When we moved into our apartment in Itaim Bibi, I had big feelings and a small budget. I wanted our home to feel calm, purposeful, and a little indulgent, even with a toddler making laps around the kitchen island.
We built our investment portfolio, paid for child care, and prioritized weekly date nights. There were no new marble floors. Tiny upgrades were.
Here's what actually worked. These are the small, recurring purchases that have made our home look more elegant without turning me into a chronic spender.
I tested them in real life: cooking every day, guests coming over, toys under the couch, and a one-year-old who loves rearranging the Tupperware drawer.
I'll tell you how I use each product, what you need to pay attention to and why the effect is greater than the price.
1. Oversized white towels that pass the hotel test
There's a reason nice hotels stick with white towels. They look clean, feel roomy and can withstand hot washes. I swapped out our thin, variegated towels for two oversized white bath sheets per adult and smaller white sets for guests. The bathroom immediately felt fresher.
I look for medium weight cotton with a tight loop so it dries quickly on our drying rack. Two bath sheets, two towels and a bath mat are enough to rotate while the others are in the laundry. If you want a low hassle upgrade, this is it.
A simple trick: fold them the same way every time and stack them according to size. Repetition reads as a command. Order reads as care. Care means quality.
2. A signature scent for your home that greets you at the door
The scent is the first impression of a room. I have a reed diffuser in our entryway and a candle that I light in the evenings after we clean up from dinner. One scent for most rooms and a second for the bathroom. That's all.
Guests always comment, even if we didn't do anything else that day.
I choose notes that make sense for our climate and rhythm. In humid São Paulo, I like something bright and green during the day and warm wood or soft citrus in the evening.
I buy refills instead of new bottles and change candles depending on the season and mood. Sandalwood when my parents visit, and something nicer when my vegan friends come over for lunch.
Practical tip: Stick to one or two scent families to make the house feel cohesive. The goal is a whisper, not a cloud.
3. A tray habit that turns clutter into a vignette
“The details are not the details. They make the design.” Charles Eames summed up the idea perfectly.
The way we group small things changes the way we read a space. I became a tray person and have never looked back. One on the coffee table with a candle, coasters and a small matchbox. One on the entry console for keys. A narrow space next to the stove for oil, salt and a small vase of eucalyptus.
A tray doesn't cost much, but it creates a limit. Suddenly there is intention. The same random objects seem curated because they are included.
If you only try one styling habit, make it this one. It works well with a toddler because I can pick everything up in one motion before bedtime stories.
I like wood in the living room, marble or ceramic in the kitchen and simple metal for the entrance area. Keep finishes consistent with what you already own.
4. Matching dispensers and decanted basics
There is a quote that I think about when I am working on our home. “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or that you do not think beautiful.” This is William Morris, and it still works today. I apply it to the simplest things: dish soap, hand soap, washing powder, olive oil.
I buy two or three simple glass or PET dispensers with a sturdy pump and fill them from a large refill bottle. The labels are clean, the fonts are small, and the colors are neutral.
On the counter it reads like a calm line instead of brand chaos. In the laundry area, I fill the powder into airtight jars and store the large bag out of sight.
This takes five minutes the first time and only seconds after that. Visual noise decreases. The feeling of order increases. It feels like someone thoughtful lives here, and that's the whole point.
5. Two layers of lighting in each room
Overhead light has its place, usually when I'm picking up toy cars or chopping onions.
The rest of the time, lamps and warm light bulbs make the apartment feel cozy and comfortable. A floor lamp in the living room, a table lamp next to the reading chair and a clamp lamp above my desk help us get through most evenings.
I also switched to the same color temperature throughout. Warm white, not too yellow and not blue. No intelligent system, just consistency. We use sockets with on/off buttons to quickly reduce glare from lamps during bedtime. It's an inexpensive way to change the entire mood in the house.
If possible, place a small dimmable lamp near where you relax at night. It turns the rhythm of the evening into a cue for your brain: cooking, cleaning, baby bathing, story time, bottle drinking, sleeping, parents relaxing.
6. Improved handles and a single premium textile
When I couldn't handle a complete kitchen renovation, I bought new cabinet knobs. Matte black with a soft curve. We did the same thing with the hall closet. For a small price the doors felt like new. If you rent, keep the originals in a box and reinstall them before moving out.
Then choose a textile on which you would like to be pampered in moderation. A wool throw for the sofa. A linen table runner for dinner at home. A heavy curtain to balance a window. Not everything has to be luxurious. A good piece is enough to set the tone.
The costs per use are shown here. We use the throw every evening when Matias and I sit together after Emilia goes down. It makes Netflix feel like a date, even when we're too tired to talk.
7. Real greenery in the rooms where you live
Plants can do more than just look pretty. They make a room feel cared for. I buy simple ones that will survive a week of family chaos: pothos, snake plant, a eucalyptus bouquet that dries well. One plant per room beats five neglected ones.
When I'm short on time, I pick up a large bouquet of the same flower from the supermarket. I prefer tulips or white chrysanthemums because they last a long time.
I have a simple glass vase and a small pair of scissors in the kitchen, so arranging it takes two minutes. Our entry feels like it's saying hello. The dinner table looks intentional, even if it's just a lunch with leftovers and a quick salad.
If you travel a lot, pick hardy plants and water them on the same day every week. Put it on your calendar like you would any other routine. Simple, repeatable, done.
How I fit these into a busy week
On weekdays we get up at seven, eat together on the kitchen island and accompany Matias to work. Then I go shopping with Emilia in her stroller and grab a little something from this list if we need it: a candle refill, a plant, a new towel for the guest bathroom.
Our nanny is coming, I'm working from home, and dinner is scheduled for early evening. While one of us bathes and tells stories, the other rearranges the common areas so the house is ready for lamplight and quiet.
These small purchases fit into this rhythm. They do not create any additional tasks. They support the lives we already lead.
When we fly to Santiago to visit family, I notice how much our surroundings influence our energy. A tidy guest room. Fresh towels. A single vase of greenery.
These are the things that make me exhale. So I brought that feeling home.
What you should skip
Trends that require care that you don't have time for. Multiples of everything you won't wait. Excessively scented products that interfere with your cooking habits. Buttons that look pretty but feel sharp. Anything that becomes a chore.
If you love something, make room for it. If not, let it be. You'll save money and your home will feel calmer.
A quick checklist to start this weekend
- Replace bath towels with two oversized white ones
- Choose a room scent and place it in the entryway
- Add a tray to your coffee table and organize what's already there
- Transfer dishwashing liquid and hand soap to appropriate pumps
- Place a warm light bulb where you spend the evenings
- Swap out a set of handles for a simple update
- Bring home a hardy plant or a bouquet of the same flower
Small movements add up when repeated. That's why I like her. They fit a life with a toddler, work, and a marriage that we actively protect with dating. They give our home a spacious feel without requiring a big budget or a complete renovation.
As William Morris noted, beauty and utility are a team. In everyday life, the team wins.
Final thought
A house can feel expensive without costing much. What you're really looking for is care, order, and some thoughtful textures to greet you at the door.
Start small and keep going.
Your home will keep pace with the life you build.