Beauty surrounds us everywhere, but slowing down enough to actually notice it can be a challenge. The overstimulation that comes with living today often keeps us from fully appreciating the smaller things. There’s so much beauty in ordinary things, and you don’t need a huge bank account to make the most of where you are. It all starts with small, intentional steps. By practicing mindfulness, you can embrace life more fully and uncover joy in the simplest things. I’m excited to share some of the ways I add a touch of romance and beauty to my everyday life!

How to Add More Beauty to Your Everyday Life

The first place to start when wanting to add more of something to your life that quite literally applies to every aspect is to break it down by category. Assessing where you can do better in all areas, regardless of what you’re wanting to incorporate, can help getting a clearer overall picture of how to proceed and execute.

– Refine Your Mindset –

I am a firm believer that perspective is everything. Where you come from, what you go through, the things you experience, etc. These all establish the overall makeup of who you are as a human being right now. However, I do not believe that any of those things apply to who you are going forward, or to who you have the potential to become. While I do think it comes down to more biologically than simply “refining”, you can still do things to help improve your overall mental health and the way you approach things. You have control over your life and where you lead it!

Practice Mindfulness

The best place to start, in my opinion, is to start practicing mindfulness. Mindfulness is an important step in the pursuit of everyday beauty and growth as a whole. The typical distractions of cell phones and the everyday hustle and bustle can make it hard actually keep yourself in the present. One thing that has helped me is being mindful to be mindful. During the COVID-19 isolation, I found myself needing to go outside and practice things like feeling the sun on my skin. My mind kept running in circles and I had to find a way to bring myself down to earth! Practicing mindfulness is just like practicing anything else – the more you practice, the better you get. Eventually, you will start to meet yourself in the moment more.

Stay Curious

Read literature, visit art galleries, travel when you can, and expand your mind to the possibilities of other thoughts and beliefs. Learn about different cultures, different ways of life, and you will always find new avenues of interest. Although it’s overused, I still think the Roald Dahl quote holds truth:

“And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”

One of the most beautiful things about life is the opportunities we have to experience it. It’s not just an opportunity to engage with art, but brings you into the viewpoint of another person and allows insight into how others perceive, live, and struggle. Good art allows you to engage in different perspectives and can open your mind up to more compassion.

Romanticize the Ordinary

Getting this out of the way first and foremost, I do think that romanticism can hinder ones grip on reality, set expectations too high, or idealize things of that past that weren’t so ideal. However, I have also found a lot of joy with it in my personal life on a day-to-day basis. When practiced constructively, meaning keeping the former in mind, I think it can give you the ability to see things in a new light and find the otherwise mundane to be fun and adventurous!

Romanticism fosters creativity, individuality, and a better understanding of self. Imagination is, after all, what gives us the ability to dream and reach for more, and I think both play their parts. If you follow me for a short while, it won’t take you very long to see that I’m a daydreamer at heart, and I believe you can pursue life fully with your feet on the ground and head in the clouds. 😉

– Elevate Your Environment –

Surround Yourself with Flowers

Keeping fresh flowers around the house is a great way to brighten your environment, your mood, and add more beauty to your everyday life. They’re full of beautiful colors and the air purifying qualities are an added bonus. 😉 You don’t need to buy flowers every week. Live seasonally, and gather bouquets as you see them.

Let Natural Light Inside

Natural light is so important to me throughout the day. It really helps get me up, going, and keeps me positive throughout the day. It’s great for mental health and I can tell a big difference when I have my shades open versus shut. Additionally, the light hits things differently as it shifts throughout the day, and can cast some beautiful patterns and movement throughout your living spaces. In the summer, you can tell a definite shift in temperature when I have all the blinds open, but the benefits and joy it brings me is so worth it.

Stay Inspired at Home

Your environment tells the story of who you are, so fill it with things you love and that keep you inspired! You should be your ultimate form of inspiration since you know what inspires and drives you most, and I truly believe that your environment plays a big part in that.

Practice Aromatherapy

I’m not huge on aromatherapy like a lot of people these days, as I don’t believe it has “healing powers” or anything of that nature, but I do believe it has its legitimate benefits. For example, I always feel uplifted when I have orange oil or citrus diffusing in my oil diffuser, and more calm when I smell lavender. Indulging your senses cannot only benefit you mentally, but they can also enhance the seasons, and make everything around you more magical. Who would like autumn as much without pumpkin scented items, for example? That is part of the fun! 

– Establish Rituals & Routines –

Dress with Intention – Even at Home

Getting in the habit of dressing for yourself, even when you’re just hanging around the house for the day, can keep you feeling confident and cultivate more self-care. The more you focus on intentionally picking out things you love and making time for yourself, the better you’re going to feel, and in turn more beauty you’re adding to your life all around. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good ugly day in my pajamas, but I do notice a difference in my outlook when I strip those off and do it up right. 

Start Your Morning Off Purposefully

Start your morning with something to look forward to, like your favorite coffee, an iced matcha, or even lemon water! Having something to look forward to first thing in the morning just keeps you excited and ready to embrace the day. Maybe you do your self-care routine in the early morning, or grab a jog and warm shower. Whatever it is, starting your day with a sense of excitement or purpose can pour over into the remainder of your day.

Create Mini-Rituals That Feel Good

Establish mini-rituals & routines that makes you feel good. I struggle to keep to a routine, but I have no issue gravitating back towards things that make me feel good. For example, there’s a difference in doing a skincare routine out of obligation and one that you look forward to! One of my favorite masks I can’t seem to quit is Farmacy’s Honey Potion Plus. It creates a warming sensation as you rub it, transforming from gel into a white cream. It always feels good putting on, leaves me feeling good after, and I’m always pumped to use it again! Skincare doesn’t have to involve a lot of steps or products to be beneficial, and neither do other things. Small steps add up over time!

– Expand Your Creative Horizons –

Journal, Sketch, Paint & Explore

One of the best ways to add beauty to your everyday life is to create it! Jot down thoughts throughout the day for new ideas and projects you want to work on. If you want to adopt a new hobby, start doing research, and act on it! You don’t just have to live your life, you can create it, too!

I’ve found with having kids, the best way to stay creative and productive on here is to use my notes app to write and then upload when I can. You can be a busy mom and still find small windows of opportunity to chase your dreams, too!

Get Creative in the Kitchen

Some may not see it this way, but cooking is an art form! Quite a scientific art form, really. I go through phases where I love to cook, make craft cocktails, find new international products to test, and appreciate all creative elements of the human palette. I also go through times where I could care less about cooking.

The point is that if you have any interest in cooking, it’s another opportunity to really get creative! And always a good excuse to drink a glass of wine as you go. You can start off by making basic things like grape caterpillars for your kids; cooking doesn’t always have to be as involved as sourdough! Unless, of course, you want it to be.

Surround Yourself with Inspiration

One of my biggest inspirations right now is the photographer, Jamie Beck. I discovered her on Instagram a year ago and fell in love with watching her stories, which are usually all about her creative process. I recently joined her club, The Starling Club, with member-only content about art, food, and French culture. In the Discord chats, we talk about cinema, beauty tips, photography – you name it! She constantly keeps me inspired and reaching for more out of life. I think that’s important, especially for creatives.

Find other influencers or fellow creatives that inspire you and follow them, subscribe to newsletters, pin daily on Pinterest, and fill your world with inspiration! Cultivate new ideas and always reach for more out of life.

I’m so grateful to be part of a life that feels so fun and fulfilling—if only we choose to see it that way. It’s easy to get caught up in the negative and overlook how beautiful and exciting life truly can be. My hope is that I’ve helped open your perspective, even just a little, on how to invite more beauty into your everyday life. I hope you have the courage to create a beautiful little world of your own.

How do you pursue beauty in your everyday life?