October 17, 2018

Three DIY ways to fill your home with the scent of autumn

We love the climate here in southeastern North Carolina. Our proximity to water keeps the summers and winters mild but still gives us four beautiful, distinct seasons. And there’s no better way to celebrate the changing seasons outside your door than by sprucing up your home’s interior to match. As fall approaches, many folks like to create autumnal décor to adorn their tables, shelves and walls. But why limit your interior decorating to delighting your sense of sight? You can truly transform your home by appealing to the other senses, too. And since the pumpkin-spiced season of autumn is upon us, here are a few easy DIY ways to make your house smell like fall.

Candle crafts

Lighting candles instantly adds coziness and atmosphere to a room. The flickering flame exudes comfort while the melting wax fills the room with fragrance. Instead of buying manufactured candles at the store, why not make your own? It’s cheaper, and you can use natural ingredients. We love this pumpkin-spiced soy candle recipe, which is simple to follow and only requires a few supplies such as soy wax flakes and spices from your cabinet. Plus, it’s easy to double or triple the recipe, so you can pass the extra candles out to friends and neighbors!

Stovetop potpourri

If you’re hosting this month’s book club meeting or gathering your girlfriends for wine night, stovetop potpourri is the perfect way to quickly fill your home with an autumnal aroma. And, since this recipe requires apple and citrus fruit peels, it’s a great way to use the scraps left over after baking a crispy fall cobbler. All you have to do is bring a pot of water to a boil and add your fruit peels, cinnamon sticks and other spices. Then, allow it to simmer uncovered for as long as you like.

Homemade reed diffuser

We love reed diffusers because you don’t have to worry about turning them on and off, so you can place them around your house and forget about them. You can buy diffusers in most shops now, but if you have a jar or vase and a few bamboo skewers, you have almost everything you need to make your own! All you need to get are a few essential oils and a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, to dilute it. Essential oils are distilled leaves, bark, root, or other aromatic plant parts, and there are hundreds of scents to choose from. For autumn, we recommend trying clove, cinnamon bark, ginger root, fir needle, or sweet orange. Once you’ve blended your essential oils with your carrier oil, simply place the reeds or skewers into the mixture and, in a day or so, the oil will travel up the stick and fill your room with a subtle fall scent. Follow this simple guide to make your own reed diffusers.

We love celebrating southeastern N.C.’s lovely, temperate fall season by adding the perfect autumnal touches to our homes. If you haven’t experienced our climate yet but you’re interested in making a move, we’ve got plenty of floor plans to choose from in our charming community. Contact us today!