Botox right now, you’ve got some work ahead of you. The good news is that there are plenty of resources and solutions throughout the Design & Wellness Blog to help you create a warm and inviting home.

Next, proceed to each room and answer the same questions. If you’re content with the home you’ve created, then bravo, you can forward this to a friend or family member who could use some help. If you’re now sad while standing in your cluttered, smelly home with dingy or obnoxiously colored walls, it'll be okay. Here is a quick post called, Clean Sweep from earlier this year that will help you get started.

As for choosing colors, you have to do a little research into your soul. Yup, time to dig deep and find out what what makes you feel blissful and bright-eyed. Memories from beautiful places are a great inspiration for choosing colors. If deciding on your home’s color palette is overwhelming, keep it clean and simple and opt for Benjamin Moore’s White Dove. Soft whites and creams are a great starting point to refresh a home. Over time you will become more aware of what colors stand out to you and how they make you feel. Your home should feel like your personal getaway regardless of its size or how temporary it may be at this time.

If you’re someone who is under the impression that you don’t need to impress anyone with your home, you’re correct. How about impressing yourself? Yes, think of the last time you were wowed upon entering a restaurant, a speciality shop or a hotel. You deserve this same wow feeling each time you come home.

Weekend Design & Wellness Project

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This weekend take a look at the lighting around the house to check for efficiency and proper accent lighting for special areas. Make sure the task lighting is bright enough to reduce eye strain and soft enough as to not induce headaches. For accent lighting, find areas of interest and use directional lighting to cast a subtle spotlight. Adjusting accent lighting will make your favorite areas stand out as you pass through creating some intrigue. For inspiration on directional and accent lighting, visit a specialty market or shop to see how the lighting is adjusted to highlight featured products. This type of lighting is typically more yellow than blue creating warmth and an inviting feeling. Once you open your eyes to the lighting around you and the lighting that lures you to products, your eye for lighting will forever be changed. You’re welcome!