By Nancy Mattia, CTW Features
Adding a luxury or two into the mix of your daily life doesn’t have to be a major expense or undertaking—it could be as simple as upgrading the hand soap in your bathroom or filling your home with low-maintenance green plants. Check out more luxuries below:
1 Full-length mirror
Keep it in the bedroom (the boudoir?) to create an extravagant look that reflects light. There are enough mirror styles to work with every décor, from a frameless teardrop to silver metallic edged with rhinestones. The mirror could be free-standing or leaned against or on a wall—just avoid anything that could be construed as “department store dressing room.”
2 Rain showerhead
With a large surface that promises full-body coverage, a rain showerhead is the definition of luxury as it mimics the look, sound and feeling of a gentle summer rainfall.
3 Essential oils
Put aside the candle that smells like strawberry short cake and instead fill the air with the soothing scent of eucalyptus, lavender or another essential oil. According to the Cleveland Clinic, studies have shown that diffusing these oils may lead to better sleep, the ultimate luxury.
4 Fluffy towels
Think of the times you’ve stayed in upscale hotels and been treated to the softest, fluffiest towels that ever touched your skin. You can bring that lavishness to your own home. Goodbye worn, stained towels, hello 100 percent Turkish cotton!
5 A decanter
To upgrade your bargain bottle of bourbon, pour it into a crystal decanter and it will somehow taste better. Same goes for other decantable spirits such as tequila, rum, whiskey and cognac. Since it’s meant to be seen, give your decanter a prominent place on your bar cart.
6 Velvet accessories
You may not want to dress yourself in velvet like Little Lord Fauntleroy but you can certainly dress up your sofa with a few throw pillows or hang willowy drapes in this luxe fabric.
7 Soaking tub
If time is a luxury, then take a long luxe soak in a tub filled with bubbles. Fill a flute with champagne, play your favorite soft music, sit back and relax.
8 The good china
This may already be sitting in your attic: a beautiful set of dishes you received when you got married and think is too nice to use every day but which you somehow never use at all. Rinse the dishes and serve Sunday dinner on them. Hamburgers will seem like filet mignon.
9 Silk robe
All robes are not created equally so don’t confuse this silk garment with that well-worn flannel number that keeps you cozy on cold winter mornings. A silk robe, on the other hand, feels cool and luxuriant against your skin. Place it on a hook on the back of your bedroom or bathroom door so it’s there whenever you want to chill and feel good.