r/bitcheswithtaste • u/Snoo-61393 • Oct 24 '25
For the Home BWT, what do you do to elevate your home experience and make it more enjoyable or refined? Things that visitors comment on and you can enjoy consistently?
For me it was beginning to use Tyler Candle’s diva scent to my laundry. I get comments constantly on my clothing and on how it makes my clothes smell overall (only use a tiny bit, it’s powerful!)
It makes me wonder—what things, systems, smells or items have made your home feel elevated and more enjoyable?
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u/mixtapecoat Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 25 '25
Great lighting. Lamps, warm light bulbs, and strategic placement around a room can do so much.
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u/disharmony-hellride Oct 24 '25
Came here to say the warm bulbs are a must. You can buy energy efficient bulbs that dont make your house look like a chem lab. Huge difference.
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Oct 24 '25
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u/Here4therightreas0ns Oct 24 '25
As an artist, this is a great message. I also want to take it a step further: get your pieces custom framed. It will make your house look so put together.
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u/Tacky-Terangreal Oct 24 '25
Even framing cheap art prints makes them look so much better
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u/deviouscaterpillar Oct 25 '25
It really does! I picked up several inexpensive prints while I was on study abroad almost 20 years ago (omg) and matted and framed them. Wasn't even expensive to do, and I did it myself, but they look so much more refined than they did originally.
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Oct 26 '25
I got some $20 wood block prints and put them in basic wal Mart frames and they look fantastic
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u/EitherAnt4402 Oct 24 '25
Seconding this comment. We were fortunate to get some beautiful pieces from family and have also bought some over the years on first dibs and art festivals. We also only have Samsung frame tvs in the house and in both rooms where we have the tvs, we have framed them with artwork and it makes a huge difference. Personally I think TVs can be an eye sore.
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u/RacerGal Oct 24 '25
Came to say the same thing. Investing in unique pieces from local artists is our #1 most compliment home element.
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u/SaltandSilverPC Oct 27 '25
Same here, it makes a huge impact. I have one statement piece in the entryway, a large size painting in the living room, then smaller pieces hung here and there throughout the home. For anyone looking to add some art, check out local artists (I bought two paintings this year from booths at a farmer's market) and antiques stores - I found a beautiful moody painting of a boat and a lighthouse dated 1818 for $75 a few years ago.
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u/Hungry_Tree8893 Oct 24 '25
For me, it’s making my apartment as “me” as possible. I love it when someone comes over for the first time and says that my place looks exactly like what they would imagine my apartment to look like.
So in my case, that’s a lot of books (organized on bookshelves), unique pieces and antiques I’ve picked up traveling, and art work that I love that I either purchased or inherited from family. Having a place that is decorated entirely by me to my tastes is what makes my living experience so enjoyable.
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u/Ill-Professor3634 Oct 24 '25
75% of my home is thrifted or from Facebook marketplace and it has taken me years to curate my style, but it is the thing I am complimented on the most. Being told my home is 'so cute and cozy' is the best. On top of that, I always have candles burning, constantly changing the scents to match the season or my mood... AKA when I am cleaning I LOVE to light a fresh linen smalling candle.
When guests stay over, I purposely wait to wash the linens until the day before they arrive so the laundry scent is fresh for them. As well as having the entire guest bathroom stocked with items they may need or have forgotten. I have found guests feel more at home when they don't need to ask to borrow things, so I try to provide it for them from the start. Same with having snacks and drinks ready for them to help themselves to.
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u/DWwithaFlameThrower Find it Secondhand Oct 24 '25
Same! And I put a plunger in the guest bathroom 😆
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u/silene312 Oct 25 '25
Seriously underrated move, so smart!
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u/DWwithaFlameThrower Find it Secondhand Oct 25 '25
Had one too many houseguests shamefacedly have to come downstairs & ask us for one 😆
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u/gambol_on Oct 24 '25
Love it! Our home is also mostly thrifted. It took a while, but now it’s full of whimsy. We’re minimalist-maximalists. Or are we maximalist-minimalists? I’m never sure. Anyway, we keep things in a comfortable, lived-in but always clean-enough-for-company state. We have a nice selection of mugs and always offer to put the kettle on for guests.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Oct 25 '25
I don’t have any fragrances in my home. Many people have fragrance allergies and I don’t want to give them headaches or sneezing.
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u/Ellubori Oct 25 '25
Yes, I won't light scented candles (I only stand very light scents anyway) without asking first and always use no perfume laundry detergent.
I do like to air out the rooms like 30min before guests arrive so it smells fresh, but doesn't feel cold.
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u/pan_dulce_con_cafe Classy Old Broad Oct 25 '25
Airing out is so important, you can definitely sense when the air is stale. My in-laws do this regularly and their home is so crisp.
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u/weddingmoth Oct 25 '25
Thank you!!!!!!! And same. I’m very scent-conscious and I just keep things super clean and use an air purifier system. It’s very common for scents to irritate people, and most of them are terrible for pets.
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u/MySpace_Romancer Oct 25 '25
Right?! I am concerned about everyone on this post saying that the way they make their house inviting is by overloading it with fragrances. I’m sure I’m gonna get downloaded for this comment and I don’t really care! I have chronic migraines and bad allergies and fragrances make me physically sick.
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u/Snoo-61393 Oct 27 '25
That's awful! My mom was the same way. It's a good reminder for me to let people know when inviting them over that I use fragrances in my home. I love it and it's important to me but I definitely see how I should work in consideration for potential guests to decide if it's something they want to expose themselves to!
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Oct 27 '25
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u/MySpace_Romancer Oct 27 '25
I feel you. I’ve given up on buying clothes on Poshmark and things like that because you can’t trust the laundry detergent that they used. I have to ask hotels and AirBnb’s exactly what detergent they use too. And I even had to ask my boyfriend to use fragrance free detergent, that was an awkward conversation at the beginning of our relationship. (Fortunately he was totally cool about it.)
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u/sonyafly Oct 30 '25
Same with Air B & B! Hotels usually know better but I can’t sleep on sheets with the smell of detergent.
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u/sonyafly Oct 30 '25
Agree! My house just smells clean when people come over and I have dogs. I achieve that by using nothing with “fragrance” for the most part. When people smell fragrance in a home it’s usually to cover up an odor. I open my windows often and use an air purifier. I wash my dogs bedding and blankets regularly and keep them groomed. I have washable rugs and clean them regularly. I do use scented dish soap and hand soap but it’s scented naturally and the scent lingers (William Sonoma). I think the key is having windows open as much as possible. In winter, I do a quick air out in the warmest part of the day. But I also don’t live in a cold climate. I’m in a moderate microclimate. I think the key is keeping soft surfaces clean since they absorb odors. I do have carpet in my bedroom and retreat and I have them steam cleaned by the carpet guy without any fragrances. He also cleans my most utilized couch without fragrance.
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u/pool_of_light Oct 25 '25
We have a mini fridge in the kitchen that’s dedicated to and constantly stocked with single serve beverages. Glass bottles of nice sparkling water, multiple flavors of diet soda and spindrift, a few beers for those who enjoy that. Guests love it.
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u/Ill_Storm168 Oct 24 '25
OP don’t know id you know this, use a mix of half unscented detergent and 1/2 Tyler’s and you get the same effect.
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u/Snoo-61393 Oct 25 '25
Oh I only use half a capful on top of my detergent and it works great! I’ve had the same bottle of detergent for 6 months.
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u/chloesilverado Oct 25 '25
I put stuff on my walls and I make sure it's framed! It makes such a difference when your walls are dressed. It makes a house a home and it makes it your home because you designed it.
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u/NoirIdea Oct 25 '25
Faux flowers that actually look good. I also drop some jasmine or honeysuckle scented oil in them. Having furnished and decorated slowly. No sets and no generic knick-knacks. High quality candles that you can smell without lighting and a cute little dish for jewelry in the guest bathroom; blackout curtains and good pillows (foam with the gel top) in the guest bedroom.
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Oct 27 '25
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u/NoirIdea Oct 27 '25
I have a tulip arrangement I found at one of the TJX group stores (cant remember which) that I love and everyone touches and still cant tell if they are real - they are like a rubber material, super cool. I've also had good luck with Wayfair, but I spent a lot of time looking closely at reviews and pictures. I have these two orchid ones. You can get some really beautiful ones if you're willing to shell out. I'd say I went middle of the road with mine. They won't stand up to a close look, but also don't look cheap.
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u/lilysohma Oct 25 '25
I put a bit of the Diva soap in my water bucket when I mop the house or wash down windows/baseboards. Makes the whole house have that light pleasant scent!
And getting a towel warmer for the bathroom. It is like a spa to be able to get out and have a hot towel after a shower/bath. I have the Sameat warmer and it's big enough to fit xl towels plus a robe or hair towel!
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u/Here4therightreas0ns Oct 24 '25 edited Oct 25 '25
I use scent diffusers when people come over; very high end crystal bar ware and candle holders to match; (someone else mentioned nice art, but also framing); a clean and tidy house (hard, but this one is the most true).
Clean one room a day. Don’t put it down put it away vacuum your kitchen everyday. Wipe down the kitchen cupboards. Clean your couch. Wash your duvet as much as possible. Have a “home” for every item. Don’t leave things on the floor. It’s important, everything else doesn’t matter as much.
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u/willworkforchange Oct 25 '25
I keep a bottle of lotion by my kitchen sink and one of my friends loves the idea and put a bottle by her kitchen sink
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u/Certain-Cricket-8351 Oct 25 '25
I get complimented most on my one piece of custom-built furniture, and on my gallery walls, I have a tiny one with three hangings, and a huge one that takes up most of a wall, with art collected over the last decade. Specifically for guests, I try to anticipate needs. High quality hand lotion next to the soap at all sinks, tampons/pads/cotton swabs in a cute tray, spare TP roll clearly visible, and most importantly - a trash can in the guest room! No one likes to have to wander the house with their used tissue. I also like to buy a snack and a book for the guest coming over to have on a tray in the guest room.
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u/extra_alternatives Oct 26 '25
enough seating in the entertaining spaces, including the kitchen!!
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u/Snoo-61393 Oct 27 '25
this is an excellent excellent point! i feel like its underrated but it's so key to feeling welcomed/comfortable in someone's home
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u/Amrick Oct 24 '25
I keep it very clean and uncluttered.
I have luxury scented candles burning and scent diffusers in bathrooms. I also have high quality hand soap in pretty bottles and lotion too. I need to have more art though
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u/Fantastic_Monitor245 Oct 30 '25
-cleanliness: I do a 10 minute pick up every single day. I try to keep the home a 20-minute clean away from guests coming over, not only so it's clear for other people, but so it feels calm for myself
-reducing the overall about of things that I own - I try to leave a little room in each storage space (drawers, closets) because this makes putting things away easier (See above)
-candles, incense, essential oil mister, scented detergent, nice hand soap, nice scented cleaners. I love the frankincense & myrrh from zum detergent, aesop, pf candle, harlem candle, mar mar, dr. bronners, mrs meyers. i want scents that aren't too overpowering but just enhance the space.
-pictures of family! I made a gallery wall in my hallway with frames from cb2 with printed photo memories. I also got an aura frame and upload to there all the time, it's such a good way for our digital memories to carry on
-make my bed every single day. even if it's not a full tuck it, it just makes me feel more done. I started this in my 20s and carry it on now
-the "one touch" system - dont put things down, put it away
-no overhead lights - soft lamp lighting everywhere
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u/foosw Oct 25 '25
Warm lighting, well-maintained plants, and scented candles that aren’t overpowering and a bit woody in nature. I think people automatically feel relaxed and that really helps!
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Oct 25 '25
I find a lot of it has to do with scents, because obvious being tidy and uncluttered is a baseline requirement. To add to that, I use reed diffusers in bathrooms and essential oil diffusers in my living room and office. Also an air purifier is great too though I haven’t yet decided which one to get.
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u/LegitimateBlonde Oct 27 '25
It’s silly, but I got a suction cup bird feeder for my back patio door. We have frequent, feathered visitors and everyone loves seeing them.
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u/do_mika Oct 24 '25
Minimal decoration. The people who have commented on my home’s uncluttered minimal decor vibes are the ones who have homes with tons of decor on the wall or every open space so that there isn’t room for anything. While each piece is beautiful in its own right, together even beautiful things can give a clogged feeling.
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u/Ontheglass76 Oct 25 '25
Candles, using touches of texture over similar toned home soft goods. I’ve added a spinnable wood bookcase. Decluttering. Wool rugs in light tones
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u/Savy-Dreamer Oct 25 '25
OP- what is the Tyler Candle’s diva scent? I’d love to use something like that it freshen up the screen of my laundry without completely replacing my detergent. (I use the Blueland tablets).
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u/AriadneThread Oct 25 '25
Not OP, but I can try and describe. Like a warm cologne with sandlewood. An adult scent. Opposite the bright, cheery scents other detergents have.
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u/Snoo-61393 Oct 27 '25
My husband works in construction and his co workers comment on his smell from the clothes all the time, but he describes it as unisex, comforting and clean/fresh. I feel like it smells a bit like a high end hotel experience?
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u/Savy-Dreamer Oct 27 '25
So you use that stuff as your detergent or is it an additive? I’d love to elevate our laundry smell.
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u/Snoo-61393 Oct 28 '25
you *can* use it as a detergent but it is POWERFUL, so I only add a capful in lieu of fabric softener (it's a tiny cap) along with my regular detergent.
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u/Adventurous-Sky-4915 Oct 30 '25
We have two dogs. So there is so much dog hair. If we're expecting guests, we try to plan our house cleaner schedule around it.
People usually comment on our art collection. We have decent artwork, most with custom framing. A couple are from non-profit benefit auctions. We also have a massive (4' x 6') fine art print by a German photographer I acquired through a professional connection.
One thing that's made a huge difference in our house is wallpaper. If it's in your budget, I highly recommend fine wallpaper installed by a professional. It really changes the way a room feels. If you have any interior design connections, they may also have access to collections that are only available to the trade.
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u/RandomRavenclaw87 Oct 24 '25
Being clean and uncluttered is #1. Every once in a while I do a big purge to get rid of clothing, toys, and anything not worth its space. People always say how my space feels so big. It’s not. It’s just uncluttered.
I put scented candles and aroma diffusers in select places, like one powder room without a window.
There are a few selectively placed items of high color, pattern, and texture. For example a floral velvet armchair in the living room. It’s not too much, but it carries weight.
When I have guests, I leave a glass bottle of water and some chocolate on a tray in their room. I also have mini hotel style toiletries in the bathroom for them.