Get Inspired: Home Is Where Your Heart Is

There’s this great feeling you get right after you sit down in your favorite spot to sip coffee, put the finishing touches on a special dinner or settle down on the couch to watch a favorite show. It’s contentment — which, according to the Oxford Dictionary, means “a state of happiness and satisfaction.” At Conn’s HomePlus, we work hard to provide the products that enable our customers to feel content in their home. So, we gathered some inspiration, ideas and tips we hope will help you fall in love with your home a little more every day.

Small Changes, Big Smiles

If everything in your home is beginning to look a little dull, and you’re not ready for a big change, often just a few new touches can brighten up your home, as well as your daily life.

1) Update Your Images

If you’ve been staring at the same artwork or big empty spaces on your walls for what seems like forever, the right artwork – whether a dreamy landscape or a whimsical print — can help put a little love in your heart.

2) Punch Up Your Pillows

Update the look of your couches, chairs, and bed with new pillows or pillow covers. Create a modern look by mixing patterns with solids and incorporating different fabrics and textures.

3) Rug Magic

A shag, faux sheepskin, or flokati rug may be just the thing you need to feel warm and happy. Try one in front of the TV, at the foot of your bed or even in the bathroom, sink your bare toes in and smile.

4) Turn Down the Lights

Consider turning off your overhead light fixtures and adding a few table lamps to your favorite rooms. The soft, warm glow can help bring on that feeling that all is well with the world, and in your home.

Create an Escape Space

Sometimes it’s hard to relax, even in your own home. When it seems like no matter where you look, something you need “to-do” is staring back at you, then you know it’s time to create an escape place. It doesn’t matter how big or small it is, it just needs to be a spot where you can clear your head. Pick a window with great light, place a comfy recliner chair in front of it, throw a cozy blanket on it, and designate it as yours. If you’re lucky enough to have something that passes as a reading nook, an ottoman, lots of pillows and a soft throw rug can turn it into your personal haven. shut your eyes, catch your breath, remember all the things you’re grateful for, and say “I love my home.”

Opportunity Knocks

People walk in your front door all the time, why not make it a memorable moment for everyone, including you, by painting your door an inviting color that says, “Welcome, come in and enjoy.” Swap your white, black or brown door for something that pops against the color of your house — navy blue, burgundy, hunter green, even sunflower yellow can work. Pick the right color, and it will put a smile on your face every time you see it.

Less Clutter, More Happiness

There’s truth to the adage, out of sight, out of mind. If looking at all the “stuff” in your house makes it hard to love your home, it’s time to invest in storage solutions. Here, a few products that can help increase your happiness by providing the storage space you need to put your mind at ease.

Bins: The laundry room or linen closet is a great spot to set up shelves where you can stash things in sturdy fabric storage bins.

<

Cubbies: You can organize just about anything with 4 or 6 shelf Cubby cabinets. You can stack them to create even more spots to put things and they fit perfectly in just about any closet.

Ottomans: We love ottomans that open to provide space to stash extra blankets, pillows, and more. Consider putting one at the foot of your bed. It’s a perfect place to store accessories like winter scarves and knit hats as well bulky sweaters.

Fill Your Kitchen with Love

Today’s modern appliances are designed with features that make not only mealtimes, but also life in general, a little easier. Here, a list of appliances that will quickly win your heart.

Ranges with Air Fry

Some of the newest ranges come with air fry mode to give you fast, easy, and healthy cooking option. From bacon and bananas to chicken wings and cauliflower, you can air fry just about anything and get delicious results. We promise you’ll instantly adore it.

Smart Refrigerators

A refrigerator that connects to the internet to find and store recipes, plays music on demand, shows you what’s inside it while you’re out shopping, and adjusts the temperature from the office. How could you not love something that does so much for you?

Voice-enabled Ovens

You’re on the phone, you can’t find your glasses, or your hands are covered in flour — it’s ok, just say, “pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees” and your oven will instantly turn on and will let you know when it reached the correct temp. Later when you’re up to your arms in dish soap and you remember it’s still on, “turn of the oven, please.” Pure bliss.

Make a Date Night

Rekindle the romance with your significant other and your home with an intimate dinner for two. Whether you cook it yourself or order in from a good restaurant, the key is to set the stage for love. The table is everything, so go all out — white tablecloth, candles, fresh flowers, and real napkins. Pull out the “good” china and make sure the forks, knifes and spoons match. When you’re done, take a step back and take a good look at your efforts, breathe a sigh of contentment.

Dessert is not optional. Date night is not about abstaining, it’s about enjoying!

Chef Savvy’s Cocolate Fudge Cakes for 2*

• Preheat Oven: To 350 degrees. Grease two 6-ounce ramekins with non-stick cooking spray, set aside.
• Melt Chocolate: Add 3 oz of bittersweet or dark chocolate (preferably from high-quality bars, not chips) and ¼ cup milk to a small saucepan and cook on low until melted. Let cool for 5 minutes.
• Combine Wet Ingredients: In a medium bowl add 3 tablespoons light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable or coconut oil, 2 tablespoons of a lightly beaten egg and ½ teaspoon of vanilla. Slowly stir in the cooled chocolate and milk mixture. Mix until combined, set aside.
• Combine Dry Ingredients: In a small bowl combine 6 tablespoons of flour, ¼ teaspoon baking powder, 1/8 teaspoon baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the chocolate mixture.
• Bake: Divide between the two ramekins and bake for 13-15 minutes. Take them out when the top is set but it is still a bit gooey and under baked inside.
• Cool: Allow 10 minutes to rest.
• Serve: With a scoop of ice cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar topped with fruit. Enjoy!

* source: https://chefsavvy.com/chocolate-fudge-cakes-for-two/#toc-1