Have Limited Money To Spend On Your Living Room Upgrade? Try Just One Affordable Addition

If you're feeling like your space needs a refresh but you can't financially swing a décor overhaul right now, you may be wondering what to do. Surprisingly, there is a very inexpensive way to change the entire feel of a room, and fortunately, the possibilities are endless. Simply light a candle! Many people overlook the importance of scent when designing their home décor, but a lovely smell makes your home both comfortable and memorable. It's a surprising truth about the role smell plays in interior design. 

Scents signal different parts of our brains that are connected to learning, memories, and emotion. Certain scents may trigger happy memories with friends or bring to mind a specific place or time. Unpleasant scents stick in our memories, as well. Most of us can easily call to mind the smell of a home filled with stale cigarette smoke. We're always taking in smells, but sometimes our brains file a scent away as unimportant. That is why, years later, a certain smell will trigger a memory. We get a little hit of dopamine, serotonin, or endorphins when we smell something that is associated with happy memories, relaxes us, or excites us. Scent can be used to create a very pleasant emotional response to your home. Your choice of scent will not only lift your spirits, but it will likely leave a positive impression on your guests, as well. 

If you're looking to spruce up the living room, you may want a welcoming scent like fresh linen in spring, or a festive evergreen around the holidays. Choose scents with notes of citrus, vanilla, or jasmine to create a happy and relaxed atmosphere in your living room. Some scents easily complement certain designs, as well. Minimalist spaces pair well with simple, clean fragrances, while a bohemian theme benefits from more earthy scents. Whichever scent you choose, make your favorite candle last with these five tips.

To accommodate your limited budget, there are quite a few 3-wick candles for less than $20, but if you find a great sale, pick up a few candles and take this idea throughout your home to create an all-over ambiance. Creating complementary moods using different scents throughout your home is sometimes called "scentscaping." This works best when the scents are soft and work well with each other. For instance, a floral scent in the living room can segue to a soft jasmine in the bedroom. Be careful not to choose strong scents that compete, however. Opposing scents would be jarring as guests move through your home, but complementary scents can create a pleasant, coherent mood.