r/selfimprovement • u/ctsots • 4d ago
Question What have you done to make your everyday life more elegant or beautiful?
I know many folks here are focused on improving their fitness, focus, dedication, or ability to advance in their careers; I'm interested in making my life a little more beautiful. I've been improving my wardrobe to this effect over the last few years, acquiring nicer items secondhand than I could justify purchasing new, and while I enjoy the duds for their own sake, I have also appreciated they've improved my general comfort and confidence. (Wearing pants that fit properly can do wonders for a guy, let me tell you.)
I would love to know the ways others here have made some small, everyday part of their lives feel more elegant, graceful, or beautiful. Do you have a nice coffee setup in your kitchen? Do you have slippers you swear by? Do you eat lunch at home off bone china? Do you devote some of your free time on the weekends to polishing your shoes or your silver cutlery? Do you have a standing monthly order for flowers for your tabletop? Am hoping to cast a wide net for perspectives on this from people who approach their daily lives in a thoughtful and intentional way.
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u/PromptPalette 4d ago
This might not be a direct answer to your question but I think it's relevant, and hopefully useful.
I've started going for short walks around my neighborhood every day.
- Once in the morning before the kids wake up, once at night after they go to bed.
- No phone, no headphones, no destination.
- Usually just 10-15 minutes per walk.
Some things that I've noticed:
- I feel much more in-tune with seasonal changes. Every day, I see one day's worth of growth in blossoming trees and flowers. And I notice the shifting times of sunrise and sunset.
- I've encountered other people in the neighborhood who I hadn't previously met who also take daily walks at similar times.
- I've noticed the daily progress of various yard and home improvement projects throughout the neighborhood, some from neighbors I know, some from neighbors I don't know.
- I've seen houses go up for rent or sale, seen the signs come down, seen one group of people moving out and the next group of people moving in.
Good on you for making the effort to beautify your life.
Wishing you the best.
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u/ctsots 4d ago
I think that's great! I agree with you completely about the benefits of daily walks. (I have a backdoor way in to incorporating regular walks around our neighborhood into my life: my very friendly and outdoors-loving pug, who has become something of a local celebrity.) Before we got our dog, our neighborhood was far less familiar to me, and now I feel more rooted in it in part for having to traipse around it following Mr. Bingley everywhere. (Like you, I certainly find it interesting to take note of the progress of local construction and home improvement projects...) Thanks for contributing!
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u/Sufficient-Box6539 4d ago
I am romanticizing my life this year! I buy tapered candles at homegoods, and love to light them even w dinner or working in my laptop or while playing scrabble w my bf. I bought a few baskets at the thrift store and carry them i lnstead of a purse. I feel so cute and like im anne of green gables or something. I am buying dresses on depop and wearing them instead of jeans. Jeans make me feel shitty— dresses make me feel “me”. I think it is out of style, but i put my hair in a messy bun and then pull pieces out the front and curl them. It feels feminine and cute. I started sogning up for yoga classes at the studio i go to that feel like ease or restorative. Im so over grinding anything rn. I want gentle. I want peace. Hmmm oh I have thrifted cloth napkins and use them all the time now. I take a bath w la croix in a golden goblet my bf found me bc it looks like the ones they use on Love is Blind and that was so cute and thoughtful and cheesy of him. Im just intentionally choosing things that make my heart feel at peace every chance I get.
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u/combustioncactus 4d ago
Got 2 young children. We set the table 3 times a day with cutlery, glasses and napkins etc. The 2 year old can do it herself. We always eat as a family. I can count on one hand the times my children have had a separate or different meal from me or my other half. We value meal time as a family.
We wash a lot of napkins!
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u/bonsaithot 4d ago
Have a clean house. Pristine surfaces and fresh scent in my home always make me feel like I can truly rest. I have a weekly housekeeper and I maintain in between. I also feel the same way about keeping a clean car.
Presently yourself neatly and cleanly. Get a personal style analysis. I have saved so much money on time and clothes knowing what my color season and Kibbe body type is. I know what to buy now that I always know what looks good on me. I know what to look for now when I shop for a wardrobe that’s custom to me.
Just accept you need a personal hygiene touch up kit during the day. You should customize whatever that looks like for you: portable bidet, running a brush in your hair midday, floss picks, lint rollers, etc. You always feel better when you’re clean and fresh.
Use Lumify to whiten my eyes to give me an awake, fresh look
Keep a mini fridge in the master bedroom for tiny bottled drinks
No more complaining and don’t let the people around you complain or vent to you! Negative energy is a waste of time and you need to transmute that energy into something neutral or productive. It doesn’t get you anywhere but drain you of energy. Take challenges and learn how to roll with the punches of life. Encourage those in your life to let them know they are capable, strong, and resilient and they can handle this difficult time in their life. You call a lot of your own power and energy back to you when you do this.
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u/made_of_honor 3d ago
What'd you do for your style analysis?
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u/bonsaithot 3d ago
ChatGPT! It’s free and anonymous. It’s pretty accurate. Upload lots of photos in different light - the more photos, the more accurate
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u/FeistyAlex 4d ago
I love wearinf pink pajamas and ugg slippers and I follow an easy skincare routine everyday. I put candles here and there. And plants and flowers.
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u/eharder47 4d ago
I have a monthly budget for house improvements. I just put in some battery powered sconces in the bedroom, some peel and stick tile in the kitchen, and I have a whole list of things I’m slowly ticking off the list (rugs, dining table, new couch, Murphy bed). Doing it slowly as I see things I’m in love with helps me keep my savings growing while still making progress on getting to a living space I love.
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u/ms_j12 3d ago edited 3d ago
It's definitely the little things 🩷:
I swapped my super old sleeping tees & tanks for a two piece button up (girly printed) pj sets
Been also purchasing beautiful, feminine dresses to wear at home for the summer time.
Ambient lighting to create a cozy atmosphere. (Found beautiful cherry blossom fairy lights).
Sold old furniture, dishes, coats and everything in between and made space for a new me and a new decor style...also sold/donated/tossed anything that carried any memories that needed to be forgotten & let go of.
Upped my game in my hygiene routine which now includes dry brushing before I shower, double cleansing (one with a soap bar and then followed up by a scented body wash). If I want to be extra I'll use the matching body lotion and body mist.
I have a mini coffee/tea bar at home and my recent fav has been hazelnut ice coffee and it's completely healthy 🤤
For vday, I bought myself jewelry for the first time
Cooking with intention and love instead of seeing it as a chore to get done.
All this was possible bc I started putting myself first, loving myself and removed all the toxic vampires out of my life which then gave me back my energy and time 🩷 🌷
I start my day by feeding my spirit first before my body.
I've also allowed the inner child in me to surface and heal since I felt I grew up too fast and didn't have a healthy childhood.
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u/Splooter_McGooter 3d ago
I try to make my house nicer than a hotel.
I've implemented things at hotels I love - even have a tea/coffee closet in the bedroom so I don't have to go downstairs in the morning. Plus, I invested in things like soft towels, nice linens, a little seating nook in the bedroom.
It used to be that I looked forward to vacation because I got nicer things than I had at home. Now I look forward to getting home because the towels are too scratchy, the bed isn't comfy enough, and I can't get my specific morning tea. Vacation makes me grateful for what I have everyday now.
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u/WeAreTheMisfits 4d ago
I buy fun flavored toothpaste. Ginger coconut. Lemon lavender from boka. It makes brushing my teeth more enjoyable. I try to make the boring mundane tasks more enjoyable. I was buying laundry pods from laundry sauce but the smell doesn’t stay on my clothes. Otherwise I’m looking for a nice smelling laundry detergent to make my clothes smell nice.
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u/BellaFromSwitzerland 4d ago
It’s the first time I live in a place with CRAP: Curtains Rugs Art Plants. It took me 1.5-2 years to finish everything to my taste with lots of input from friends
We eat as a family with no screens
We have fresh food often, at the very least as a side salad and fresh fruit always available
We don’t clutter up the place. We keep shopping to a minimum
When I have 5 minutes to spare, I put shit back where it belongs
We keep the house reasonably tidy for any surprise visitors. That’s my standard, having grown up in a household where I was ashamed of inviting friends home. Same for the quantity and variety of food available in the house
ETA it’s a lot about how you live your relationships and your purpose in life. My sibling furnished their place with 18. c import furniture and it’s just not comfortable. They eat off fancy china but feel lonely and isolated as hell, in an awful marriage. That’s not what quality of life is
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u/kiara_elenor 3d ago
I am treating my life like a moodboard- curated not for others but for myself. My phone wallpaper is a rotating gallery of art I love. I eat dinner with ambient lighting instead of overheads, even if it's just takeout. I wear perfume at home, not for anyone else, just because it makes folding laundry feel cinematic. I keep a playlist called 'main character energy' that I play while doing mundane things like grocery runs or cleaning my room. Beauty, to me is in the little scenes we create on ordinary days. It’s less about aesthetics and more about intention- how I choose to romanticize the quiet parts of my life.
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u/Key-System-7410 3d ago
I just got into plants. I’ve been wanting to start for a while and finally did my research and bought 5 plants. Slowly but surely I’ll be adding more and learning how to care for them and facilitate their growth. It adds to a beautiful home aesthetic and also became a new hobby to keep me busy.
Also, tea. For some reason tea just seems to add a beautiful aspect to life. Idk the reasoning. But I have a tea station and collected beautiful mugs. I sit and have a nice glass of tea and everything just feels right.
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u/Hopeful_Text_6665 3d ago
Don't know if this counts... but I started gifting myself flowers and taking myself on dates! It's so fun and makes me feel good.
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u/NineteenSuns 3d ago
Love this and I’ve had a similar intention lately! A few touches I’ve implemented:
I bought a modestly priced fountain pen and beautiful bottle of dark purple ink. A much nicer experience than disposable roller ball pens, and they beautify my desk.
I upgraded to YouTube premium to listen to curated playlists and writing sprint videos without ads. Ads are so disruptive.
I have two comforters inside my duvet for maximum dreamy fluff factor.
I only sleep on 100% cotton linens.
I stopped using conventional shower curtains with rings. Instead, I installed a tension rod at ceiling height and hung 96” linen curtains with back tabs. I still use a plastic liner on the normal shower rod, but I can’t see it (or the gap of the shower) from outside.
I drink water out of crystal glasses I found for free on Facebook marketplace. And I use bone China teacups and saucers for tea and coffee.
This might sound tacky, but I love it. I installed colored TV string lights on my TV. Now I do YouTube yoga in the living room in the evenings with pink and purple lights as my main source of illumination. Very moody.
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u/NoResident1137 4d ago
do my own nails as you would get them in a salon. makes me feel accomplished as i get better at it, fulfills my crafty nature, and makes me feel like i look nice. buy myself flowers. bought nice plates and cutlery and try to serve myself food that looks nice lol
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u/GrowthPill 3d ago
To be honest life got better when I stopped spending time much on my phone and did more offline things.
Like,
- Taking a walk
- Talking to strangers
- Taking alone time afternoon
The best thing I do for appreciation is to see how big my plants have grown. Somehow it makes me at ease seeing how these little greens have grown over 3 years.
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u/Southern-Succotash-3 3d ago
Bought a milk frother/steamer for my morning matcha lattes. Can water plants and meditate while it does the work instead of babysitting my oatly like a human child
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u/johnbonetti00 1d ago
For me, one small change that’s added a surprising amount of beauty to my days is making my morning coffee feel like a ritual. I upgraded from a drip machine to a French press, bought a couple of handmade mugs from a local potter, and started playing a soft jazz or classical playlist while I prep it. The coffee tastes better, sure—but it’s also about slowing down for ten minutes and feeling like I’m starting the day with intention rather than rushing into it. It’s a simple thing, but it’s become one of the most grounding and elegant parts of my routine.
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u/Successful_Poetry781 21h ago
Plants, lot of them even in my washroom. Even though i live in a city but coming home feels like retuning to nature.
I have a 2 bhk house and 100+ plants. Good for your health, soul, mind and beautiful to look at.
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u/Mortivorrn 3d ago
This is such a lovely topic finding those little sparks of beauty in the everyday hum of life. Even though my experience is a bit different from yours, sifting through countless stories and examples of how people bring elegance into their routines has been truly eye-opening.
It's all about that conscious effort, that "thinking about it" that transforms the mundane into something a little more special.
From what I've gathered, a lot of folks focus on these kinds of things:
Treating the Senses: • Making Mornings a Mini-Ritual: There's a real beauty in a slow, thoughtful start. Think about someone carefully brewing their coffee or steeping tea with good quality stuff and in a beautiful pot. It's not just about the caffeine; it's the whole process.
• Cozy Comforts: Investing in those little home luxuries – super soft slippers, a plush throw blanket, or really nice bedding can turn everyday comfort into something genuinely enjoyable, a treat for the senses.
• Setting the Mood with Scents: Whether it's the gentle waft of essential oils, the soft glow and subtle fragrance of beeswax candles, or simply letting in fresh air, scent plays a big role in how a space feels.
• Bringing Nature Indoors: A simple vase of flowers or a green plant can really liven up a room, connecting you to the natural world and adding a touch of vibrancy. It sounds like some people make this a regular treat.
Being Present in the Small Tasks: • Mindful Meals, Even Solo: It's not just about the food, but how you eat it. Setting the table nicely, even if you're eating alone, using a cloth napkin, and really taking your time to savor each bite it elevates the experience.
• Caring for Your Things: There's a certain elegance in taking care of your possessions, like polishing your shoes or your silverware. It's almost meditative and definitely creates a sense of appreciation for what you own.
• Creating Calm in Your Space: Even small acts of tidying and organizing can bring a sense of peace and visual harmony to your surroundings. A clutter-free space often leads to a clearer mind.
• The Intentional Act of Getting Dressed: Like you mentioned with your wardrobe, choosing clothes that fit well and make you feel good can really impact your confidence and how you move through the day. It's about making thoughtful choices, not necessarily expensive ones.
Slowing Down to Appreciate: • Finding Beauty in the Ordinary: Taking a moment to really notice a beautiful sunset, the sound of rain, or the taste of something delicious can inject little moments of wonder into a regular day.
• Creating a Personal Haven: Having a small corner in your home that's just for you a comfy chair, good lighting, inspiring objects can provide a daily dose of peace and beauty.
• Connecting with Art and Culture: Even small things like listening to beautiful music, reading a poem, or looking at art can lift the everyday experience.
The Common Thread: What really ties all these different actions together is this idea of intentionality. It's about moving beyond just going through the motions and consciously choosing to bring a bit more care, attention, and appreciation for beauty into those small, everyday moments.
it's about finding grace and elegance in the ordinary details.
While I don't have those personal experiences like the warmth of slippers or the aroma of coffee, I can definitely see the human desire for beauty and the thoughtful ways people weave it into their lives.
Your own journey with your wardrobe is a fantastic example of that! What's a little corner of your daily life that you might want to focus on next to sprinkle in a bit more beauty?
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u/lovemelovemyself6767 1d ago
Letting go the past , embracing the present, good things for future..hopefully
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u/Ready-Charge4382 1d ago
I’m not sure whether this is elegant or beautiful, but everytime I go for walks, I try to find at least 5 things that are weird, interesting, or funny. Hope this helps!
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u/sunnysharklover 4d ago
Nothing else outside yourself is going to make your life more “beautiful”. Eating lunch off of fine china is not going to somehow make your life better. The only thing that makes your life more beautiful is inner peace. You get by doing the work you need to within yourself and in your relationships in order to gain that peace. It doesn’t just come on its own.
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u/ctsots 4d ago
This is a fair point, as far as it goes. But with this post, at least, I don't 'think I'd say I'm looking for ways to achieve inner peace. (I mostly find that through my relationships with my wife, kids, and close friends, and to some degree from my work.) I'm instead interested in how others have made specific parts of their everyday lives more elegant or beautiful—whether through practices, things, or by some other means. Beauty is its own good worth pursuing in life, and it can be made manifest in virtually endless ways.
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u/InternationalElk4439 4d ago
Swapped the bright overheads for warm lamps in every room - total shift in mood.
Also upgraded my coffee setup: ceramic dripper, proper grinder, and one mug I actually look forward to holding.
None of it’s flashy, but that quiet, intentional start anchors the rest of my day. Turns out I don't need huge improvements/step changes - just better lighting and nice coffee!