How To Make Your Home Smell Amazing + 2 Simple DIY Ideas!

In a recent post, I shared some easy but effective ways to style your home. For me, however, a home doesn’t only have to look nice, but also feel it. And one very important factor in making it feel nice is the way your home smells. You have probably heard that memories are very strongly connected to smells – which is why you feel at ease when you smell something pleasant and familiar. That basically what I am aiming for with my home. So here are my tips and tricks on how to make your home smell amazing!

#1: Avoid Odors

The first tip seems obvious at first, but believe me, there is more! To make your home smell nice, you want to make sure there are little to no smelly things around. That includes things like litter boxes, diaper pails, or trash cans. Empty them daily and actually clean them regularly (especially in the summer!). Your furry friends’ bed can also be a source of odor. So when buying one, make sure it is machine washable.

But your pet isn’t the only culprit when it comes to producing bad smells. You are, too! Regularly clean and deodorize all soft furnishings. Think bedding, sofas, blankets, pillows, carpets. The easiest way to do so of course is by sticking it into the washer. I already mentioned my amazing IKEA Ektorp sofa where you can easily take off and wash the covers. Same goes for the Ruggable rugs, all completely washable.

For anything that can’t be washed (like your mattress) you can sprinkle baking soda onto it, leave it for around 30 minutes, then vacuum it off. The baking soda kills any bacteria inside your mattress that cause bad odors. Alternatively, you could also spray vodka mixed with essential oils onto your cushions etc. The same principle applies: the alcohol kills off the bacteria, leaving your sofa smelling nice and fresh.

#2: Deep Clean Your Appliances

Another important thing to do in order to make your home smell nice is deep cleaning your (kitchen) appliances regularly. Your fridge, dishwasher or washing machine can emit rather disgusting odors! Start with the basics: check your fridge for any food that’s gone bad – not forgetting the condiments inside your fridge door! They might last for a long time, but definitely not forever. When unloading the dishwasher, make sure to rinse out the little net that catches the bigger bits of left over food etc. And finally, run both your dishwasher and washing machine on an empty cleaning cycle every once in a while.

#3: Make Your Own Air Freshener

Picking up where I left off in tip #1, making your own air freshener spray is super simple! All you need is a spray bottle, some vodka or rubbing alcohol, water and essential oils. There is no need for store bought air fresheners, which a lot of the time smell really over the top or very artificial.

To make your own air freshener, simply mix together about 200 milliliters of water, 2-3 tablespoons of vodka, and 15-20 drops of your favorite essential oil (you could also mix them together). Shake well before every use and spray onto sofas, curtains, etc., to make your home smell amazing!

#4: Use DIY Reed Diffuser For A More Subtile Smell

While you’re at it, why not make your own reed diffuser as well? Using diffusers is a great way to make your home smell amazing, especially in places than can get stinky quickly (like bathrooms etc.). Buying them however can get quite expensive, and making your own is super simple! Plus, again, you can make them smell exactly the way you want!

You will need a lot of the same ingredients as for the air freshener, except instead of water you need an unscented carrier oil (like safflower, canola, almond…). Add about 150 milliliters of oil, 25-30 drops of essential oils, and 1 tablespoon of vodka/rubbing alcohol into a cup and mix well. That’s it! Add into a small bottle of choice and pop in a few reeds. To always get the most of the scent, stir the liquid around and turn over your reeds every couple of days.

#5: Opt For Clean, Natural Scents

There are so many fun scented candles, essentials oils, diffuser liquids, etc. around! Just think of the Christmas ones, or the cinnamon apple pies. And yes, they do smell lovely. But it can get quite overpowering quickly. Instead, I would recommend opting for “clean”, natural scents. Things like citrus, herbs, lavender, eucalyptus, etc (I’ve linked some here). Neither you nor your guests are likely going to get sick of the smell very quickly. And they can be mixed together as your little heart desires – maybe try mixing lemongrass with rosemary for a fresh, herby scent!