Christmas may be over, but the long, icy nights are far from behind us. The fire is roaring, the sofa is calling, and the right candle can turn even the bleakest January evening into something wonderfully comforting. As someone who spends entirely too much time sniffing candles, I can say with confidence that a well-chosen home fragrance can make winter feel almost glamorous.

I’ve selected the best home fragrances to see you through the grey weeks ahead. These aren’t festive scents in disguise – they’re sophisticated, comforting, and surprisingly invigorating, the kind of aromas that make a home feel cocooning while the wind lashes against the windows and the heating does its valiant best.

January need not be joyless. Traditionally, it was a month of rest and reflection, when people hunkered down after the harvest, tended the hearth, and planned for the year ahead. Consider this your gentle nudge to order one of these candles now – and when it arrives, light it every day for a small, luxurious pocket of joy. Think of it as my personal guide to surviving January, one glowing wick at a time.

I have the Daylesford Kindling candle burning in my kitchen from September through to March, and I can’t recommend it enough – its warm, comforting scent is one to fall in love with.

For me, January isn’t about a frantic reset; it’s about living seasonally and intentionally. I keep only what brings joy and warmth, and each candle I light becomes part of that carefully curated, comforting rhythm.

Our Favourite Scents for Long January Evenings

January has long been a month for slowness rather than self-improvement. Historically, it was a time of slumber, quiet routines, and staying close to the hearth, and I think there is something to be said for honouring that pace at home.

January decluttering is gentle and intentional, editing just enough to let beautiful things breathe. A well-placed wool throw, a ceramic bowl for evening rituals, or a considered storage piece can bring a sense of order without disrupting the softness of the season. Winter still has its hold, and the home should reflect that, calm, comforting, and made for lingering.

This year, I am buying one perfect Christmas gift in bulk and giving it to everyone I know. And honestly? I stand by it. When you work in interiors and style, you see it all, every candle, diffuser, and beautifully wrapped trinket, but every so often, something stands out as the gift of the season. This year, it’s this Diptyque set. Buy a few, keep them on hand, and watch as your friends jump up and down with excitement when they unwrap them.

It’s the Diptyque Miniature Candle Surprise Set Holiday Edition, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best home fragrances you can give. Each candle feels indulgent, the scents are sublime, and the Christmas packaging is completely beautiful. The whole thing feels generous and bespoke, yet it’s astonishingly under £50.

It’s the rare gift that feels extravagant but sits happily in a very normal budget. Honestly, if there’s a better under £50 luxury gift out there, I haven’t found it. Yes, it’s Diptyque. No, it’s not expensive. You’re welcome.

A Little Box of Diptyque Magic – and a Foolproof Gift Under £50

Stylish and Affordable Candles Under £30, £20 and £15

When it comes to searching the web and wandering through shops to find the best candles, it's hard not to spend an eye-watering amount of money, with luxury candles dominating the market. Truthfully, though, a beautiful Christmas Gift Box from St Eval would thrill me more than a £300 luxury centerpiece candle, so too would the Santa Maria Novella’s Scented Candles Gift Set available at Liberty right now, which looks as though it has been purchased from a Venetian perfumery, so beautiful is the packaging, and with deep, sensual fragrances like Tabacco Toscano, it feels like its a more grown up and less predictable gift than many that saturate the market.

A new fragrance is one of the easiest ways to bring a sense of glamor and romance into your home. This makes candles an amazing gift for a friend or a simple decor upgrade for your home. Kelsea Ballerini recommends an intriguing and complex candle you will love.

On the topic of the best candles, Ballerini told The Strategist: 'I love the local Nashville-based company Ranger Station. It makes amazing-smelling candles. I go for ones that have a more spicy, amber vibe. It just feels warm and cozy to me. They have the whole range, though, so I gift a lot of the sweeter scents to my friends.'

Her favorite fragrance would make a beautiful Valentine's Day gift because it has a hidden second purpose. Ballerini explains: 'What’s cool, too, is that they’re made in whiskey glasses. So once you burn the candle down, you can do the trick where you boil it, put it in the freezer, get the rest of the wax out, and then you have this beautiful local Nashville whiskey glass. It’s a nice two-in-one gift.'

The hyper-local, hyper-specific turn of Ranger Station's fragrances fits into the signature scent trend we've seen over the last several years. As more and more candles become available, homeowners want increasingly unique and specific fragrances. People crave smells that feel original to their homes. A scent inspired by a city, or an album, or a favorite beverage have this personalized feel.

Editor's Picks of Ranger Station Candles

Creating a unique, and specially personalized home is a wonderful way to choose candles. Kelsea Ballerini's fragrance is a great place to start.

If there's one thing we know about Kathy Hilton, it's that she has a champagne taste. Though the socialite seems to live in a completely different realm, her candle taste straddles the line between luxury and accessibility. The Real Housewife of Beverly Hills swears by candles from the brand Volupsa.

She spoke about her best candle with The Strategist. Hilton explained: 'I fell in love with this company when they did the candy-cane scent. Everybody would walk into my house during December and love it. I ordered a dozen of them, and those were my gifts when I would go to people’s homes for holiday parties. Now I have the California Summer scent, and it’s the perfect fresh scent for summer. It’s my new favorite. I’m a candle lover. I don’t want another frame. Buy me a candle if you’re in doubt.'

The most interesting part of Hilton's home's signature scent to me is that it changes with the seasons. Rather than sticking to just one smell, she rotates through different candles based on the weather and temperature outside. If you hope to emulate her idea, focus on choosing candles that resonate with each time of year for you. A classic distribution would be a fresh scent for summer, a gourmand for the holidays, a warming scent for the winter, and florals for the spring, but you don't need to stick to this. As long as the fragrance feels personal, it's a great choice.

Though Volupsa's wide variety of scents is what makes them the best home fragrances, the candles have an additional benefit: their look. Each Volupsa candle comes in a highly textured glass vessel that would improve the look of a console table or dresser. Even after the candle has been burned down, you can put these candles in the freezer to get the remaining wax out and use the container for storage. When styled with a variety of decorative objects, you can't go wrong with this look.

Scenting your home is one of the most powerful ways to transform the ambiance of each room. As Kathy Hilton shows us, rotating fragrances in beautiful containers through the seasons is an excellent way to keep it interesting.

As a celebrity style editor, I love to see when a uniting theme emerges among the figures we often cover. Though these similarities are rare, they do happen – and most recently, it comes in the shape of a cult favorite candle brand.

In recent months and years, Diptyque has reinforced its power as a Parisian fragrance powerhouse – gripping celebrities far beyond its European base. It's responsible for some of the best candles you can buy, making them fixtures in some of the most beautiful homes on the planet. We've already written about Brooke Shields and Kate Hudson (the latter being particularly fond of the Eucalyptus scent), but now we've discovered Victoria Beckham is another long-time fan.

'Diptyque is my go-to candle brand – I go back and forth between Feu de Bois and Baies,' Beckham shared in an interview with Into The Gloss. Feu de Bois, meaning 'wood fire' in French, is a seasonal staple. It's the perfect scent for a cozy night inside, escaping the cooler climates. In comparison, Baies (meaning Berries) is a fruity –but nonetheless luxurious – scent that feels synonymous with fresher summer days.

Feu de Bois represents warmth and coziness, while Baies is fresher, but of course, there are no rules regarding when you burn these candles. If you want to light Feu de Bois all summer long, then go for it – candles are made to make you happy, after all.

Alternatively, you can use these pieces to master fragrance layering – in which each room has its own dedicated scent specific to the mood and visuals of that space. When it comes to Beckham's choice, we recommend placing Feu de Bois in your living room, while Baies is better for an entryway or kitchen. To take things further yet, we're introducing more celebrity-approved Diptyque fragrances (including Hudson's Eucalyptus Classic Candle) below.

Accessorizing a kitchen requires a careful balance of choosing beautiful designs and ensuring the pieces you choose don't impede the day-to-day function of your space.

As such, it's not always easy to find the right decor that ticks all of these boxes. But there's a simple approach that never fails – introducing a mix of visually aesthetic designs and functional kitchen pieces that can double up as decor.

And where better to find everything you need (and want) than Wayfair? Offering a vast selection of brands and decor with prices to suit every budget, it's a one-stop shop to elevate your kitchen design.

And to save you from having to scroll through everything they have to offer, we've done the hard work for you and found the best kitchen decor Wayfair has to offer. Happy shopping!

12 must-have Wayfair kitchen decor buys

There are a few things to never put on your kitchen countertops, but there's no reason you can't spruce up your scheme with a few stylish yet practical pieces.

And as kitchen trends this year are all about layered, unique, personality-filled spaces, these pieces are the perfect additions to infuse a healthy dose of character to your design.

Wayfair offers some truly stylish kitchen decor – from rugs and kitchen towels to vases, oil cruets, and scented candles, there's something here to elevate any kitchen this year.

In 2015, The New York Times referred to Le Labo's Santal 33 fragrance as 'that perfume you smell everywhere.' It was an immediate cult classic among stylish millennials, embraced by the likes of Alexa Cheung, Justin Bieber, and Emma Roberts. Though the bubble has burst slightly on Santal 33 as a personal fragrance, the popularity of Santal 26 (Le Labo's home version of the scent) is still going strong.

Jennifer Lopez was an early adopter of the Le Labo home scent. She talks about her best candle with Marie Claire, explaining: 'There’s something about having it in a room that makes everything feel extra warm and cozy.' The Kit reports that she ordered several hundred Santal 26 candles per month when the fragrance was first released. It's easy to imagine the scent as a signature in Lopez's home: a mix of sandalwood, cardamom, iris, amber, cedar, and leather.

Although the candle technically emerged before the perfume, its continued popularity is evidence of the longevity of interior design trends over their fashion counterparts. We've spotted the large version of the candle, which comes in a huge concrete vessel, in the homes of Blake Lively and Taylor Swift. Though it's not inexpensive, the container allows JLo's preferred fragrance to function as both a scent and a decor object.

If you want to scent your home like JLo but are interested in a lower price point, the smaller versions of the Santal 33 candle are a great option. Alternatively, clever perfumers, like the team at Salt & Stone have created similar scents with slightly different formulas.

If warm, woody fragrances are for you, then you just might want to scent your home like Jennifer Lopez with Santal 26.

Home is where the little luxuries are. Though an enchanting design and comfortable furniture are important, it's the details, like a signature fragrance, that truly gives that cozy ambiance you desire at this time of the year. Pair this fact with the predictions that 2025 is going to be the year of the House Party, and you have the perfect recipe for candles to grow in popularity. Shaun White is starting the trend off strong with his proclivity for the Diptyque Baies Classic Candle.

The snowboarder shared his favorite home fragrance with Forbes, stating: 'A Diptyque candle is such a great holiday gift—it’s simple and makes any room feel instantly cozier. The scents are amazing and add that warm, festive vibe everyone loves this time of year. It’s one of those gifts that you really can’t go wrong with.'

Although the holidays are over, the effectiveness of one of the world's best candles as a gift is far from over. In a recent piece for The Atlantic, Ellen Cushing wrote about how 'although 84 percent of Americans enjoy birthday parties, only 59 percent had attended one in the previous year.' She uses this statistic to urge everyone to invite more people over for social gatherings. Through the etiquette rule of reciprocity, she argues, this will lead to everyone attending more parties, effectively halting the loneliness epidemic. Personally, I'm all for it. However, if this shift is to occur, gifts for hosts will become all the more popular.

Though a bottle of wine was once the expected contribution for dinner party attendees, this convention is shifting as the culture around drinking and alcohol changes. In the wake of this shift, polite guests are searching for new gifts under $100 to bring their gracious hosts. Given its mass appeal as a brand with a cult following, I think a Diptyque candle is the perfect answer for this deficit.

More Celebrity Favorite Diptyque Candles

Whether it's the berry scent beloved by Shaun White or the Jasmine fragrance championed by Kim Kardashian, your friends and family are sure to love the candle just as much as their celebrity counterparts.

Regal interiors are rich in history, spanning centuries and monarchies. Over the last couple of years, however, they have served as design inspiration for our own houses (even though most of us don't call a palace home).

Since 2020, it has been Regencycore (thanks, Bridgerton), and with the popularity of The Traitors, it has now transitioned into Castlecore – a design trend that embraces all the opulence of storied palaces, from their luxe materials to their medieval structural features.

With Google searches for Castlecore surging 929 percent in the last 3 months, it is inevitable that this is a style we will be seeing everywhere. Interested in trying it out for yourself? We've broken down the trend into elements so you can recreate a look worthy of royalty.

1. Elegant Seating

When we think of castles, we think of drawing rooms, and as such, we imagine luxe sofas and embellished seats that almost look too beautiful to sit in.

'The Traitors is everywhere at the moment, and while fans enjoy the drama and betrayal, they are also drawn to its iconic castle interiors,' says Paulina Wojas, Interior Designer at Stunning Chairs. 'The perfect example of a vintage-modern piece is the notable gold, velvet buttoned accent chair for the player interview room.'

'This vibrant piece is the room’s focal point and has a traditional feel that complements the castle’s interiors. The chair’s bright-rich color ties nicely with the room’s dark tones and wooden features for a stylish and sophisticated look. The aesthetic is completed with whimsical decor, such as a pineapple table lamp and an ornamental skull for an eclectic effect.'

2. Antique lighting

Candelabras and castles are practically synonymous; as the main source of light pre-electricity, candles not only provide illumination in a home but can look elegant and refined when placed in candelabras, as a centerpiece for a dining room.

Alternatively, many chandeliers and wall sconces come fixated with the classic, tapered white candle silhouette, blending the familiar piece with a unique base. Opt for an antique, brass chandelier with candle fixtures for optimal castle-esque ambiance.

3. Dramatic headboards

A statement headboard is a major focal point in the bedroom, and as such, is a great way to transform a space from minimal to regal-centric.

'Layer your space with velvet cushions, heavy curtains, and jewel-toned bedding,' suggests Andrew Seed, Managing Director at The Odd Company. 'For the pièce de résistance, choose a statement bed with a velvet upholstered headboard or a dark wood frame to accentuate the room's moody elegance.'

We would be remiss not to mention canopies, which are a fixture in castles real and imagined in storybooks.

'Try mixing and matching classic French country pieces—think canopy beds, intricate carved wood accents, and plenty of stoneware—with antiqued pieces and upscale heirlooms for a regal and timeless look,' says Kathy Kuo, designer of Kathy Kuo Home.

4. Dark woods

Handsome and timeless, dark woods are a fixture in styles of yore like dark academia, and their place is Castlecore is not to be underestimated. An oak chest of drawers or even reclaimed wood floorboards contribute to the antiquated feel of a space thanks to its natural finish and unique details.

5. Extravagant ottomans

First introduced in Europe via Turkey, ottomans radiate energy, especially those upholstered in velvet and/or tasseled. There are plenty of ottoman ideas: place one at the foot of your bed as a makeshift seat, or opt for one that includes storage space to make it completely functional in addition to beautifully decorative.

6. Ornate wallpaper

A castle-inspired room wouldn't be complete without an ornate wallpaper to set the mood. We are partial to subtle statement-makers like chintz and toile, but a simple maroon or deep brown would suit the style, too.

While these styles may have once felt dated, there are plenty of ways to make trad prints work in chic spaces without feeling fussy. Try selecting a color from a chintz pattern and incorporating it into contemporary accessories in a space for a more relaxed feel.

For those who want an authentic look, we recommend scouring antique and vintage shops and auctions for unique pieces in mixed metals and rich textures, such as velvet and faux fur. The beauty of decorating with vintage pieces is that their antiquity actually ensures their longevity – when you invest in high quality, luxe pieces, all of which make up the foundation of Castlecore, you can feel confident that you have decorated in a way that is both trendy and timeless.

Fragrance is the oft-overlooked aspect of interior design that can make all the difference. A well-chosen candle or diffuser transforms a space, creating an ambiance and marking a home as uniquely yours. Sydney Sweeney, for instance, makes her home instantly relaxing with the Poetic Mind candle from Zara Home.

The best candle for one person isn't necessarily the best candle for the next, but the actress's pick is perfect if you want to infuse your home with a warm, relaxing energy. Sweeney told The Strategist: 'I love candles. I was with my friend, and their place smelled amazing. I was like, "What is that?" And they’re like, "Oh, it’s the candle." I legit went and bought it that day and sent it to my house because I loved it so much.' One note stands out in particular to Sweeney. She states: 'There’s a vanilla aspect to it. Usually, a lot of products I love have vanilla in them. There’s something very calming and cozy about it. Whenever I walk in, and the candle is burning, it just relaxes me.'

In fact, a vanilla-based fragrance may be one of the best home-scenting secrets to help combat the winter blues. The sweet scent is known to relieve stress, with notes that promote feelings of relaxation and calm. It's frequently used in aromatherapy to promote well-being and improve mental health. If you're looking for a pick-me-up this winter, this just might be the one.

The Calming Candle Edit

If you want to scent your home for relaxation like Sweeney but prefer a more traditional vanilla scent, or just another grounding fragrance, these are just a few of our favorites.

Sweeney's favorite home fragrance is especially complex, featuring wood and citrus notes to cut through the sweetness of a traditional vanilla candle. It has almond as well, which seems to be growing in popularity as a fragrance trend for 2025. The glass vessel with a simple green label would look beautiful on a console table in an entryway, or on any living room coffee table.

If you're a fan of Sydney Sweeney, love sweet scents, or just hate the winter blues, this candle could be the perfect one for you.

Most of us don’t put too much thought into the scents we pick for our homes beyond whether or not we like them when we smell them in store.

However, master perfumers claim the scent you gravitate towards can speak volumes about what you want your home to do for you and how you want to come across to guests, friends, and family.

Here, top perfumers and psychologists reveal what your choice of home fragrance says about you, and the perfect notes for a curated signature scent, whether that's with one of the best candles, or a portable diffuser.

What your home fragrance says about you

Veronica West, founder and psychologist at My Thriving Mind explains, ‘Our sense of smell is deeply tied to the brain's emotional processing center, the limbic system, which is why scents can evoke powerful memories and emotions. The home fragrances we choose often reflect our subconscious desires, personality traits, and emotional needs.

'With that in mind, here's what popular scent categories might say from a psychological perspective.’

1. Floral scents

If the best home fragrance for you evokes long days spent in the garden and the best fragrant flowers, Monselete Bowden, coaching for well-being and lifestyle at Monselete, says, ‘These people stand out from the crowd. Typically they are well-liked, energetic, caring, seductive, confident, desirable, strive for perfection, artistic, love beauty, love perfumes, and anything that makes them feel good. At times they might appear superficial but they are very sensitive and soft-hearted, their intuition can pick up subtle mood changes in others and they will usually try to uplift their spirits when needed.’

With so many drastically different floral fragrances available, it can be tricky to pick the best scent for every room of your home.

Luckily, Monselete shares some of the most popular to help you curate a home scent that really speaks to you:

• Jasmine: Embodies the essence of renewal, reflecting the transformative power of change and the quiet strength found in consistency. Its enchanting aroma stirs passion and reconnects you to your sensual side, while its soft, powdery notes dissolve self-doubt, replacing it with a positivity that overcomes pessimism. As "Marcel Lavabre" has mentioned, it is one of aromatherapy's finest aphrodisiacs [making it one of the most romantic scents for a home]. Jasmine’s sensual and seductive allure enriches the spirit, offering both transformation and irresistible charm. Consider using a jasmine linen spray, from Amazon, to help set the mood in the bedroom.
• Neroli: With its complex and sophisticated essence, this scent inspires you to become your best self and think beyond the ordinary. It encourages you to broaden your horizons and embrace new perspectives, especially when you're ready to approach life differently and cultivate conscious awareness.
• Linden Blossom: Available as an essential oil, at Amazon, is consoling, patient, soothes the soul, opens the heart, and calms the nervous system so you can feel love. It also enhances personal awareness, security, and balance.
• Lavender: This is often regarded as the perfect balance between our masculine and feminine traits, embodying harmony, healing, compassion, and nurturing. A steadfast companion for life's rainy days, it encourages you to pause and reflect on what you truly need to care for yourself.
  Beyond its fragrant allure, lavender possesses a remarkable ability to purify emotions and the atmosphere, bringing a sense of equilibrium and love. Adding lavender essential oil, from Amazon, to an oil diffuser before you sleep can also help you to sleep better.

2. Gourmand scents

Gourmand scents are anything that reminds you of food, be it warming vanilla or something a little more exotic, like the Loewe tomato candle we tested a few years back. According to psychologist Veronica West, they are perfect for those of us who want our homes to be a source of comfort and are one of the best home scents for wellbeing.

She explains, ‘Selecting comforting, sweet fragrances like chocolate or vanilla indicates a desire to create a warm, secure environment. Warmth, connection, and nostalgia are generally valued by those who enjoy these fragrances. These fragrances, which are frequently connected to recollections of home or memorable family times, can evoke feelings of emotional stability and belonging.’

Better yet, Veronica adds, ‘Gourmet fragrances are an excellent option for stress treatment because they can lower anxiety and promote emotions of contentment.’

Pair these warming scents with some organizing for health and well-being in mind, and your home is sure to be the perfect rejuvenating oasis.

3. Fruity scents

If you were a big fan of the dopamine decor trend, or tend to gravitate towards tidying challenges like the dopamine decluttering method, then the chances are you might like fresh, fruity fragrances for your home.

Kerry Kip, home fragrance expert and founder of MINOT Candle says, ‘People who go for fruity scents are bubbly and outgoing – they're full of energy and positivity. For an energizing scent, pair bright, fruity notes like lemon or lime with subtly sweet floral notes, like freesia or jasmine.’

Veronica West, psychologist, continues, ‘Fruity scents frequently create feelings of liveliness and freshness, boosting spirits and elevating moods. Bright, citrus scents like grapefruit and orange [such as the P.F. Candle Co. Sweet Grapefruit candle from Amazon] are known to reduce fatigue and improve focus, making them ideal for busy or creative minds.’

4. Earthy scents

Grounded, earthy fragrances like herbs or sandalwoods do more than make bathrooms smell like luxury spas. They are also great functional fragrances that boost focus.

Veronica West explains, ‘People who appreciate stability and foundation are drawn to earthy fragrances. They choose settings that encourage peace and reflection and frequently look for a way to connect with nature. These fragrances help to create a space for mindfulness or relaxation by giving one a sensation of anchoring.’

Fragrance expert Kerry Kip agrees, adding, ‘People who gravitate toward earthy scents are trendy and chic. They seek a connection to nature while embracing modern style. Look for notes like sandalwood or green florals — our Cliffwalk Candle (sandalwood, patchouli, and jasmine) and Terrene Candle (agave, green floral, chrysanthemum, and aloe) scents are the perfect balance of earthy and sophisticated.’

Veronica adds, ‘Notes like cedar wood or patchouli are excellent for establishing a calm atmosphere at home because they can lessen anxiety and promote inner serenity.’

5. Fresh scents

Veronica West explains, ‘Those who enjoy clean fragrances frequently value simplicity, order, and clarity. These people may enjoy their living areas and thrive on structure. Aromas that inspire freshness and cleanliness, like sea air or fresh linen, might help clear the mind of clutter.

‘People who want to revitalize their houses and brains will find that clean scents are perfect because they frequently encourage a sense of focus and rebirth’

You don’t have to experiment with making laundry smell better and keeping laundry smelling nice beyond laundry day to reap the benefits of fresh scents, however. There are plenty of formulated fragrances to make every day smell like laundry day, without all the effort.

FAQs

Why is home fragrance important?

Psychologist Veronica West says, ‘From a psychological perspective, scents can improve mood, reduce stress, and even improve cognitive function. We can subtly convey who we are, how we feel, or the atmosphere we want to create in our surroundings through the scents we choose. You may promote well-being and enhance your mental health by purposefully incorporating fragrances into your house. After all, a scent is an emotional experience in a bottle, not just a whiff!’

So, whether you mix up a homemade room spray, or experiment with fragrance layering, think carefully about the scents you choose and the effect you want it to have on your and your space.

Few fragrance brands hold the same prestige as Diptyque, the Parisian label that's a consistent favorite among celebrities. These figures can have their pick at any candle on the market, yet Diptyque often comes out on top – whether it's for their own homes or a failsafe gift. The latter is the case with Brooke Shields, who revealed how she gifts these candles to those she doesn't know well but still wants to gift a foolproof present. As one of the best candles since 1963, we, too, promise it's a failsafe solution.

'If I don’t really know someone, but I want it to be good, I’ll find a really beautiful Diptyque candle,' the Blue Lagoon actress shared with Today. 'People seem to really like those.'

Shields says the L’Ombre Dans L’eau is her favorite scent; however, it's not available in candle form. As an alternative, we're looking to Kate Hudson, who swears by the Eucalyptus Classic Candle (available from Diptyque).

Diptyque candles may date back to the '60s, but today, they're beloved by the celebrities we write about daily here on H&G's celebrity-style team. We've also noticed Kim Kardashian using the Jasmin throughout her living space, and Roses in the bathroom. Meanwhile, Beyoncé has been known to love the Vanille sent, while Megan Markle adores Diptyque's Tubéreuse (Tuberose). Kate Hudson's fresh, green pick feels like a modern spin on these more classic fragrances.

If you choose a classic-sized candle, Diptyque suggests the fragrance will fill small or medium-sized rooms, though it's ideal for any-sized space. It's designed so the fragrance is gradually released and persistent (but is optimal after around 20 minutes) – something to bear in mind if you want your home to smell as beautiful as possible before guests arrive. Whether you gift this candle or

Once the holiday season is wrapped up, and the festive garlands and Christmas stockings go back into storage, your fireplace mantel can be left feeling a little bare and uninspired.

A common post-Christmas dilemma is how to make your home feel like your own again after hosting for the holidays, but what about filling those now-empty gaps that were once brimming with festive cheer and now feel a bit dull and flat? Much like the whole of January...

Rather than letting your mantel sit bare to gather dust, now is the perfect time to seek out some winter mantel decor to bring your fireplace back to its festive former glory. I'm talking a touch of season style with some faux foliage, plenty of warm light, and some vintage-inspired accessories to create a characterful display once more.

Winter Mantel Decor Ideas to shop now

If you're looking to revamp your mantel with some cozy winter decor, now is the time to swap out the festive hues of reds and greens for neutral tones and winter whites, your pinecones for rustic foliage, and candy canes for candle sticks.

A carefully curated mantel can set the tone for the rest of your room, so whether you're drawn to a minimal display or you prefer a more layered look, these are my favorite mantel decor finds.

So, if your fireplace is feeling a little bare post-holidays, don’t wait to give it the revamp it deserves. With these winter mantel decor finds, you can create a cozy and stylish display that sets the tone for the new year ahead.

IKEA bathroom decor is often overlooked – but there are some truly chic and stylish pieces on offer that will instantly elevate your scheme. And when better to update your decor than the start of a new year?

When your bathroom ideas begin to feel tired or boring, it can be tricky to know how to refresh them without making expensive changes. But thoughtful decor pieces might just be the solution – and IKEA's accessible ranges are the perfect place to start.

From functional pieces made aesthetic to small decor that gives any space a much-needed face lift, these are the 9 IKEA bathroom decor pieces worth buying.

9 must-have IKEA bathroom decor pieces

No bathroom should ever be left without decorative accessories, but there's no denying it's a more difficult room to embellish. In cozier rooms like the bedroom or living room, lamps, cushions, throws, and decorative objects become the styling pieces, but in the bathroom, such decor doesn't quite fit.

But bathrooms have their own unique appeal – and the best way to accessorize your scheme is to make functional items feel like decor. From soap dispensers and towels to mirrors and shelving, these sometimes mundane pieces can work harder and become the decorative elements your bathroom is missing.

These are the 9 pieces IKEA has on offer that can look stylish, visually interesting, and instantly elevate your bathroom design.

IKEA bathroom decor is stylish, functional, and totally affordable. Whether you bring in a vase and a scented candle for a relaxing bathroom or opt to make your more practical pieces more aesthetic, IKEA has something for every design.

The holiday season has gone by, but we would like to believe that seasonal decor can be transferred into our collection of everyday styling must-haves. This stands especially true for tablescaping materials, which can absolutely be used beyond Christmas and Thanksgiving.

When it comes to the latter, we are taking cues from Law & Order: SVU star Mariska Hargitay, whose Thanksgiving tablescape is a perfect example of a setting that can easily be used well into the fall and winter season.

The actor's table setting features greige taper candles, flower and fruit bouquets, red wine glasses, linen napkins, and blue and cream dishes, all of which are placed atop a chic, white tablecloth. Though there are obvious pointers towards the fall season with the seasonal bouquets, the individual items would look fabulous on a tablescape well into the new year – all it takes is some strategic styling.

According to experts, bringing natural materials onto a tablescape is not only a great fall table decor idea, but one of the best ways to tap into the current season, whether it's fall or winter.

'Building a memorable tablescape doesn’t have to break the bank or even require a trip to the store,' says Cassandra Leisz, creative director at Ruggable. 'Embrace foliage by gathering dried branches, fallen leaves, pine cones, and acorns from the outdoors. These can be scattered on your tablescape or gathered in a bowl or vase. Boost the coziness by adding real candles or flickering twinkle lights. If you already have apples in your fruit bowl, add these to your table decor on plates, garnished with cinnamon sticks. This is a fun way to set the table and a perfectly healthy snack for those unable to wait until dinner!'

Leisz also recommends a nature-inspired color palette, which serves well beyond the fall.

'When layering on aditional decor like namecards, table cloths, placemats, or centerpieces, stick to an earthy color palette,' she says. 'Warm shades of brown, green, yellow and burgundy are easy go-tos. For a finishing touch, styling some fresh cut fall flowers will add an inexpensive yet elegant touch.'

She continues, 'For the overall color scheme, I like to rely heavily on a traditional autumnal palette of warm oranges, olive greens, deep browns, and dark reds, which instantly evoke the depth of the season,' she says. 'To elevate the look, I love adding metallic accents such as gold flatware, silver figurines and dishes or brass candle holders. These touches can bring a contrast to the warmth of the season’s colors while adding a festive glow.'

Shop the Mariska Hargitay tablescape edit

We would also recommend experimenting with wine glass colors depending on what season you are hosting; for example, red and green glasses look great in the fall and winter, while pink and yellow glasses are fantastic for spring and summer.

Every celebrity has their own distinct style, but arguably, no figure is quite as individual as Diane Keaton. The actress is synonymous with a minimal yet bold aesthetic – led by her monochromatic wardrobe – and mirrored in her home.

It's no secret that we're admirers of Keaton's interior design style here on the celebrity style team – so, of course, any opportunity to buy into her look is too good to pass. Thankfully, Keaton has been making things a lot easier for us recently.

In the last year, she paired up with Hudson Grace to design a series of decor pieces (including dinnerware and bedding essentials). Every piece in the collaboration blends Keaton's timeless style with the brand's dedication to enduring design – creating pieces that are playful yet sophisticated. Hudson Grace says they are an 'invitation to discover your own iconic style' – and nothing epitomizes this like the Diane Keaton X Hudson Grace House Scented Candle.

The best candles are those that smell beautiful but have a sleek vessel to match – and Keaton's piece ticks both boxes.

Her signature scent is a combination of blue sage, olive tree bark, warm vetiver, and golden amber – a fragrance that feels cozy over winter but simultaneously fresh over the summer months. The retailer says this scent is ideal for living rooms, studies, or dens – but we'd add that it's just as perfect in a minimalist bedroom – where the sleek black glass vessel will complement any neutral paint or bedding (especially the bedding designed by Keaton herself). It also has a long-lasting 80-hour burn, so you can enjoy it for many evenings – whether it's your backdrop for hosting or a relaxing night of solitude.

'I've been a fan of Hudson Grace for years; we share the same approach to design. We had so much fun creating a collection with simple yet classic items I would use in my everyday life,' Keaton comments. 'The product has heart and is inspired by items in my home. I want everything from the collection!' Alongside the candle, we can't stop admiring Keaton's cookware (available below).

'There is no one better to define our iconic aesthetic than Diane Keaton. For our first-ever collaboration, we wanted to partner with someone who shares the same eclectic, witty style as us. Diane and I became friends while she was shopping at our Brentwood store, and we quickly bonded over our shared love for inspirational spaces,' adds Monelle Totah, the co-founder of Hudson Grace.

'She has an 'eye' for playful design, which made it a natural and authentic fit.'

To me, the holiday season is the best time of year for my home. It is when it's at its warmest, jolliest, and well, fullest – full of Christmas decor, twinkling lights, heaps of food, festive scents, and loved ones.

But come the New Year, once I've packed away all my Christmas decor, it can start to feel a little flat and empty. So as the celebrations wind down this January, it is important to take time to reclaim your home and restore it to a place that feels authentically yours.

Other than a good clean-up, there are a few things we editors at Homes & Gardens like to recommend you do this side of the New Year in order to make your home feel like your own again after hosting for holidays. Here's how we like to give our homes a fresh start in January.

How to reclaim your home after the holidays

Between hosting friends and family, rearranging furniture, and decking the halls with decor, your home can start to feel a little more chaotic than calm over the holidays.

After weeks of accommodating guests and clutter, a few small thoughtful changes – like decluttering, adding fresh greenery, or rethinking a layout – can make a world of difference. Here are a few of our favorite ideas.

1. Declutter and reset

Head of Solved and H&G's resident organization expert, Punteha van Terheyden, finds that after the whirlwind of holiday hosting; decluttering and resetting your home is the first step to reclaiming your space.

'Visual clutter disturbs us for a reason and once the festive spirit has been and gone, it feels great to declutter and tidy up, especially where seasonal decor is concerned,' says Punteha.

'Starting with your Christmas decor, go room by room, and don't expect to complete the task in one day. If you tackle just one room at a time, it'll reduce the sensation of cleaning overwhelm and will help you focus on doing a more thorough job,' she advises. 'Usually, cleaning and tidying have a cascade effect: once you've completed the first task, it'll usually flow easily into the next, but managing your expectations with how much you can get done in one go will make it easier to start.'

'To save me time, instead of individually wrapping all of my tree ornament this year, I have bought a specialized container, just for the job. A Christmas ornament storage box will help you avoid breakage and save you time when packing it all away.'

2. Bring in fresh flowers and foliage

With holiday decorations packed away, your home may feel a bit bare so some new floral arrangements and plants can work wonders to bring life back into your spaces.

'For me, it's all about the fresh flowers and foliage,' says Head of Interiors Hebe Hatton. 'I bring a lot of foliage into my home over the holidays and although I am always ready to say goodbye to all the evergreens and berries, it does feel a bit flat once they are gone.'

'So I fill up all my vases again with either in-season flowers from the florist or I cut down some of the Camellia that's in my garden,' says Hebe. 'The bright pink flowers can be out right now which feels so uplifting when the weather is gray, but even the glossy vivid green leaves make for beautiful decor and a nice break from all the dark evergreens I have had in my home for the last few weeks.'

'Pots of paperwhites and hyacinth come into my home in the middle of January too, their scent instantly takes me out of the post-Christmas slump and gets me excited for the change in the season ahead.'

3. Carve out some 'me-time' spaces

In my opinion (as someone who is easily overwhelmed), the worst part about having your home filled with guests is the lack of alone time you get.

Yes, it is a beautiful and festive thing having your home filled with loved ones, but I do long to escape for some quiet moments with a book or a glass of red. So this New Year, I'm putting the focus on some dedicated me-time and looking to carve out some small spaces to retreat into.

Once the festivities are over, I find it essential to reclaim parts of your space as zones for relaxation. Creating intentional spaces for this can help you recharge and restore balance in your home.

Embracing the nook, I've got my sights set on a reading nook in the bay window of my living room and am currently mood-boarding a beautiful window seat complete with the comfiest of cushions and of course a good lamp for ambient reading light that will encourage me to wind down (without my phone!) more in 2025.

4. Make subtle swaps in the kitchen

'After the Christmas chaos, my kitchen is the first place that needs an overhaul in the New Year,' says our Kitchen & Bathroom Editor Molly Malsom.

Post-holiday feasting, your kitchen also may require a refresh to transition back to everyday functionality. Making a few subtle yet impactful swaps can restore order and breathe new life into the heart of your home.

'Aside from the obvious deep cleaning and decluttering, I always like to swap out the decor in my space,' Molly advises. 'A small yet stylish lamp can elevate an empty kitchen countertop, styled with recipe books I've been gifted over the holidays, and topped with a new scented candle.'

'These subtle swaps instantly give my kitchen a refresh and make it feel like it's mine again – rather than the busy, communal space it became through the festivities.'

5. Refresh your WFH space

Like all of us at H&G, the start of January also signifies the return back to work so I think it is only right that we give our WFH spaces a rejig to help us all feel a little more motivated and refreshed ahead of the first day back.

If your home office setup doubled as a storage area or an office combined with a guest room during the holidays, now is the perfect time to reclaim it for yourself.

Start by removing any leftover holiday items or temporary furniture like a sleeper sofa or makeshift bed. Then, give your desk and shelves a good cleaning – a tidy workspace fosters a tidy mind. Finish off by surrounding yourself with objects that spark inspiration and joy – maybe a new potted plant, a stylish portable lamp, framed family photos, or that beautiful new 2025 calendar or diary Santa brought you.

6. Switch out your seasonal scents

After weeks of cinnamon, pine, and spiced holiday candles filling the air, swapping out seasonal scents for ones that feel more personal can help you reset emotionally and physically.

'Aside from giving my home a good clean after hosting guests (there’s always so much washing to do), one way I reset my home and make it feel more like my own is to freshly scent the space,' suggests H&G's Managing Editor Zara Stacey.

'Many of us will have filled our homes with inviting festive fragrances over the holidays, now it’s time to swap the cinnamon and the cedar for something fresh and new.'

'As much as I love using candles, I’ve been using my Patouchil essential oil, available on Amazon, with my candle oil burner to make my home smell nice over the last few days – never underestimate the power of scent to help revigorate your home!'

Think of the start of the New Year as a chance to edit and curate your space. Prioritize comfort, function, and the small details that bring you joy and you'll soon feel like your home is back to normal – if not better than ever.

Scented candle season is far from over; in fact, January is prime time (in our minds) to introduce new fragrances to the home.

With that, we are always on the lookout for new and exciting home fragrances, so when we saw that Kris Jenner revealed her favorite scented candle in a recent Poosh dispatch, we had to investigate. Her choice is one of the best candles on the market, but it's surprisingly accessible.

In the article, Jenner states that her favorite candle is the Humidor scent by DEHV (available at West Elm). The candle in question lists tobacco, amber resin, mahogany, vanilla bean, and dark rum (AKA the perfect winter blend) as its notes.

'I am really big on room fragrances, and my house is filled with candles,' she says in the piece. 'I love the mahogany and vanilla notes in this candle, and they make any room instantly cozy.'

The sleek, minimalist design of the candle itself is a major selling point, but it turns out it is sustainable, too. The concrete vessel can be used as a pot for starter plants when it's run out of its wax, making it a two-in-one buy. The delicacy of leaves and flowers would look beautiful, contrasting the hard, cool surface of the pot, turning it into a longstanding home accessory.

Additionally, the candles are made of 100% soy wax, with a single wick and a burn time of up to 50 hours.

If the smoky scent that Kris prefers is not your thing, there are tons of other scents to choose from, including florals and gourmands, all housed within the same concrete encasing. We are partial to Blush (also available at West Elm), which features rhubarb, white tea, geranium, peony, and blackcurrant, and Riviera, which smells like sea salt, lavender, lemon, driftwood, and rosebud.

'The only thing better than a celebrity-approved candle is one that continues to feel functional after it burns away,' comments Megan Slack, the head of celebrity news. 'With this in mind, Jenner's go-to is hard to beat. I recommend using the sleek shell for a small container plant – perfect for any minimalist living room. I am going to order one for my own home this January, and it will still live on my shelves (with an indoor plant) long into the summer and beyond.'

Nothing finishes a well-dressed table quite like a candle (or, better yet, more than one), but we need to choose our pieces carefully. Take it from Martha Stewart, the lifestyle guru famed for her unrivaled dinner parties. Stewart has decorated dinner tables for decades, but one rule remains: She never uses colored candles.

We've recently spent more time than we care to admit watching back-to-back archival Martha Stewart footage, and among them is a clip in which she restores her linen after hosting. First, she shares her cleaning tips for tackling red wine stains, but she later addresses candle wax – a mark that's even more stubborn.

'So many people ask me: How do you get wax out of a beautiful linen cloth? Let the wax completely harden; don’t try to scrape it off while it’s still hot, and then try to peel it off,' Stewart says.

Stewart, who is proud of keeping her linens beautiful, then explains that she keeps her candles uncolored to avoid damaging her material.

'The reason I don’t use colored candles is that some of the dyes used in the candles are absolutely deadly to fine fabrics. They penetrate and stain, and then you have a difficult time – or an impossible time – getting them out. So, I don’t use anything but pale white or off-white candles,' she explains.

Opting for a neutral candle saves your linen from permanent color damage, but it doesn't prevent a notorious wax leak. If this happens, however, Stewart has you covered. You just need to be patient through the process.

'Sometimes, it’s a little bit more difficult to get off. Some people suggest putting it in the freezer – you can, just to chill a little bit. I find that by gently coaxing it off the fibers, you’ll get most of it off. Have patience; don’t rush,' she says. Stewart then shares how she washes the table linen in her kitchen sink.

'I am going to fill my sink with what I wash my linens with. I use Tide Free [available on Amazon] or another laundry detergent. 'Make sure you unfold the napkins so the soapy water touches all parts. Let them soak for an hour or two; don’t rub them hard, just let them sit here, then move them around with your fingertips. You can let the water out when you’re ready to rinse.'

After rinsing them well, Stewart recommends air-drying napkins and linens on a traditonal rack. 'You can use an old laundry rack like this. Let those dry in the sunlight, and you’re going to have very beautiful, brilliant white linens.'

Is this a spa or Kate Hudson's home? With the fresh, relaxing scent of eucalyptus leaves drifting through the halls, it's difficult to know for sure.

The actress shared her favorite home fragrance as a 'Top Pick for Living Well' in Chalkboard, and it's a new scent from a familiar favorite. Hudson swears by the Eucalyptus Classic Candle from Diptyque.

Diptyque candles have been a celebrity since they came on the market: Kim Kardashian uses Jasmin throughout her home and Roses in the bathroom, Beyoncé loves Vanille, and Megan Markle adores Diptyque Tubéreuse. Kate Hudson's fresh, green pick feels like a modern spin on these more classic fragrances.

Eucalyptus, as featured as Hudson's best candle, is known as a relaxing fragrance for creating a spa-like atmosphere in any space. It's become especially trendy in recent years, with the rise of an online movement for hanging fresh eucalyptus in the shower to be released with steam. The notes are aromatic and lively, with 'camphorated nuances.' In the Diptyque candle, leaves are crushed by hand for a full-bodied fragrance.

Furthermore, Eucalyptus is known as one of the best home scents for wellbeing. Carlin van Noppen, fragrance and design expert at Fig Linens and Home states: 'Eucalyptus is frequently used in spas because of its grounding, meditative qualities. Its fresh fragrance is at once calming and energizing, making it perfect for promoting mental clarity and reducing stress. The scent also as degongestant and expectorant properties, allowing it to offer respiratory relief and improve air quality.' Especially when combined with mint, a Eucalyptus candle is perfect for manifesting health in the New Year.

Though there are many Eucalyptus candles on the market, what sets Kate Hudson's pick apart is its design. The stylish glass holder with a round, black, and white label is instantly recognizable as Diptyque. Its beautiful, simple font and color scheme could fit easily into any room. I especially love the look of these candles paired together, for instance, placing a classic-sized Diptyque candle next to a mini size for variation in height. This is also a great way to introduce fragrance layering to your home. Candles from the brand are designed to go together, so you're destined to have a harmonious and inviting combination. Eucalyptus is especially tantalizing when paired with other fresh, green scents like mint and rosemary.

Though not everyone can be Kate Hudson, everyone can make their home smell like hers. With Eucalyptus's mood-boosting and mental-clarity-improving benefits, it's a great place to start. Additionally, we love these cult-favorite Diptyque icons, available below.

There are real estate brokers, and then there's Egypt Sherrod, famed for being 'Married To Real Estate.' The aptly named HGTV show established Sherrod as one of the most reputable estate forces in the country – and this includes knowledge on elevating even the smallest of homes.

When curating a small living room, kitchen, or entryway, we may keep our vision (or, simply, how the space looks) at the forefront of our minds. However, Sherrod explains there's much more than meets the eye.

'I want people to remember that when they tour a home or a room, they experience it with all of their senses, not just their sense of sight but also their sense of smell. What does that room smell like? Bring some of your favorite scented goods. I love essential oils and reed diffusers,' Sherrod says in an exclusive interview with H&G.

On the subject of finding peace in a small home, Sherrod also encourages us to consider how our space sounds. 'What do you want to hear in the room? Maybe you can add a white noise machine, or you play some soft music? It allows for even the smallest and most chaotic of spaces to feel restful. The scent and smell are so powerful.'

Alongside diffusers, Sherrod recommends introducing florals – firstly, for their scent, but also their transportive aesthetic. The best flowers are the ones that remind you of the places where you're happy – even if they're hard to grow in your home's environment. 'Bring in florals, even if they're beautiful faux, as they will travel your mind to where you want to go. And prioritize space for things that inspire you,' she says.

Lastly, perfecting your storage ideas is vital in every home, but especially those where you need to be strategic with space.

'Having effective storage solutions is key. When you’re in a small space, knowing where to put your things and how to declutter is often a challenge. You need to learn how to turn it into a multifunctional space. You’ll still want it to be beautiful and not feel overcrowded – because even if your stuff is nice, too much of anything can just feel like junk, right? Add more cabinets and built-ins wherever possible – so you can close things behind doors and drawers,' Sherrod explains.

'Also, find a special drawer just for your mail so that you're not constantly reminded of what the stack of mail you gotta go through and the bills you gotta pay.' The latter is something we can particularly get behind.

New Year's Eve is fast approaching, and whether you're having a cozy night at home or partying long into the night, it's a time for celebration and festivity.

Hosting your own party is a wonderful way to get your friends and family together under one roof, but the clean-up on New Year's Day can really leave little to be desired. Between party poppers, drinks, and glitter, it's no surprise that getting your home back in shape can feel like an overwhelming amount of work.

I'm Virginia Frischkorn, professional luxury party planner and founder of Partytrick, and these are the three things I always do to reset my space after hosting New Year's Eve, to welcome in the new year without any worry, before getting started on cleaning my house fast.

Three ways to reset after New Year's parties

1. Clear surfaces

The day after hosting, countertops are often littered with empty glasses, leftover belongings, and New Year table decor ideas, which can really make your kitchen look cluttered.

So, to reduce visual clutter in my kitchen, and indeed anywhere else, I always start by clearing off my countertops. Start by tackling high-traffic areas first (think living room, kitchen, and dining space) and gather up any glasses or plates to pop into your best dishwasher. If you come across any New Year decor ideas from the night before, sort them into piles for washing, recycling, or storage, and set aside any miscellaneous belongings that got forgotten in the fun. Put everything else directly into a trash bag, such as the Hefty Ultra Strong Tall Kitchen Trash Bags available at Amazon, ready to take out of the house.

I always do this as the clearer your main areas are, the faster your space feels ready to breathe, helping you to avoid overwhelm. Plus, if you're exhausted from the night before, clearing by area keeps things manageable and motivating, and you get a quick visual win with each item moved.

2. Fresh scent for a fresh start

After hosting, it's essential to refresh the air to feel truly reset. Scent has a powerful effect on mood, so making your home smell nice with a fresh scent cues a shift from party mode back to cozy home mode, letting you fully relax and reset.

Use a favorite candle or essential oil diffuser, like the URPOWER 500ml Essential Oil Diffuser available at Amazon, to give your space a new scent.

When it comes to the best candles, look for warm, grounding scents like cedarwood or sandalwood, such as the Paddywax Scented Candles Artisan Apothecary Candle in Amber & Smoke available at Amazon to add a cozy but clean vibe.

All prices correct at time of publication.

3. Steam & soothe the sofa and fabrics

Finally, treat your seating area and pillows to a quick steam clean or spritz with a fabric refresher like the Febreze Fabric Spray Xtra Strength Original Scent available at Walmart. Hosting often leaves sofas with lingering scents or spills, so a quick refresh makes everything feel spotless and ready to enjoy again.

I also use my best steam cleaner, as steam and fabric sprays lift odors and freshen your fabrics – which is particularly satisfying if you’re hosting back-to-back gatherings!

It can be difficult to clean when feeling overwhelmed, but the most important step is simply getting started. Make sure you have all the necessary cleaning tools available and make a list of your tasks to tick off, in order of importance. This will help give you a sense of accomplishment and make cleaning your home after hosting a breeze.

Be sure to brush up on your holiday hosting tips to be the host with the most and impress your guests all season long beforehand, too.

As holiday mealtimes fast approach, you may be panicking about how to set your table. Luckily, H&G spoke to an expert in all things timeless and elegant to get the scoop on what's in for holiday tablescaping this year, so you don't have to worry.

We interviewed food, lifestyle, and interiors photographer Chloé Crane-Leroux to learn her tips for how to set a table. Through her Instagram account and new cookbook, The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking, she explores living a beautiful life and is considered a reigning expert on table and food aesthetics. Thankfully, her biggest tip for curating a gorgeous table is exceedingly simple: use candles.

Crane-Leroux tells Homes & Gardens exclusively: 'Having a variety of different candles and candlesticks is super important. There's an element that I love about having candles on a table that just creates the coziest vibe. I don't think I could make a table without putting candles on it. Especially for a dinner, that's so, so beautiful. I like having them all along in the middle for a beautiful vibe.' This method is not only easy but accessibly priced.

When it comes to Christmas table decor, Crane-Leroux swears by emphasizing seasonality with natural elements.

She states: 'For holiday tables, I love having a bit of pine in there. Just having that smell. In our day-to-day, we use fragrances like candles to make our home smell nice, but using those natural elements to remind people what season we're in creates this completely holiday vibe and winter vibe. Just having a long garland of pine, it's beautiful. Those little elements that remind us of nature or that we can actually just grab outside if we live in a nature-filled area, like a little branch or a little bit of mistletoe just reminds us of this holiday season.'

Rich tones and materials also emphasize the warmth of the season in the Christmas decor on her table. 'I think velvet for the holidays is so nice. I've been loving bows for tying around linen napkins. Velvet bows to me are super fun. I think having those kind of like more rich and bold colors, especially for holidays is great. Obviously, we know, like a deep green or a deep burgundy red is so, so nice.'

Even once Christmas is over, this philosophy can be applied to tablescaping in general. Crane-Lerous says: 'I try switch it up with the seasons. Whenever I am doing a table for Spring or Summer, there are a lot of florals. I think that's so beautiful. A lot of greenery and in the spring I do more pastels. In the summer I do more bright colors. In the fall I love to use branches. I love to mix fruits and flowers. That's really something that I've been exploring a lot. I've been using these like larger pedestal bowls and putting grapes with pomegranate and then sticking beautiful dahlias that are in season in. Switching up your table for every season is so important and so beautiful and kind of color coding it to like the theme of what you're going for.

However, no matter the time of year, the candles are a constant. She concludes: 'Essentially, what comes back in every tablescape that I do is candlesticks that are in the center creating this beautiful warmth and this beautiful vibe. Setting the table in an intentional way for your guests is super important, whatever theme or vibe you're going with.'

However you decorate your table this holiday season, a few candles can elevate it almost instantly. Take it from Ms. Crane-Leroux.

Is there truly anything better than the smell of fresh linen? Light, airy, and comforting, it effortlessly evokes nostalgic memories and a sense of serenity.

The only problem is how fleeting that fresh scent is. But, what if you could make your home smell like freshly laundered linen all year round?

Here, home fragrance experts share their tips on making clean linen your home's signature scent. They say 'it's easier than folding a fitted sheet'!

How to make your home smell like fresh linen 365 days a year

1. Add a diffuser

The best thing about investing in one of the best diffusers or best essential oil diffusers is how undemanding they are, requiring little to no maintenance, no worries about fire hazards, and no upkeep costs until it's time for a replacement. And, Kristen Knight, chief product officer and co-founder of Atmos Fragrances, recommends them for making a home smell like linen, too.

She says, 'Home fragrance is more than just a nice touch – it’s a powerful tool for shifting moods and deepening memories. Using a diffuser instead of a candle is such an easy way to make your home smell amazing while getting more out of your fragrance.

'With the Atmos Diffuser, you can personalize everything from: scheduling when scent is released, adjusting the scent intensity, and rotating the scents – which helps extend the life of your favorite linen scent.'

As Knight points out, whether you use a reed or electronic diffuser, where you place it matters. For instance, placing it at waist height, in your living room ideas or entryway ideas, for example, will mean the scent spreads faster, whereas placing it near a vent acts more like a natural scent booster to make your home smell nice.

'When creating the Model Home Collection at Atmos,' continues Knight, we partnered with a fine fragrance perfumer to design Linen (also available at Atmos), a scent that captures the feeling of comfort and care.

'Rather than focusing on notes like lavender or lemon, we aimed to bottle an emotion: the simple pleasure of crisp, cool sheets or warm, sun-dried laundry. Linen opens with bergamot and cedar for a crisp, clean freshness, followed by a bright floral heart of geranium and a warm, sweet finish of Tonka bean.'

The result of this a fresh laundry fragrant reminiscent of a summer's day, 'transforming your home into a place of calm, comfort and connection – where every scent helps create deeper, lasting memories for family and guests.'

Similarly, Mark Crames, CEO and chief perfumer at Demeter Fragrance has created diffuser fragrances to evoke warm, breezy days, with a twist. He says, 'For a unique and nostalgic fresh linen experience, I recommend Demeter Fragrance's Laundromat Diffuser.

'This fragrance captures the essence of a busy laundromat, with crisp notes of detergent, freshly laundered towels, and the comforting aroma of drying linens. The diffuser provides consistent fragrance, ensuring your home stays fresh all day long.'

And who doesn't want that?

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

2. Try candles for scent layering

Head of solved, Punteha van Terheyden worked in a perfume shop for five years. She explains, 'Scent layering is using different types of the same fragrance, or a group of complimentary notes to build the aroma in your home (or on your body) to make the end fragrance last longer. It's the reason perfume gift sets often come with a shower gel, body lotion and perfume. Using them in tandem layers scents on top of each other to help it all last longer.'

She also explains that's why the same brands trio in a gift set might smell slightly different but when used together, they smell like the intended perfume.

You can use the same concept in your home, building layers of scents with different elements carrying the covered linen aroma.

And in fact, among the very best candles lie the linen scents, and Sahina Ibrahim, founder of Nuhr, a home fragrance brand inspired by beautiful scents from the East, loves them for that 'I just cleaned' smell.

She says, 'Making your home smell like fresh linen all year round is easier than folding a fitted sheet. When guests are on their way, light up a Yankee Candle Large Jar Scented Candle in Clean Cotton, available at Amazon. It's notes of sun-dried cotton, lemon, and white flowers will have everyone convinced you've been scrubbing floors and fluffing pillows all day.

'I work with luxurious scents daily, but this brings me back to that simple joy of freshly washed sheets. Plus, it fills the room faster than I can hide the unfolded laundry!'

And, if you want to really supercharge your scenting, Darryl Do, senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances, suggests fragrance layering.

He says, 'The trick to this is having different scent sources in the home. Having too much, or only a single source will lead to anosmia, where you become desensitized to scent, or noseblind.

'I like using reed diffusers for setting the mood for entertaining, while candles are always a hit. Either multiple single wick candles, or, for an impression, three wick candles that make a statement.'

For the best results, choose complimentary scents, which, when it comes to linens, might be floral or fruity scents, or offset the clean airiness with an earthy, smokey scent like my personal favorite Le Labo Santal 26 Candle available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

3. Use room sprays

To make a house smell nice without candles, room sprays are a brilliant option, says fragrance expert Ibrahim.

She recommends, 'Grab a bottle of Febreze Fabric Refresher in Linen & Sky available at Amazon. A quick spritz on curtain ideas and cushion ideas instantly brings that clean laundry vibe.

'It's the ultimate lazy hack. No candles, no mixing ingredients – just a few sprays, and it's like your home got a scent makeover.'

If you prefer, you can also make your own homemade room spray which is a nice way to add a personal flair to your space, particularly when paired with a linen-scented essential oil, such as the P&J Fragrance Fresh Cotton Oil available at Amazon.

4. Hang linen sachets

Finally, hang linen sachets, or tuck them in drawers, to scent your wardrobe, too, recommends fragrance expert Ibrahim.

She says, 'Pop some lavender sachets in drawers or closets and refresh them with a drop of essential oil (such as the Fresh Linen Scented Home Fragrance Essential Oil by Expressive Scent available at Amazon) when needed. It's like having secret scent ninjas in your wardrobe,' and is one of the things people with a nice smelling closet always do.

If you're on a cleaning streak, we love this cult disinfectant that makes a home smell like fresh linen. Plus, learn how fragrance layering can enhance your favorite aromas at home.

Finding smart storage solutions for the home is one thing – discovering solutions that stick is another. As such, we are always on the hunt for storage boxes, bins, and basically anything that will help us stay tidy in the long term.

As such, a home storage essential that has been on our radars (and in many of our staff members' shopping baskets) is the Martha Stewart plastic stackable office desk drawer organizers (available on Amazon). These clear bins allow for optimal visibility of their contents, while their stackability is great for space-saving on countertops and desks.

According to Stewart herself, organizing is a key priority in her own home, explaining that by keeping tidy, we also keep our mental health at bay.

'Staying organized saves time, boosts productivity, and helps minimize stress,' Stewart states on her blog. 'I am always looking for useful and attractive storage solutions that optimize space and control the clutter. From neat and tidy desk accessories to repurposed containers found at tag sales to commercial-sized wheeled units, there are so many ways to keep "a place for everything and everything in its place.'

Stewart's desk organizer also works just as well in a pantry, living room drawer, or bedroom). With all that said, however, creating an organized home office is arguably the most important of all spaces. It's where clarity and peace of mind impact the work you do – and that matters in today's world more than ever before.

'For as flexible as working from home may be, staying motivated in your place of comfort can be difficult. That's why it's so important to create a home office space that keeps you inspired throughout the day,' Stewart adds via Instagram.

Apart from the desk drawer, we love adding a select few other organizational tools to desk spaces. For example, pen holders and letter trays instantly clear clutter while, depending on the choice of item, can look chic and sleek. Additionally, we are partial to heightening the calm ambiance with a scented candle in a lavender or eucalyptus scent, which helps clear the clutter of the mind.

Shop Desk Essentials

Shopping for holiday gifts? The H&G team have you covered. Our editors have rounded up everything they are shopping for the people in their lives (or things they would love to be gifted themselves) to provide you with all the gifting inspiration you need.

We cover gifts for home lovers, budding chefs, gardening enthusiasts and more – there's glassware, cookware, candles, kettles, and even toothpaste (stylish toothpaste). No matter what your budget or who you are buying for, we are sure you will find some holiday shopping inspiration right here. And we've split our gift suggestions into our favorite stores too, so you can tick plenty of people off in just one order.

Anthropologie

Hebe Hatton is our Head of Interiors at H&G, and year after year she swears by Anthropologie to tick a load of people off her gifting list. You can find something to suit all styles and budgets, but here are her top picks for some shopping inspiration.

Afloral

Rachel Bull is our Head of Gardening, but as well as being passionate about all things gardens, she's also a floral designer and creates beautiful installations for shoots, workshops, installations, and weddings. Her go-to store for beautiful floral-related gifts is Afloral. Here's what she's shopping for the holidays.

Quiet Town

Molly Malsom is our Kitchens and Bathrooms editor and has discovered one of her favorite stores to shop for chic bathroom accessories and stylish gifts is Quiet Town. The pieces are all sustainable, thoughtful, and functional – here's what Molly's shopping this year...

Hexclad

Being a trained chef herself, our Kitchen Appliance Editor, Lydia Hayman loves to gift people presents that are going to make them better in the kitchen. She swears by Hexclad for its amazing quality cookware. If you have an avid cook on your holiday gift list, it's the place to head to treat them to something that's going to last decades.

Crate & Barrel

Charlotte Olby is our Style and Trends Editor, and she's mid-renovation right now so her gift shopping list is also a bit of a wishlist of home decor pieces she'd love to receive to update her own home. Charlotte's recommendation to shop all things for a home-lover is Crate & Barrel.

Decorating for Christmas is messy, there are no two ways about it. Whether you pick a real or a fake tree, pine needles, fake snow, and glitter always end up everywhere.

It's nothing a good vacuum won't fix but if you don’t like the thought of cleaning up after your decor every day, there are some Christmas decorations to avoid to limit mess this festive season.

We asked professional decorators and home organizers for their thoughts on the worst Christmas decor idea offenders, and they have shared the best alternatives to help you get the look without the constant cleanup.

Christmas decorations to avoid if you hate mess

Your pre-Christmas cleaning efforts should be focused on the areas around your home that guests will see and use, not running around after messy Christmas decor.

1. Anything glittery

Glitter is a cornerstone of Christmas, but that doesn't make it any less annoying. It gets everywhere, embedding itself so deeply into carpets that you often still find it six months down the line, despite using your best vacuum twice a week.

Patricia Derpinsky, professional decorator and lead designer at Hudson Holiday Decor says, ‘If you hate cleaning up after the holidays, as most of us do, try to avoid anything that sheds, like glittery ornaments, real pine garlands, or flocked trees. These can look beautiful but leave you with a trail of glitter, needles, or flocking to clean up.’

You don’t have to stick with minimalist Christmas decor ideas to achieve this, Patricia assures us. ‘Instead, go for mess-free options like high-quality artificial greenery, which looks just as festive without the hassle. Choose ornaments made from durable materials like wood, metal, or glass – they’re timeless and easy to maintain.’

2. Faux snow

One of the biggest artificial Christmas tree buying mistakes to avoid is opting for a model covered with fake snow, says Kanika Bakshi Khurana, principal interior designer and founder of Kanika Design. ‘While faux snow might look whimsical, I find it tends to spill everywhere, and the cleanup is never fun.

‘If I’m craving that wintery vibe, I’ll reach for soft white throws, pillows, or faux fur accents. These elements give me that cozy, snowy feel without all the mess.’

3. Maximalist decor

Maximalist Christmas decor ideas can be reminiscent of childhood Christmases, but they are difficult to maintain. Cutting clutter when decorating for Christmas will limit how often you need to clean, and make it easier to clean around Christmas decorations when you do.

Patricia Derpinsky, a professional decorator says, ‘A more minimal approach also helps reduce mess: focus on a few standout pieces, like a beautifully decorated tree and a festive centerpiece, instead of trying to fill every corner of the house. It keeps your space festive but manageable.’

Plus, it makes clearing up fast after Christmas day a breeze, too.

4. Real trees

Caring for a Christmas tree is no joke. They need watering frequently and correct placement, Christmas trees smell bad after a while, and they are always dropping needles. If you want a mess-free Christmas, the faux Christmas trees are a safer bet. Don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to make an artificial tree look more realistic if you love the freshly cut look.

Nitya Seth, interior designer and owner of NITYANAMYA suggests, ‘going for LED string lights, fabric or wooden ornaments, pre-lit artificial trees, and any decoration of that sort. These are beautiful, reusable, and conventional structures, which are relatively easy to maintain.’

5. Real candles

This might be controversial at Christmas, but real candles are a big no-no if you hate mess in the festive period.

Kanika Bakshi Khurana, principal interior designer shares, ‘Candles are beautiful, but I don’t want the added stress of monitoring them to avoid messes or fire hazards. Instead, I go for LED candles with a soft, flickering glow. They still give off that magical holiday light I love, minus the cleanup.’

Try some of our best tricks to make LED candles look like the real thing if you are worried about still making a home look cozy with artificial ones.

It is not just the decor you choose that can make a difference to your Christmas cleanup. Patricia Derpinsky, a professional decorator adds, ‘After 25 years of working with holiday decor, I can’t stress enough how much organization and proper Christmas decor storage makes life easier.

'Invest in sturdy bins with bright labels for ornaments, wreaths, and garlands. For artificial trees, a durable storage bag is a must – it protects against dust and moisture and keeps everything in great condition. Wrap lights and garlands carefully to avoid tangles, and consider clear bins so you can see what’s inside at a glance. A little effort now will make next year’s decorating so much easier and more enjoyable.'

There's nothing better than walking through the door to a home that smells amazing, but with four dogs that can often feel difficult to achieve.

Between the muddy paw prints and wet fur, musty smells can often creep in, no matter how much cleaning and vacuuming is done. But, since putting a single Jo Malone diffuser (available $33 cheaper on Amazon) in the mudroom with their bestselling Pomegranate Noir scent, my home smells amazing everywhere I go, and guests agree, too. I've never had so many compliments!

The strong, luscious, fruity scent is perfect to make your home smell nice – and musty smells are gone for good.

I've never received so many 'your home smells amazing' compliments until I started using this bestselling diffuser

To me, Jo Malone is a brand which oozes elegance and sophistication, and I have used their perfumes for many years. But, I was yet to try a diffuser until now, and wish I hadn't waited so long to find my signature scent.

Almost immediately after getting it out of the box and popping the black reeds into the oil, my home was filled with the luxurious scent – to the extent that I was actually surprised at the potent effect.

Crucially, it most definitely got rid of dog odor in my house, and I can even smell the lovely aroma by the back door, and downstairs in the basement. The great thing is that the scent is not overpowering, instead lingering just the right amount and making it one of the best reed diffusers I've tried. I also love pairing it with the Mrs. Meyer's rose room spray, ideal for fragrance layering.

Since popping a diffuser or a candle in the entryway of the home is one of the things people with nice smelling entryways always do, that's where I opted to put it – in pride of place in my mudroom, just off to the right from the front door.

And, since doing so, I've never received so many compliments. It's amazing to see the huge difference something so small can make, especially in a home with four very busy, and at times smelly, dogs.

My verdict

So far, so good. After a week of testing, I have only good things to say about this diffuser, as do guests who've visited our busy home. I can't wait to enjoy the scent with friends and family when hosting for the holidays this year.

While a little pricier than other options I have used in the past, you certainly get what you pay for, and I can see myself investing in these diffusers over and over again, for years to come. After all, when something smells so good and works so well, why mess with a masterpiece?

Shop my other home fragrance faves

FAQs

How do you keep a home smelling fresh with pets?

One of the most important things when it comes to scenting a home which you share with furry friends (and, in my case, a tortoise and some fish too!) is to use scents which are safe for animals.

Therefore, I usually choose not to use candles in downstairs areas like the living room, which can be bad for animals and also pose a fire risk when left around curious dogs.

Instead, I keep them in my bedroom and bathroom, and like to make use of the best fragrant flowers, and herbs, such as rosemary and basil, which are safe for dogs, in communal areas. In bad cases, it's also worth investing in one of the best air purifiers with a HEPA filter, and regularly using your best vacuum to eliminate pet hair.

Next, learn about things people with nice smelling entryways never do, so you'll know which home fragrance mistakes to avoid.

There's no question that fragrance can affect your mood, so the scents you choose for your home are of utmost importance. Though home scent has not historically been considered a part of interior design, recent shifts towards a more holistic view of the house has brought the impact of fragrance into the home's zeitgeist.

Many of the most stylish celebrities from Courteney Cox to Hilary Duff and Kris Jenner have launched lines of candles, fragrance diffusers, and room sprays over the last few years. Michelle Pfeiffer is the most recent to join their ranks. Pfeiffer's launch of two of the best candles with her fragrance line, Henry Rose, signifies an interesting turn in the scent world. Her line started with gender-neutral perfumes, but the move into home fragrance indicates how our homes have become an extension of ourselves. They are a site for personal branding, and a way to invite visitors into our private worlds.

In Pfeiffer's version of home fragrance, everything is clean and healthy. In a statement on her website, she says: 'When I became a mom, I started reading the labels on the products I used. I just couldn't imagine exposing my children to anything potentially toxic on my skin. Fragrance was the last black box of ingredient transparency. So I gave it up altogether... but eventually, I missed it. I realized that if I wanted a safer, beautiful quality perfume, I would need to create it myself. We have to worry about so many things in life, and fragrance shouldn't be one of them.' The same should be true in our homes.

Pfeiffer's Henry Rose candles live up to this promise. The beautiful candles are created using a clean blend of soy, coconut, and vegetable waxes with a 100% cotton wick. They are hand-poured in California. In line with Pfeiffer's ethos, they not only make your home smell nice but are formulated with health in mind.

Though I haven't personally smelled the candles in Pfeiffer's home, the reviews tell an intriguing story. In fact, the Queens & Monsters fragrance has achieved all 5-star reviews. A client named 'Gina' calls the candles an 'Exquisite Piece Full of Luxury and Elegance.' She states: 'Hands down, a standout addition to my room décor! Its design screams elegance while also adding a touch of luxury. Undeniably, it is a great and worthy investment that not only elevates the aesthetics but also makes occasions more remarkable. Highly recommended!.' Angie G. calls it, 'subtle yet mesmerizing.'

If the role of a candle is to bring your personality and story to the forefront of your home, this seems like the right story. If it works for Michelle Pfeiffer, it's good enough for us. Alongside Pfeiffer's go-to's, we're enjoying these candles over this season.

More than just the surface on which you place your mug (or feet), the coffee table is the unofficial centerpiece of your living room and it should be treated accordingly.

So considering it is such a focal point, you're going to want to get the coffee table styling right. And that's where I come in. A few well-chosen home decor accessories and a few expert-led styling tips could just be the key to injecting the personality and a sense of style your living space has been missing.

To help, I’ve rounded up 12 pieces I swear by to make my coffee table look far more expensive than it actually is – and with the Cyber Monday sales in full swing, these pieces are currently more affordable than ever.

12 coffee table accessories to shop in the sales

When it comes to coffee table decor, these are my best styling tips: First, you'll want to offer height by selecting a coffee table book or two, create zones and organization among the chaos with trays or boxes, and finally, add some pieces that make you smile: candles, pretty matchboxes, and even playing cards.

Personally, I love the intentional clutter trend which encourages you to create pockets of curated knick-knacks, personal items, and random slightly disorganized objects to make a space feel lived-in and more like home.

The coffee table is a great place to put this into practice. After all, one of the biggest coffee table mistakes is leaving it bare and empty.

So with the Cyber Monday sales offering incredible discounts, now is the perfect time to perfect your coffee table. Here are my best finds.

Whether your vibe is modern or eclectic, these 12 picks will help you create a stunning coffee table setup that’s ready to impress ahead of the holidays.

One of the biggest holiday gifting trends for 2024 has, unsurprisingly, come from TikTok. And the viral 'burr basket' could just be the easiest, go-to gifting idea I've found this year.

Also referred to as a 'jingle basket', this hamper alternative is a cheat sheet to creating a basket of the best home decor gifts and coziest self-care goodies to encourage a loved one to spend a little time in the slow lane, lower their shoulders, and snuggle up this festive season.

As a shopping expert, it is my job to find the most stylish gifts and home decor on the market, so if you're looking to give the coziest (and most on-trend) gift this Thanksgiving or Christmas, here's my checklist to creating your own super chic, budget-friendly 'burr basket'.

How to create your own 'burr basket' for the holidays

If, like me, you feel like you've used up possibly every good gift idea going by now, perhaps curating a 'burr basket' could be the answer to your gifting woes.

Typically filled with warm and welcoming buys that help your giftee plan the ultimate winter night in, this gift doesn't need to cost the earth. Similar to a stocking, think about adding a plush throw blanket, slippers or socks, chocolate, candy, beauty gifts, and some personalized treats too. I'd also recommend throwing in a Netflix Gift Card from Amazon so they can watch Nancy Meyers' movies on repeat over the holidays.

Here are the 15 best buys I've found to help you curate a 'burr basket' of dreams.

Whether you’re creating a self-care-inspired basket, a movie-night kit, or a holiday treat hamper, this viral gifting idea is as simple as it is sumptuous: a cozy, curated basket filled with holiday treats, plush textures, and soothing self-care goodies. Will you be creating a 'burr basket' this Christmas?

As a self-confessed home fragrance lover, I'm always on the look-out for sales and deals to stock up on all my favorite products.

With Christmas around the corner, I've trawled dozens of retailers to find brilliant home fragrance gifts and goodies for my friends and family. With Black Friday deals all over, these are the best deals that are sure to thrill the aroma-lovers in your life.

So, whether you're getting organized or just want to invest in things that make your home smell good all the time, these are my top picks worth buying now.

These Black Friday deals on home fragrance will make the perfect gifts

1. Yankee Candle 12 Days of Christmas Candle Advent Calendar

Is there truly anything more festive than a Christmas advent calendar? I love using fragrant Yankee Candles all year round, so I've already got this advent calendar ready for the 12 days of Christmas (25th of December to January 5th) and can't wait to open mine.

Stuffed full of all their best and most-loved scents, all crafted from a natural soy wax blend, these mini candles are just the right size to find a new signature scent for the new year. Soy is non-toxic and superior to many other candle wax types.

All prices were correct at time of publication.

2. NEST Fragrances Reed Diffuser- Bamboo

Why not gift one of the best reed diffusers, to transform any space and make a home smell expensive?

I love getting a reed diffuser as a gift, particularly if it's picked out in one of my favorite scents. This bamboo one from NEST is floral and refreshing, with hints of citrus to keep it light. NEST diffusers are also cruelty-free and vegan.

3. 96NORTH Luxury Vanilla Soy Candle

Nothing says cozy season like vanilla, and the 96NORTH candles available at Amazon are a gorgeous home fragrance find to keep your home smelling great all winter – with a luxury quality, without the price tag to match.

With notes of vanilla and cream, and a subtle hint of bourbon, this is one of the best fall candles and makes the perfect entryway scent for fall to transition your home into the colder months. And, with a 50 hour burn-time, it will last you all season long.

4. ASAKUKI Smart Wi-Fi Essential Oil Diffuser

I've used my MUJI Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser available at Amazon for years, since I received it as a much-loved gift for Christmas, so I can vouch for the fact they make the best home gifts.

This one is great for any home fragrance enthusiast who's big on smart home must-haves. It's app and voice control compatible, with Amazon Alexa, using smart Wi-Fi technology to create the perfect, relaxing sanctuary and make a bedroom smell good for sleep – which is how I use mine.

5. Skandinavisk Skog 'Forest' Scented Candle

I recommend the Skandinavisk candles available at Amazon to everyone, and this one has become a tried and true favorite since I was gifted it for Christmas last year.

It's a little different from your usual Christmas candles, as it doesn't have any gourmand, or sweet tones. Instead, it smells like a crisp winter morning, with notes of pine needles, birch sap, and lilly of the valley. I'm definitely stocking up in the sales!

And, if you prefer something a little more outwardly festive, the bestselling Santa's Naturals Fraser Fir Christmas Candle available at Amazon is also included in their Black Friday deals, and is a great, affordable option to bring the scent of Christmas into any home.

Ready for more shopping? Check out the best Black Friday home deals to find out what our editors won't be missing out on this year.

Hosting for the holidays comes with both joys and stresses. It's so lovely to have a home full of people enjoying themselves and appreciating all your efforts, but getting your house ready, looking at its best, and prepping any food or drinks can feel overwhelming. And those few hours before guests arrive can be a bit stressful.

So with wanting to avoid that last-minute panic, I asked interior designers what small, quick, and easy tweaks they make to their own homes to ensure it's ready for guests to arrive. We aren't talking cleaning or decluttering here, this is the nice bit that comes after, when you want to just make little tweaks around your home to make it super comfortable and welcoming.

All of these lovely holiday hosting tips can be implemented in the days or even hours before you start hosting and most involve using things you probably already have too.

Easy tweak to make before your guests arrive for Christmas

You needn't totally overhaul your home for the holidays to accommodate guests. It's about making easy tweaks and switches that make your rooms feel cozy, inviting, and decidedly festive. As designer Susie Watson suggests 'Decorate with everlasting flowers, twinkling glass and candlelight, cozy wool throws and sumptuous velvet and silk cushions – these would all make stunning and festive additions to the home at Christmas. And soft lamplight, candles, and the lovely scent of a real tree are all simple ways to transform any room.'

1. Light candles and arrange flowers

'If you’re hosting this holiday season and want to refresh your space quickly before guests arrive, there are a few effortless yet impactful things I do to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. First, give your home a quick tidy-up –vacuum, dust, and wipe down surfaces. A clean space feels instantly refreshed, and the best part is that it’s both simple and free,' says designer Becky Shea.

'Next, set the mood with candles. Start burning them about an hour before your guests arrive so the fragrance has time to work its magic. I like to place one candle in the entryway to greet guests with a warm welcome and another in the dining or living room to carry the ambiance throughout the home,' she adds.

'Lastly, never underestimate the charm of fresh flowers. A thoughtfully arranged bouquet on a coffee table, dining table, or even your kitchen counter brings life, beauty, and an effortless elegance to your space. These small touches create a cozy and memorable experience that will make your guests feel truly at home.'

2. Bring in some greenery for last minute lovely decor

If you are after some last-minute Christmas decor greenery is your go-to. Florists will likely have plenty of beautiful evergreens in stock at this time of year, but if you can forage from your backyard even better. It's such a quick and easy way to make your home feel instantly festive.

Designer Marie Flanigan explains, 'Decorating for the holiday season is about creating warmth and magic in every corner of the home. I love to bring in natural accents – like sprigs of pine, fresh eucalyptus, mandarins, and bowls of pinecones to add texture and fragrance.'

'A few well-placed touches, like garlands draped over a mantle or clusters of simple ornaments, bring such an elegant nod to Christmas without overwhelming the space. It’s these organic, thoughtful layers that make a home feel both festive and beautifully inviting for the season. I also love to surprise by decorating unexpected spaces, like adding small Christmas trees on a stairwell landing, wrapping magnolia leaves around pendant lights, or tying a bow on a wall sconce for that extra touch of seasonal charm.'

3. Dim the lights

'Once the obvious and requisite tidying has been accomplished, I like to add a few quick touches to my home before guests arrive to make it feel extra welcoming and, if I'm being honest, fancy,' says designer Bethany Adams.

'I'll light a scented candle in the entry, powder room, and kitchen and add decorative tapers to the dining table and living room mantle. Fresh flowers (if I had time to stop at the grocery store that day) in a vase dress up my entry and coffee table, but if not, I'll pop out to the backyard or alley and clip a few branches for an easy and stunning arrangement. Finally, dimming the lights is the quickest and easiest way to set a welcoming mood.'

4. Get your welcome set up ready

'When I'm expecting guests, I always like to make sure I'm 100 percent prepared to offer a tasty refreshment, so I take a little time to stock my bar cart with spirits, wines, upscale soft drinks, garnishes, and festive glassware,' advises Kathy Kuo.

'I also place a few scented candles around my home to make sure guests are greeted with a warm and inviting scent and take a moment to fill my vases with seasonal blooms. These are super-simple actions that you can do less than 24 hours before guests arrive and they make such a meaningful impact.'

5. Focus on the senses

'Create a scented experience,' is designer Jennifer Walter. 'Scents influence how we feel in a space and infusing a bit of pine by way of a candle or diffuser instantly transports the senses to the outdoors.'

'Touches of seasonal decor can make a home feel festive and cozy. You don’t need to go overboard – just a few accents like a full-bodied wreath on the front door or garland draped over the fireplace mantel and stair railing can go a long way.'

'We also love an assortment of candle sticks on tabletops with candles in the colors of the season. A hand-tied velvet ribbon around the base adds a bit of luxury and texture as well.'

6. Get a simmer pot going

Alyssa Terpstras creative director of Coco & Jack thinks it's key to think about the senses too and she recommends 'A simmer pot to fill the home with a cozy and welcoming scent and light a wood burning fire and plenty of candles.'

She also advises making some small but effective additions to your decor – 'Tie ribbons from light fixtures and chairs for a pretty detail and add garland around doorways and evergreen centerpieces to your tables. Finally, dot around bowls of chocolate for guests to enjoy and play a Christmas playlist.'

The key takeaway I am getting from this is I need plenty of candles and should start collecting some flowers and greenery. But really the key to a welcoming home during the holidays is all about that relaxed feel, so give yourself some time before guests arrive to take a breath, make a few small, lovely tweaks but ensure you are feeling at ease yourself before guests arrive.

If you're mid-renovation, here's how to prep your home for the festive season.

I am very house-proud. Even if a guest has been here countless times before, I still want my home to look its best for them, usually meaning I am running around with a duster and the vacuum in the final hours.

I worry I will miss something obvious and my guests will think my house is disgusting. It is irrational, I know this, but it is a value my cleanliness-obsessed dad instilled in me when I was little.

Then, I stumbled across an obviously satirical TikTok video where a creator entered her home as if she was a guest and 'scanned' her whole apartment to spot problem areas and it got me thinking, was this actually a great cleaning tip?

What is the 'guest scanning' method?

The satirical video series by content creator @Centralparkturtle follows one of her slightly characters walking through the possible steps guests would take when entering her home – from hugging her when they arrive to hanging up coats, to picking up a fork dropped under the table.

While the video series is deliberately over the top, I thought it might actually be a smart way of spotting obvious mess and dirt before guests arrive. So, I gave it a try.

1. Start at the door

First, I started by working through my usual pre-guest cleaning checklist.

This entails dusting, fluffing up pillows to make a home look cozy, running around with my best vacuum cleaner, and lighting my best candle to make my home smell nice. The P.F. Candle Co. Candles, available at Amazon are a personal favorite as they are made from 100% soy wax and natural fragrances that won't irritate my guests.

I have this achievable cleaning routine almost down to a tee now, but that doesn't mean I don't forget spots on occasion. and that is what fills me with pre-hosting dread. So, before my in-laws arrived for a visit last week, I put the guest scanning theory to the test.

Starting at my front door, I entered my home as if I were seeing it for the first time. I didn't mimic hugging myself, but I did think through the logical steps of where a guest might put their coat. I realized the hooks were overflowing, so made a note that I should take some of ours upstairs for the time being to give them some space. It would be the small details that make a home feel welcoming.

2. Move into the living space

I then moved through my living space, 'scanning' a little like a lifeguard as I walked through to the living room and sat on the sofa, mentally making a note of the space guests would have to put items like drinks down (and promptly decluttering the side table to give some more space for coasts and mugs of coffee). I also put out a plate of biscuits, knowing they would be needed.

One thing this method really helped with was preparing me to welcome a dog into the house. We do not have pets ourselves, so I am more liberal with what I put on side tables. However, thinking logically through the movements a giant German Shepard with an overactive tail would take meant I could remove delicate items, push coasters back so drinks weren't nestled at the edge of tables, and move the coffee table so that he would have more space to walk around or lay down – all details I would have missed had I not tried the guest scanning method.

3. End your checks in the bathroom

The last steps I took were up to the bathroom. I noticed the stairway might be a little dark for older relatives, so I turned on some lighting in preparation and headed to the bathroom. Here, I was more aware of the stacks of moisturizer bottles on the edge of the bathtub than I usually am, so I popped them into bathroom storage ideas to organize the bathroom and make it look less cluttered.

I also popped a roll of toilet paper out in plain sight in case the current one ran out so guests wouldn't have to ask, one of the ways to make a home feel welcoming, and quickly wiped down the soap pump that had become watermarked.

As I left the bathroom (once again scanning) I noticed the mess in my bedroom and home office was noticeable from the bathroom doorway. To save time, I closed these doors and left them for later. Out of sight, out of mind, is sometimes the best mantra to live by. Especially when trying to get a house guest ready in under one hour.

The guest scanning method may have started out as an internet joke, but it turns out it is a genuinely useful home organizing and cleaning tip to help get a house guest ready. My home was far cleaner and tidier, and when my guests arrived everything ran perfectly smoothly, making me and my home look far more put together. I really felt like a natural host.

I'm now far more excited to host my overnight guests around Christmas knowing I should have every scenario covered before they arrive.

Next, learn how to prepare your home for guests if you're mid renovation like our serial-renovator H&G writer.

Sometimes it takes more than sheer will to get household jobs done or build good habits into your daily chores.

I’m a licensed psychotherapist and know full well how the experiences that have shaped us over the course of a lifetime, including trauma, chronic pain, and anxiety can impact our capacity and motivation to do tasks. Household jobs are no exception, especially with their never-ending churn and propensity to creep up on us in the busy day-to-day of our lives.

Here, I share five techniques grounded in mindfulness, the beneficial practice of being in the ‘here and now’ to turbocharge your tidying and cleaning tips to banish mess in your home for good.

How to harness mindfulness to keep your home mess free

1. Start with intention

Before tackling any mess or trying a new decluttering method, take a moment to reflect on the energy you want your home to exude. Ask yourself: What do I want to feel in this space? Feng Shui energy mapping delves into this in detail.

Setting an intention before tidying brings focus and transforms this task into a purposeful act of self-care. Approaching household tasks with intention also transforms them from mundane to meaningful. It's something I share with clients as Clinical Director of Cannectd Wellness™.

When we consciously decide how we want a space to feel – whether it’s peaceful, energized, or comforting – it aligns our actions with purpose. Energies like tranquility and warmth create harmony and reduce chaos.

For instance, a clear, uncluttered space invites calm, whereas vibrant colors (such as that seen in this Jlong abstract canvas wall print at Walmart) or curated displays can evoke creativity. This intentional mindset ensures that our surroundings reflect and support our inner well-being.

2. Practice mindful decluttering

Choose one area at a time and assess each item’s purpose and value. Engage your senses by touching each object and asking: Does this serve me now? Releasing items that no longer fit your life creates space for fresh energy and clarity.

If you’ve not decluttered much before, H&G’s decluttering library is packed with starter, intermediate and more time-consuming and in-depth decluttering methods tried and tested. For example, the ‘Didn’t Know’ decluttering method is simple and guilt-free, allowing you to let go of all parameters for keeping or throwing something bar one: if you didn’t know, or forgot you had it, get rid.

My ‘Touch Method’ of decluttering is perfect for focusing your mind on what’s important about this item to you: right here and now. This is a cornerstone of mindfulness that can be extremely freeing.

It’s particularly helpful for those who might be contending with clutter blindness, where you have become used to seeing things as they are in your home and may not ‘see’ clutter anymore. A well placed stair-tidy basket, from Amazon, will help create new habits without adding to clutter.

Mindful decluttering is a powerful way to ground yourself in the present moment. By touching and observing items intentionally, you create a tactile connection that reduces anxiety and brings clarity, especially for those who struggle with procrastination or overwhelm.

Start with just 15-20 minutes a day to maintain focus without burnout, and use simple tools like a ‘decision basket’ to gather items for donation or organization. Keeping it small and manageable ensures each step feels like progress rather than stress.

3. Try the 'Three-Task Tidy’

Break a room into sections and focus on just three small tasks at a time, such as clearing a surface, folding items, or arranging essentials.

Write them down on a notepad, such as the small legal pads from Walmart, for accountability, and check them off as you go. This creates a sense of achievement and reduces feelings of being overwhelmed. Completing even small tasks can shift your mental state from stuck to motivated.

4. Make tidying a sensory experience

Engage your senses during chores – feel the textures of fabrics, enjoy the scent of fresh linens, or listen to calming music as you clean. This sensory awareness grounds you in the present and makes the process more enjoyable. Engaging the senses in this way can effectively counteract negative emotions such as frustration, boredom, or feelings of overwhelm.

This sensory stimulation has been shown to lower cortisol levels, thereby reducing stress and fostering a more relaxed mental state conducive to productivity. For instance, research indicates that lavender and bergamot essential oils can lower blood pressure and promote relaxation.

Incorporating a lavender-scented candle or diffuser, such as the Mrs Meyer's Lavendar Soy Wax Candle from Amazon, into your daily routine not only provides these calming effects, but also adds a comforting ritual to your day.

Making tidying a sensory experience can also help alleviate psychological obstacles such as procrastination, anxiety, and lack of motivation. By transforming chores into mindful and enjoyable practices, sensory engagement reduces the emotional resistance often associated with task completion.

This approach is especially helpful for individuals who may struggle with executive dysfunction, procrastination, or the overwhelm that comes from multitasking, as it simplifies the process and creates a soothing environment to work within.

Learn more about the ways Chiana Dickson, Solved writer and self-confessed serial procrastinator gets motivated to clean.

5. Establish small daily rituals

Incorporate simple and easy habits like making your bed each morning or tidying up before bed. These mindful rituals create structure, reinforce positive energy, and make maintaining a tidy space feel effortless over time.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Gratitude corner: Creating a gratitude corner in your home – a small space for notes, photos, or keepsakes that bring you joy – offers a daily reminder of the good in your life. Taking just a moment each day to reflect on or add to this space can shift your mindset toward optimism and gratitude.
• Light reset ritual: At sunset, soften your home's lighting to mimic the natural transition of daylight. Dim lights or light a candle to create a sense of calm and signal your brain that it's time to wind down. This simple ritual can help prepare your body for deeper, more restful sleep.
• Intentional doorway pause: Each time you pass through a doorway, pause to take a deep breath and set an intention for the space you're entering. Whether it's leaving stress behind or embracing rest, this mindful transition can help you feel more present and in control of your environment.
• Bedtime wind-down basket: Prepare a basket of calming items – like a journal, lavender spray, or a weighted eye mask – and use it as part of your nightly wind-down routine. This small act of preparation creates a ritual that signals to your body and mind that it's time to relax and recharge.
• Window connection: spend a minute or two by a window each day, observing the sky, trees, or weather. This brief practice of noticing the world outside your home fosters mindfulness and offers a grounding moment of peace.

Task stacking can be very helpful for easing new routines into your life without them leading to overwhelm. Little routines like making your bed every morning are part of what people with tidy homes always do.

Next, learn the things people with tidy homes never do, and Marie Kondo's decluttering tips for people nervous about tackling this job.

There is nothing quite like the panicked feeling you get in your stomach when you realize guests are on their way and your home is in complete disarray.

Luckily, pro organizers, cleaners, and even hosting experts have all been there before – so they have a pretty good idea of how to get a home guest-ready in under one hour to make any visitor feel like you have everything under control, especially during the hectic holiday period.

Here are their top four speedy hosting tips to prepare for last-minute guests, and how you can fit everything in on a time crunch.

How to get a home guest-ready in under one hour

Preparing for guests in under an hour is a race against time, especially if your home is disorganized or you are getting a home guest-ready for the holiday season. So, on your marks, get set – go.

1. Focus on shared spaces

Unless your guest will be lying on your bed, there is no need to clean and organize your bedroom. Shut the door – out of sight, out of mind, after all.

Audra George, owner and pro-organizer at Pretty Neat: An Organization Solution in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma says, ‘Focus on the main spaces that guests will be in the most and make that your priority.

‘One of the best ways to make your home look nice and put together is clear countertops and tables. Once this is done, quickly wipe down all surfaces – this will make the areas look cleaner and will make a home feel welcoming.

‘Fold blankets and fluff pillows make your space look comfy and, if you have time, add finishing touches like lighting your best candle or putting out drinks and snacks.’

2. Restock the bathroom

Bethany Skorik, etiquette expert and lifestyle coach at The Charming Diplomat says, ‘Attack the bathroom. In case of an emergency visit, this room can be cluttered but it should never be considered ‘dirty’. Cleaning a bathroom is a must.

‘Clean the toilet seat and bowl, wipe the floor around the toilet and sink, and clean the bathroom sink – think about anywhere a guest will touch.

‘Then, remove dirty clothes and towels (putting fresh ones out), empty the trash, and for a quick finishing touch, close the shower curtain or door to hide spots you won’t have time to clean.’

If you have time at the end of your pre-guest blitz, light a candle or turn on your best oil diffuser to make a bathroom smell like a luxury spa ready for guests to use.

3. Use the basket trick for clutter

One trick both organizer Audra George and etiquette expert Bethany Skorik recommend is the basket trick to conceal clutter.

Audra suggests, ‘Try the basket trick. Grab a laundry basket and go around and grab anything that doesn't belong in the main spaces and place them in the basket. This can be placed in another room away from guests and dealt with later.’

Just remember to actually deal with this basket to use storage baskets properly and prevent it from collecting dust.

4. Clear some space in your entryway

First impressions matter. No matter if the guest is your closest friend or a near acquaintance, it pays to have a well-organized entryway with space for guests to hang their things, reminds Mike Fretto, creative director of Neighbour. This allows guests to come in and put things down without having to ask where the best place is and you have to run around to find them a spot.

He suggests, ‘focus[ing] on the entryway. Especially in the winter when guests will come with coats and boots, a clean entryway will create a positive first impression and keep the mess from spilling out into other areas.’

There is more than just your home to consider when preparing for guests. One thing people who love hosting always have in their homes is a relaxed, laid-back attitude. Etiquette coach Bethany Skorik says, ‘Take a few minutes to prepare yourself. This can include brushing your hair and teeth, doing a five-minute makeup routine, or simply changing into a clean outfit.

‘People will remember the feeling they had when visiting you, over the state of your home. Never draw attention to things in your home like broken fixtures, dust, etc. The reality is that most people wouldn’t notice these things on their own!’

If you're mid renovation, here's how to prep your home for festivities.

The power of a rug to transform a space is truly incomparable. From lifting colors to adding a splash of bold patterns, a rug is the simplest way to switch up a space without commitment.

When doing so, however, the last thing you want to introduce to your interiors is anything that may harbor odors, and, unfortunately, rugs are equally as absorbent as they are gorgeous. Therefore, it's important to take extra steps to freshen them up regularly.

Here, we spoke to professional cleaners and rug specialists for their cleaning tips on ensuring your rugs smell as luxurious as they look.

Vacuum regularly

Never underestimate the power of your best vacuum, says Marla Mock, President of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company.

She advises, 'Vacuuming your rug weekly not only removes loose dirt but also massages the fibers and dislodges dust or debris that may have settled deep into the rug and could be trapping odors.

'Make sure your vacuum is set to the correct setting to avoid damaging the fibers and take care not to catch or tear any fringes.'

For the best results, use one of the best vacuum cleaners for carpet, work backward as you would when mopping, and make multiple passes to thoroughly clean, recommends Mock. Our top pick is the Shark POWERDETECT, with the Dyson Ball Animal 3 available at Dyson a close runner-up.

Use an enzymatic cleaning solution

As one of the main sources of smells is stains, which can be difficult to remove even when deep-cleaning a carpet, Ali Hafezi Mashhadi, owner of Babash Rug Services in Los Angeles and WoolSafe-certified fiber care specialist, recommends using an enzymatic solution to eliminate odors.

He says, 'We use enzymes to get rid of the toughest stains from any source. The important thing is to be careful about what brand you buy, as you'll (surprisingly) want something free of fragrances.'

Mashhadi recommends the Simple Green Bio Dog Active Stain & Odor Remover available at Walmart, which he stresses is suitable for any odors, not just for pet messes or to get rid of dog odor in your house.

To use it, Mashhadi suggests applying the solution to a small corner of the rug first, to ensure it's safe for use on the fibers. Always check the specific care instructions of your specific rug before getting started, as some, particularly luxury investments, should always be professionally cleaned to avoid irreparable damage.

'Once tested, mist the areas where the scent of the rug is most potent generously,' he says. 'Be sure the solution is penetrating deep into the rug's fibers. If a particular area needs it, mist the back of the rug generously as well.'

Then, lay the rug out in a sunny spot to dry. 'Sunlight is a catalyst for enzymatic action too, making the enzymes much more effective,' adds Mashhadi, which is one of the many benefits of air-drying laundry.

Once dry, simply bring your rug back inside and check the smell in a neutral-scented room, by laying it out and observing if the smell in the room changes over the day. 'Periods of heat, hot humidity and traffic may bring out the underlying smell,' warns Mashhadi. 'Repeat the cycle if there is still a scent; multiple applications may be required.'

If you prefer not to use chemicals, or if you are dealing with an ornate, delicate rug, why not try cleaning with vinegar? To do so, simply combine equal parts vinegar with water in a spray bottle, such as the JohnBee Empty Spray Bottles available at Amazon, says cleaning expert Mock. Then, apply it to the stain, before blotting it with a microfiber cloth or paper towel.

'Taking quick action not only removes stains but also helps keep your rug smelling clean and fresh,' she adds.

Use candles and essential oils

Another great way to make your rug smell nice is to light one of your best candles suggests rug specialist Mashhadi, or use essential oils. There are the best scents for every room of your home, and experts recommend soothing aromas like sandalwood or vanilla for your living room ideas.

'Rugs, especially wool ones, capture everything in the air, from dead skin cells, pet hair, pollutants, and smoke,' says Masshadi. 'So, use this to your advantage, by placing your favorite candles and essential oil diffusers near your rug, as the rug will hold on to the scent. My favorites are the ones that smell like the lobbies of high-end hotels.'

At home, I have used and loved my MUJI Aroma Diffuser, available at Amazon, for years, as it works so well to make your home smell nice. 'Use a diffuser with a generous amount of oil next to your rug,' says Masshadi, but be careful not to leave it on for longer than two hours daily, to avoid the essential oils leaving a sticky residue.

Get your rugs professionally cleaned

Sometimes, advises Mashhadi, to clean an area rug and make it look nice, it may be necessary to have it professionally cleaned.

He says, 'Have you seen those great videos on the internet of rugs being cleaned with lots of water, soap, and industrial machinery? This is called the "subversion wash" and is by far the best method of deodorizing rugs available on the market since the odor can truly be eliminated at the source.

'The key is continuous water rinsing, which ensures all contaminants are flushed out of the rug – something that cannot be done with even the best steam cleaners.'

This is not as affordable as other methods, so use it only when absolutely necessary. For example, cleaning expert Mock recommends professionally deep-cleaning your rug every 12-18 months, or when you've snatched a beautiful bargain rug secondhand, which is a brilliant way to be sustainable at home.

If your rug doesn't smell too bad but needs a little freshening, you can steam clean the carpet to effectively lift odors from the fibers, but use caution – rugs are expensive, and the last thing you want is to ruin yours.

How to stop rugs smelling in the future

So, once you know how to make a rug smell nice, how can you stop odors from accumulating in the future?

As a designer of beautiful, luxury, handcrafted rugs, Wendy Morrison is an expert on caring for rugs so they last for years to come – making them a worthwhile investment.

'To safeguard their beauty and keep them smelling fresh, we recommend gentle care,' she says. 'Keep rugs away from direct sunlight, vacuuming them only occasionally, and use castors under the legs of furniture to help prevent dents.

'Also, rotate your rug periodically to ensure even wear, and lay a non-slip underlay underneath. Treat them with the love and respect they inspire, and they'll bring joy for generations to come.' And how much of a lovely thought is that?

FAQs

Why does my rug smell so bad?

If your rug smells particularly bad, it could be a sign of mold in your home, which will need urgent, professional treatment.

Mold is one of the main contributing factors to why a house may smell musty, and these odors can either be absorbed by your rug or may even be harbored on it, especially if it has been exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time.

If your rug is machine-washable, this laundry pearl trick for rugs and carpets ensures instant freshness.

As the holidays approach, many of us are already hard at work prepping our homes with seasonal decorations. The mantel, often left unattended during the spring and summer months, comes to life with holiday accessories in the fall and winter. However, making a mantel look stylish yet effortless is a skill.

That's why we entrust Martha Stewart with some tips on how to style a mantelpiece. In a clip posted to the Martha Moments Instagram account, the all-around domestic expert shared some of her top tricks to make a mantel look seasonally appropriate.

'The mantelpiece is probably one of the hardest things to decorate,' she says in the video. 'But as the seasons change, I like to add something from the outside onto the mantelpiece, because not only is it difficult to decorate, but it's also the most obvious place in a room. This one takes up a whole wall, has a great shelf, and it is a nice place to display unusual things.'

Shop the look

Her mantelpiece is dark and handsome, with a dark wood shelf framing the brick fireplace. It's a cozy corner, and as such, it is primed for the fall/winter season. Her first pick as a mantel decor idea? Fruit.

'These are quince, picked from the quince tree in my garden,' she says in the video, as she shows off the green fruits. 'They still have their summer fuzz, underneath the fuzz is a beautiful, smooth green skin. That same bright green skin is going to turn a wonderful golden yellow after the frost.

She continues, 'I like to mound these up. These iron urns are generally on the mantelpiece, they're nice for flower arrangements, or for fruit arrangements like that. They're sturdy and they're not going anywhere.'

Gourds also make a great seasonal accessory, with pumpkins being a popular choice.

When dealing with draping holiday decor, Stewart cautions against anything that can easily get caught when there is lots of activity in the area, as is the case of a friend of hers who accidentally knocked all her mantel decor down.

'I remember one Christmas I had a wonderful arrangement of evergreen boughs, and I had them hanging over....make sure what you put here is secure and can't be easily toppled or knocked off,' she says. 'Especially any kind of covering, make sure that it is pinned down with little push pins, or don't do it at all. You can put leaves on your shelves, but make sure they don't hang down anywhere in front of the fire. It could be a fire hazard.'

While those are things that you should never put on a mantel, there are some alternative options. Additionally, try adding some mood lighting via candles – a timeless addition to any living room.

'If you wish, you could put votive candles here and there if you're having a dinner party and illuminate what you've arranged,' Stuart states in the video. We are also partial to scented candles with seasonal scents such as cinnamon or pine. 'Tis the season, after all.

The kitchen is one of the trickier rooms to decorate for the holidays. It's a functional space that needs to remain uncluttered – especially around the cooker – which is why your island is the perfect place to focus your attention.

There are a few fun ways to decorate your kitchen, but there are some Christmas decor ideas that feel perfectly suited to your kitchen island. From garlands and countertop trees to candles and festive tableware, there's plenty to consider.

To discover the best ways to blend seasonal style and everyday functionality, we've asked designers to share their favorite kitchen island Christmas decor ideas – and they don't disappoint.

5 kitchen island Christmas decor ideas

The island is at the center of your kitchen and the social hub of your space, so why not add a few Christmas decorations to celebrate the festivities? From small nods to the holidays to more statement designs, there's a kitchen Christmas decor idea for every scheme.

1. Introduce taper candles for a festive ambiance

If your kitchen island provides the most useable countertop space, it's best to choose Christmas decor that feels festive without taking up huge amounts of space.

'If you are lucky enough to have a kitchen island, it can be a great place to carefully choose some Christmas decorations to strategically place. From Christmas signs to candles and chunky blankets placed over stools, all of these items can help to create a more cozy environment during the colder months,' says Richard Davonport, managing director at Davonport.

Taper candles in classic holders are the kitchen island Christmas decor of choice here. While they're a subtle choice, they add the flickering ambiance synonymous with Christmas and tie in with the decor in the connecting dining room.

2. Add festive ornaments

Even the smallest kitchen islands can benefit from a festive touch. Nods to the holidays don't have to be grand pieces; rather, smaller decorative objects can add plenty of joy to your kitchen island.

This butcher's block island is small, so decorating for the holidays requires smaller yet impactful pieces. A mini Christmas tree has been displayed with a ceramic light-up Christmas house decoration beside it.

Though this kitchen island Christmas decor is more modest in size, it instantly infuses seasonal style into the space. To add a sense of cohesion throughout the room, introduce similar pieces in various areas of the kitchen, like shelving or countertops.

3. Display Christmas tree branches in an oversized vase

Vases and floral displays are a favored way to decorate a kitchen island all year round, so why not update your arrangement with something more festive? Pine or spruce branches decorated with ornaments are a lovely way to introduce the holidays.

'Pick your favorite large vase or choose a new holiday favorite and put in a healthy arrangement of pine branches, just as you would flowers,' says Patricia Knight, founder and creative director at Zinnia Design Studio.

'You can add colorful festive accents like ribbons on the vase or ornaments on the branches. Get creative! Using pine is also a nice way to add a fresh, seasonal scent to your home.'

4. Create a festive tray display

If you want to bring the festivities into your kitchen in a smaller way, there are plenty of simple options. Consider a small tray filled with candles or bud vases with individual sprigs.

'An alternative is to use a smaller arrangement paired with a candle or other decorations that you like to have on display during the holidays. The kitchen is where everyone gathers, so why not add decor to your island,' says Patricia.

In this kitchen, a round marble tray has been used to create a mini display of greenery and candles. It adds a subtle dose of festivities without taking up too much of the kitchen island countertop space.

5. Hang your kitchen island Christmas decor from the ceiling

Not everyone has the space on their Christmas island to introduce Christmas decor – even in a small way. Instead, consider ways you can decorate the area without using your countertops.

Decorations hung from the ceiling are becoming a popular way to add interest to the fifth wall and a fun way to bring the holidays into your kitchen in a less-expected way.

In this kitchen, a mistletoe cutting has been hung from beams using a piece of twine. It's simple, subtle, and natural, but instantly brings the festivities into your cooking space.

There are plenty of kitchen island Christmas decor ideas to add seasonal style to your scheme. Whether you make your island the center of your decorations or add subtle holiday pieces, there's no reason your kitchen island can't be decorated as beautifully as a mantel or dining table.

When it comes to shopping for holiday gifts, choosing the perfect present for the most stylish people in your life can be a bit of a challenge. Often, they're pretty particular (and rightfully so) so finding something that both surprises and delights them is a task usually best left to the elves.

But the good news is, we know exactly what's on their list. How? Because it's on ours too. From tabletop treats to help them eat, drink, and be merry to cozy decorating gifts; there’s something here for every type of homebody on your list.

In our relentless search for the best of the best in home decor, we've curated a list of 27 must-see, unique gift ideas for a range of giftees, styles, and budgets that they will surely love. Whether you’re shopping for a minimalist or a print enthusiast, these thoughtfully chosen gifts are sure to make your loved ones feel extra special this Christmas.

H&G's Christmas Gift Guide For The Most Stylish Giftees

From big-ticket purchases for under the tree to budget-friendly stocking stuffers, our shopping-savvy editor has searched far and wide, dedicating time and energy to curating this list of merry-making gifts so you can simply sit back, scroll, and shop. Unfortunately, we can't do the wrapping for you too...

The best Christmas gifts are those that blend seamlessly into a person’s home while still bringing a smile to their everyday. With these thoughtfully chosen stylish home decor gifts, you’re bound to find something that resonates with the homebody on your list.

It's that time of year: gift-giving season has arrived, and with it, we are growing our wish lists. Gift guides are a fantastic way to get inspiration for our friends, colleagues, and loved ones (yes, this even includes the ones who seemingly already have everything). This is where Drew Barrymore comes into play.

In addition to hosting her eponymous show and designing a homeware collection of her own (otherwise known as Beautiful by Drew Barrymore), the actress has resumed her role as Etsy's chief gifting officer – and she just revealed her guide to the best homemade and one-of-a-kind gifts.

'Gift giving is one of my love languages, and that’s why I adore Etsy for the festive season – every gift tells a story and feels like it was made just for that special person,' she says. Whether you’re shopping for kids, your friends, or even your fur babies, my Etsy gift guide is all about celebrating the people (and pets!) we cherish most.'

'I know that I'm getting too excited, but I already started my holiday gift prep early this year,' Barrymore adds in a video posted to her Instagram page. 'Because I'm Etsy's chief gifting officer, this is really my moment – I've gotta shine. When I go to Etsy for gifts, I like to add a little magic to the holiday.'

Barrymore has broken her gift selections down into categories, for recipients such as the mom, the host, and the friend, making it easy to browse with a specific person in mind. There is something for every person on your list, whether they're a seasoned homeowner, hoster, or are renting their first place.

The range features tons of home accessories, from blankets and art prints to ornaments and candles. We rounded up six of our favorite picks, which you can shop below – or browse the entire collection Drew Barrymore Etsy collection for yourself. We promise it'll solve your gifting woes.

Shop Drew Barrymore's Top Gifts

Drew Barrymore's power never ceases to amaze us – she's solved our gifting troubles before they even began. Happy shopping one and all.

It's the most wonderful time of year: the highly-anticipated Oprah's Favorite Things list has dropped, and as per usual, it's full of gift ideas for the upcoming holiday season.

Naturally, our focus is on homewares, and who better than Oprah to trust with timeless accessories for our homes?

While there are countless suggestions in the list, we narrowed down some favorites that are both stylish and essential home buys. The best part? They are all under $100, making holiday shopping easy and budget-friendly. Below, shop our pick of Oprah's home favorites, including the best glassware for the kitchen, silky satin pillows for the bedroom, and statement candles for the perfect tablescape this hosting season. Whether you are an entertainer or prefer to stay cozy during the holidays, there is something for everyone in this roundup. You can view all of Oprah's Favorite Things for 2024 here – and shop our favorites below.

Oprah's 'Favorite Things' – Shop H&G's top picks

Loyal followers of Drew Barrymore will likely be aware of her Walmart homeware collection, Beautiful, which came to fruition in 2021. Since then, she has released chic appliances and playful decor, brightening many of our homes with function and style.

It's no surprise, then, that the talk show host stocks her products in her own spaces. In a clip recently shared to her Instagram page, we spotted several familiar items in Barrymore's bathroom, which takes a dopamine decor approach to its design.

The space predominantly features patterns, from the wallpaper to the best bath towels, while honing into some metallic accents and textural details. Nearly all the items are under $36.00, save for one luxury candle that we believe is well worth the investment.

The peel-and-stick wallpaper is impossible to miss, thanks to its unique, dripping floral design and blue and pink color scheme. Meanwhile, it clases delightfully against the floral print hand towels hanging on the wall adjacent to the sink.

The gold mirror in Barrymore's bathroom is reminiscent of the Beautiful mini vanity mirror, which conveniently comes with storage for jewelry, while the toothbrush holder is sleek and versatile in its fluted design.

The only non-Beautiful item is a cult-favorite scent brand; we spotted the D.S. & Durga Big Sur After Rain candle, which is a light but rejuvenating fragrance.

Shop Drew Barrymore's Bathroom

We rounded up all the products below for easy shopping, and you can shop the entire collection via Walmart now.

We can always rely on interior designer Shea McGee when it comes to creating cozy spaces in time for the festive months, and her approach to holiday decor this year has won us over.

Taking to Instagram, Studio McGee posted a video in which Shea talks through one of her favorite hosting tips for the fall and winter months, and it's all about candles.

Whether you're planning on hosting guests for Halloween or Thanksgiving, or are already preparing your Christmas decor ideas, Shea's approach to decorating with candles is certain to take your hosting game up a notch and have your guests swooning over the cozy feel.

'When you’re hosting for the holidays and you want to add that holiday feel into your space, there are a few things that I like to do that always always work,' Shea begins the video. 'And the first is to incorporate different types of candles.'

'So I love a holiday scent, I think it just sets the tone as soon as you walk into the space' the designer adds. While the appeal of scented candles is a go-to for lots of us at this time of year, it's also worth considering the actual design of the candles themselves.

For Shea, it's about incorporating different designs, which when styled in a room together reflect seasonal colors and a range of interesting shapes: 'I like to mix the shapes of my candles in the space'.

Decorate with scented jar candles

Starting the scheme with a scented jar candle, Shea opts for a dark green glass style 'with a really beautiful faceted edge and then a gold rim' which is displayed on a woven tray on an ottoman that centers the living room.

Below, you can shop some of our favorite scented jar candles, a quick and easy way to fill your home with a festive feel this holiday season.

Display tall taper candles

Taper candles can then be used to complement your jar candles, ideally adding another color to provide some contrast and create a layered look.

In Shea's case, taper candles in a red hue with 'this really beautiful twist detail' are arranged in hurricane vases on a console table, adding an instantly festive look with the winter color scheme.

Taper candles also work wonderfully displayed across festive tablescaping and you can experiment with varying heights and colors styled beside one another for added interest.

Arrange candles in hurricane vases

If you're looking for a way to add interest to your candle displays this year, hurricane vases can really elevate the look. Not only do they transform simple candles by making them appear as more of a statement, but Shea adds that they can work just as well beyond the holiday season by swapping out the colors:

'I love that the hurricanes work in the holidays and they feel like you bought them for the holidays but then you could switch out the candle and it would work all year round.'

Below, you can shop a selection of glass hurricanes, depending on whether you want to display delicate taper candles or chunky pillar candles.

Whether you're hosting festive gatherings or are simply looking to elevate your space to enjoy during the cozy evenings, these candle ideas will soon have your space feeling snug.

I absolutely love burning candles at home, but one thing I am always acutely aware of is the danger that comes with having an open flame on the go.

I've spoken to home fragrance pros who stress the importance of working sensibly with open flames, which includes avoiding burning candles for too long as candles and their containers can overheat.

Avoid this dangerous candle burning mistake, and use the easy formula of diameter vs time to learn how long to burn any candle in your home for.

How long to burn candles for

How long you should burn a candle to make your home smell nice will depend on its size. According to the National Candle Association, a candle should burn one hour for every inch in diameter of the candle size, so if a candle is two inches, it can burn safely for two hours.

No matter the size, however, you should not burn a candle for longer than four hours at a time.

Sahina Ibrahim, founder of Nuhr, a home fragrance brand inspired by beautiful scents from the East, explains, 'Think of it as a candle power nap: two to four hours is the sweet spot. This gives the wax time to melt evenly across the top, preventing that annoying tunnel effect, because no one wants a candle that only burns down the middle!

'Plus, giving it a break after four hours keeps the container from overheating. So, set a timer and let the candle work its magic – then let it rest!'

It's also important to never leave a candle unattended, and to give it plenty of space, away from drafty areas. You should also always trim the wick before use, and details of how to do so are shared in our expert-led candle care guide.

Robin Wilson, co-founder and CEO of Arctic Wicks, adds, 'To explain how candle wick length effects candle performance, think of the wick as an engine: the bigger the engine, the more fuel it consumes. If a wick is too long, it draws up too much fuel (wax and fragrance) too quickly, causing the candle to burn hotter and faster.'

Therefore, trim your wick before every use, to about 1/4 of an inch each time, to ensure a steady burn and optimize both the safety and longevity of the candle.

Wilson continues, 'Proper wick maintenance not only preserves the candle's appearance and scent quality but also contributes to a cleaner, more enjoyable burning experience.'

Using a snuffer to put out your candles after burning is also safer than blowing them out, protecting both the wax and the wick, and is recommended by S.E. Carter, a candle maker and founder of Chaos Candle Company, a deaf-owned business based in Washington D.C.

Carter suggests using the popular pick Wojeull Stainless Steel Smokeless Candle Wick Bell Snuffer available at Walmart, and I personally love this Blomus Burnt Metal Candle Snuffer available at Anthropologie.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

The slight caveat is burning your candle for the very first time so that the wax melts fully to the edges.

Amy Keller, founder of Apidae Candles, explains, 'As a rule, you should always burn a candle until it reaches the edge. Candles have a memory and remember how far it burned the first time. If the candle is extinguished before reaching the outer perimeter, it will tunnel down.'

Therefore, this is an effective way to avoid candle tuneling, which can render your candle unusable with flooded wicks and uneven wax.

How to scent your home without candles

If candle safety gives you the heebie jeebies, there are other ways to make a home smell expensive, or smell nice without candles. For example, you can get all the scent of your candle without the danger of a burning flame with a candle warmer, as recommended by Yance Cheng of Hisummer.

He says, 'For safety, our Electric Adjustable Height Candle Warmer Lamp with Timer available at Amazon is a great solution, as it uses flameless electric heating to release scents without an open flame. This not only reduces fire hazards, but is pet and child-friendly. Additionally, the built-in time functions (two, four, or eight hours) allows for worry-free usage, even in bedrooms or homes with young children.'

This candle warmer also offers adjustable brightness, and height for a tailored experience, providing a strong, safe, and even fragrance release thanks to its high-powered halogen bulb.

You may also want to try one of the best essential oil diffusers, or best reed diffusers, for home-fragrance without fire.

FAQs

How do I know when a candle is done?

It's very important to stop burning a candle when there is 1/4 inch of wax left in the jar, as when the majority of the wax has been burned, the flame will heat the container and make the bottom of the candle hot.

To make your candles last longer, always burn your candles on an even, heat-proof surface, and allow your candle to cool completely before re-lighting.

Is it safe to let a candle burn all night?

It might seem obvious, but this one of the most common fire risks in your home.

A candle should never be left to burn all night, under any circumstances, as doing so poses an extreme fire hazard. Instead, to make your bedroom smell good for sleep, use a homemade room spray, or lavender essential oils to promote good rest and relaxation.

Not sure what to do with a candle when it's burnt out? Here at Homes & Gardens we love to reuse candle jars around the house. From storing and organizing makeup brushes to plant propagation and match storage, there are a myriad of ways to give your old candle a new lease of life.

As a design writer with a focus on celebrity style, I am constantly amazed by the tablescapes and decorative pieces that celebs concoct – particularly seasonal ones. Martha Stewart is a north star, while I was recently taken by Reese Witherspoon's pumpkin bouquet. However, I recently caught sight of Meg Ryan's fall mantel display, and I have been thinking of it ever since.

A mantlescape, if you will, Ryan's marble mantel is adorned with three vases, all in different colors, sizes, and materials. The black one boasts an autumnal bouquet, mirroring the foliage that patterns the wallpaper.

The set-up has me considering the ways in which we transition table (and mantel) settings from one season to the next – because as Ryan proves, decor can be easily modifiable, and styled to suit a season.

First off, secure a solid base of table/mantle decor. We love how Ryan has chosen three different but complementary vases, all of which vary in height, shade, and material. Try mixing and matching stone, glass, and ceramic vases to create visual interest on a surface. Ryan has opted for one dark, one light, and one medium-toned vase, while the mantle surface is a cool white marble. The contrast between the solid-colored vases and the intricate veining of the marble also provides further visual intrigue.

Once you have selected your vases, consider what you will put inside them. Autumnal bouquets are typically seen in the form of orange and red dried flowers, like Ryan's, but get experimental! Try placing a mini pumpkin next to one of the vases, or even add some pinecones to bring some of the natural world inside. The fall decor ideas are endless.

We would be remiss not to mention candles. A seasonal staple for fall, depending on fragrance, you can transition scented candles in and out. For example, an amber or sandalwood candle would be excellent for fall/winter, while a clean linen scent is perfect for spring/summer.

Additionally, consider a background that is timeless and non-seasonal. Ryan's wallpaper depicts leaves, which is reminiscent of the outdoors regardless of season. The gray and white color scheme also leans into a neutral palette, which serves as a fantastic foundation for any seasonal decor to be switched in and out.

Finally, consider adding some staple items that have sentimental value to a mantle or table. Framed photographs, tchotchkes, or candlestick holders are just a few examples of items that can remain as decor 365 days of the year.

Above all, ensure there is some cohesion between the items on display and its surroundings. Earth tones and neutrals are excellent picks as year-round colors, and are sure to pair well with any background.

Actress Katie Holmes was a perennial fixture on our TV screens in the 1990s and early 2000s, so it is nice that her living room looks pleasantly stuck in a time capsule of my favorite decade – the 1990s.

In Holmes's living room, a brown leather sofa, vinyl record player, colored glass vase, and white and natural timber furniture sing out amongst the favorite minimalist pure white walls that were popular in this decade.

Yes, the '90s are back, but it has been reinvented for 2024, and the new interpretations have impressed even me. This retro living room takes us on a trip down memory lane.

Nostalgia has been creeping back into interior design trends recently and I welcome the nod to the past. Creating the perfect modern retro living room is all about uniting two worlds: the beauty of the past and the practicality of the present day. A vital step to achieving the look is realizing that vintage style is about longevity, soul, and patience to see things evolving.

Decorating with vintage elements has seen a resurgence in recent years, not only for its charming aesthetic but also as a highly sustainable way to furnish your home. An increased backlash against mass production has fuelled this trend and while people often come to vintage from an environmental standpoint, they stay for the character that antique and reclaimed furniture and accessories bring into their home.

‘You want to create the impression that a living room has evolved over time by mixing and matching fabrics, furnishings, and accessories. This gives the sense of a collection built up over time rather than being instantly created,’ says Rachel Rose, head of interior design at Susie Watson Designs. Also take into consideration the chosen colors – white walls are a great backdrop to complement the highly-saturated, vibrant colors of this decade, as seen in a few accessories.

If you do have your furniture and accessories from this decade, or any previous decades, I implore you to upcycle, recycle and reupholster. It is sustainable and like most trends, they all come back round in a cycle.

Shop the look

Claudia Schiffer's main red carpet accessory may be her adorable cat, Chip, but the Argyle star has recently tapped into the fall season with a new collection of kitchen items.

The actor and model, who has partnered with Bordallo Pinheiro in the past, has just unveiled the Gudrun collection, which focuses on beautiful fall decor in seasonal colors and shiny finishes.

Fall decor can come in many forms, and while Schiffer's collection takes a literal approach with leaf- and acorn-shaped accessories, we are believers that colors, materials and even scents can evoke the autumn spirit. Rich browns, soft velvets, and fragrances that are reminiscent of baked goods and crisp air are all essentials when it comes to fall decor; it's why so many of us can't wait to decorate for the season. Schiffer herself is a fan of this time of year.

'Autumn, with its falling leaves and acorns, holds a special place in my heart,' Schiffer states on the Bordallo Pinheiro website. 'Growing up, I cherished witnessing the transformation of the colors and leaping into piles of leaves meticulously gathered by my mother in our garden. We would then dry those leaves to create beautiful artwork. The ceramics I crafted are designed for my mid-century wooden tables and help to infuse my home with the warm hues of fall. They also find a place in my weekend countryside retreats, where they contribute cozy colors alongside a crackling fire. I take joy in how these ceramics introduce a subtle touch to the living space, pairing beautifully with green hydrangeas, an autumn classic.'

Shop H&G's fall tablescape picks

Below, we have rounded up some of our favorite fall table pieces, including the leaf plate (available on eBay) from Schiffer's new collection.

Shop H&G's Fall Decor Edit

If there's one place synonymous with relaxation – it's a spa.

With delicate scents wafting through the air to evoke a calming atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door, the mood is set instantaneously. But what if you could create this sense of serenity in your own home?

I spoke to directors of luxury spa hotels all around the world, from France to Puerto Rico, to gather up their best kept scent secrets – to help you recreate that luxury spa aroma in your own entryway and make your home smell nice.

These are the entryway fragrance secrets used by luxury spa directors worldwide

Four Seasons Hotel, Megève, French Alps

Nestled on the slopes of Mont d'Arbois, in the heart of the French Alps, is the Four Seasons Hotel Megève. Continuing the legacy of the Edmond de Rothschild family, who sought to create an unrivaled, luxury hotel experience almost a century ago, Charlotte Ginolin, spa director, explains how they harness the idea of alpine chic to create a 'cocoon,' that you can recreate at home.

'At the entrance to our spa, we have an electronic diffuser filled with our signature scent, Promenade à Megève, she says. 'This creates an enveloping, scented experience from the moment the elevator doors open and the guests enter the spa floor, creating an alpine cocoon.

'Promenade à Megève was created last year and is a locally inspired scent that matches our surroundings – think Alpine fresh with mountain aromatic plant extracts, edelweiss, white pine tree and pine sap.'

If you're lucky enough to visit the Four Seasons Hotel, Megève, this beautiful scent can be purchased in scented candles and sprays at the spa boutique, but to recreate it at home go for fresh, woody scents that invigorate your space with a luxury, alpine feel.

There are plenty of matching home fragrance finds to keep your home smelling great all winter, and through into the warmer seasons.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Andronis Hotels, Santorini & Paros, Greece

With a collection of six boutique hotels in Santorini and Paros, Andronis luxury hotels deliver world-class luxury with bespoke spa experiences.

'Recreating the tranquil, luxurious atmosphere of a high-end spa at home begins with evoking the right scents,' say the spa team at Andronis. 'Here, we've crafted Iced Freshness, a signature fragrance that encapsulates the serene and revitalizing experience of our hotels.

Their signature scent opens with zesty, uplifting notes of verbena, green leaves, and lemon, 'reminiscent of a fresh Mediterranean breeze.'

At the heart of this spa fragrance is a harmonious blend of peppermint, Litsea cubeba (a Chinese evergreen tree), and crisp green notes, to capture the essence of pure relaxation and tranquility.

'Finally, the scent gently settles into a soothing base of lemon peel, spearmint, and lavender, leaving behind a lingering sense of calm and serene elegance,' they add.

So, to use the scent secrets from Andronis in your entryway, first choose the atmosphere you want to evoke. Is it calming, vibrant or energizing? Then, simply match scent choices to what you want to recreate, which is one of the things people with nice smelling hallways always do.

The spa itself is 'inspired by rejuvenation, balance, and energy, we believe in the power of specific fragrances to evoke these states of well-being.'

To channel the essence of rejuvenation in your own entryway, the spa team at Andronis advise looking for scents that refresh and invigorate, like citrus and mint, choosing candles such as the LA JOLIE MUSE Lemon Candle available at Amazon, or the bestselling Chesapeake Bay Refresh + Rejuvenate Mediterranean Citrus Scented Candle, also available at Amazon.

For balance, opt for calming aromas like lavender and eucalyptus, to help center the body and mind.

'Finally, for a sense of energy, vibrant and uplifting notes such as lemongrass and verbena can create an atmosphere of vitality and renewal,' they say. 'By choosing scents aligned with these essences, you can transform your home into a sanctuary that reflects the luxury and tranquility of a spa experience.

Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Puerto Rico

'The moment you step into Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the air tells the story of pure luxury,' says spa director Viorica Coman. 'The signature fragrance lingers – a delicate blend of paradise, instantly transporting you to serene shores.

'Then, the fresh aroma of lemongrass and ginger Spa Botánico envelops your senses, awakening the soul and grounding you in the beauty of nature. Each breath is a reminder that here, relaxation if more than a feeling – it's a way of life.'

To bring this mantra into your entryway ideas, use lemongrass notes for a fresh and uplifting aroma. It's often used in aromatherapy and spas to promote relaxation and reduce stress.

We recommend the 96NORTH Luxury Lemongrass Candle available at Amazon, which has a premium scent without the price tag to match, and has a strong burn time of up to 40 hours. To really bring the feel of the Dorado Beach spa into your own entryway, try fragrance layering with notes of ginger.

'A sophisticated balance between these two natural elements crafts an aroma that feels both invigorating and indulgent, balancing the bright, citrus notes of lemongrass with the warm, spicy undertones of ginger,' continues Coman. 'This balance can evoke feelings of calm yet energized luxury – clearing the mind, refreshing the senses, easing tension and promoting relaxation.'

Lucknam Park Hotel & Spa, Wiltshire, UK

In Wiltshire, in the south west of England, sits Lucknam Park, a carefully restored Palladian mansion with luxury spa, set within 500 acres of glorious parkland.

'To capture that spa-like atmosphere, it's all about incorporating calming, natural fragrances that engage the senses in a subtle yet powerful way,' says Jessica Grant Sloyan, director of spa and wellness.

To do so, Grant Sloyan's secret is utilizing essential oils and diffusers, with scents such as lavender, eucalyptus, and sandalwood. 'They're classic spa scents, ideal for creating a soothing environment,' and also work well if you want your bathroom to smell like a luxury spa, too.

Or, opt for high-quality candles with notes of bergamot, jasmine, or chamomile, for a relaxing, elegant touch from the moment you walk through your door.

If you want to want to know how to make a house smell nice without candles, particularly useful if you have children or pets, Grant Sloyan says, 'a cedarwood and citrus room spray offers a fresh, spa-like refresh.' We recommend the Aesop Olous Aromatique Room Spray available at Amazon, which blends citrus, cedar and cardamom.

Once your entryway smells like a luxury spa, these are our spa bathroom ideas for an elegant and sophisticated space.

If there's one essential in winter, it's a cozy candle or festive fragrance to fill your home with scent, lifting your space and your mood.

From sweet gourmand scents to fresher, lighter fragrances, the way your home smells can have a real effect on the way you feel. Here, we spoke to fragrance and home experts to find out which Amazon home fragrance finds they recommend, so you can purchase with confidence.

These are our top picks of the best candles, diffusers and air fresheners to keep your home smelling great all winter.

5 scents to keep your home smelling great all winter

Berry

When it comes to festive, wintery scents, warm berry candles are the perfect way to make your home feel cozy and smelling great, and are a clever home scenting secret to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder.

'I am a big fan of berry scents in winter, says Larry Snider, vice president of operations at Casago, with over 20 years of experience in scenting vacation rentals. 'I find that it's a great winter scent that isn't too Christmas-centric.

'Don't get me wrong, I love the smell of pine, but once Christmas has passed, I find that I am a bit over that smell. Instead, berry scents are nice and sweet, and I don't get tired of them.'

All prices correct at time of publication.

Citrus

If you prefer a fresher scent, citrus scents are a home fragrance classic for a reason – and are particularly good if you like to make a home smell nice when sensitive to fragrance.

'I'm a real estate investor who has flipped over 30 homes,' says Harpreet Saini, CEO of We Buy Houses in Metro Detroit. 'I noticed that a nice-smelling home can make a huge difference in how long it takes to sell a house. Once, we flipped a home where simply adding fresh scents to the house make it smell 20% faster.

'It was amazing to see how a small change can make a big impact.'

I recommend the Fresh Wave Lemon Odor Eliminator Spray & Air Freshener available at Amazon, which is a non-toxic spray infused with lemon plant oils, perfect for refreshing fabrics without harsh chemicals and only $8.99.

Pine

My winter scent of choice is undoubtedly pine, and I love the Skandinavisk Skog Scented Candle, available at Amazon. It's a more unusual take on the classic scent, and smells much more fresh than overly woody, with notes of pine needles, fir cones, birch sap and lily of the valley.

It's also sustainably-farmed with non-GMO Swedish rapeseed wax with an FSC-certified beech wood lid. And, if you're wondering what to do with a candle when it's burnt out, I also love reusing the Scandinavian glass jars after use for makeup and brushes. Our dedicated-guide on how to get candle wax out of jars makes it easy to reuse candle jars around your house.

Karina Toner, operations manager at Spekless, also recommends pine scents for winter, and recommends using a diffuser such as the PRISTINE Balsam Pine Reed Diffuser available at Amazon.

She says, 'Pine fragrance brings a fresh, woodsy scent reminiscent of the outdoors during the colder months. Its subtle, long-lasting aroma adds warmth without being overpowering. Also, as reed diffusers are flame-free, they're safer than candles.'

Place the reeds in the diffuser to allow the natural, woody fragrance oils to diffuse into the air. 'Flip the reeds periodically to refresh the scent,' adds Toner.

Linen

The scent of fresh laundry and linen makes your home smell nice year round, so why not recreate it with a diffuser, suggests real-estate expert, Saini.

'The COCORRÍNA Reed Diffuser Set in Clean Linen available at Amazon is a game-changer for creating a welcoming atmosphere in living rooms and entryways,' she says. 'Its fresh, crisp aroma reminds me of freshly laundered sheets. This 6.7oz diffuser lasts for weeks, providing a consistent, pleasant fragrance that potential buyers always comment on.'

If you're considering reed diffusers vs scented candles, there are pros and cons to both a flickering candle and elegant reeds. Either can be suited to different homes and spaces, and our run-down of the best reed diffusers are all effective products to make a home smell expensive.

Firewood

Is there anything as synonymous with winter as a burning log fire? For the crackling sound and woody scent, there is nothing more cozy than curling up in front of one.

'During the winter months, it's all about creating a warm and inviting atmosphere with the right home fragrance,' says Mark Crames, CEO & chief perfumer at Demeter Fragrances, who recommends a firewood scent for this.

I love candles which recreate this smell, and recommend the Craft & Kin Smokey Fireside Candle available at Amazon, which has notes of cedar, smoke, patchouli and vetiver.

If you do have and use an actual one, make sure you know how to clean a fireplace, and how to start a fire in a fireplace to get set for winter.

FAQs

What is the longest-lasting way to scent a home?

While burning candles look beautiful and autumnal, if you want something that will really last, opt for a diffuser. Not only can these be refilled, the reeds will continue to dissipate scent throughout your home at all times, with long-lasting aroma.

You can also make a reed diffuser with essential oils, for a quick, easy and unique home-scenting trick.

When burning candles to keep your home smelling great all winter, our candle care guide details wick tips, vessel tips and how to avoid candle tunneling.