Post 9.2 -- Appeal to the Five Senses.

By Judy Rix... Note: Before you read this chapter, please read "Post 9 -- Seven Ways to Make Your Home a Heaven on Earth."

We experience the world through our five senses. Use all of them -- smell, sound, taste, sight, and touch -- to make your home a wonderful place to live. Try out a couple of these suggestions.

Smell

-- Bake some bread or cinnamon rolls. The aroma instantly creates a sense of well-being and contentment.

-- Impact your mood with scented candles, vanilla water simmering on the stove, or a crackling fire in the fireplace.

-- Install screens on your open windows to enjoy fresh air while keeping the bugs out.

-- Decorate your home with fragrant flowers and plants. Add some fresh pine boughs throughout the winter.

Sound

-- Harness the power of music to boost your mood by making playlists for your digital devices. Get the whole family involved by having them share their playlists: Upbeat and happy tunes for workouts or daily chores; inspiring music that sparks your creativity and resonates with your heart and soul; a soothing selection of background music.

-- Integrate calming sounds into your atmosphere such as a fountain's trickling water or the gentle movement of wind chimes in the breeze.

-- Hang a few feeders in the trees to bring more birds to your environment. Birds chirping first thing in the morning starts the day on a joyful note.

-- Keep a digital device handy so you can listen to audio books or scriptures while you're working.

Taste

-- Plant a small garden and enjoy fresh berries and vegetables right from your own backyard.

-- Get adventurous with your cooking and introduce new recipes for the family to enjoy. Let the kids invent their own culinary creations.

-- Plan a weekly menu and do the shopping ahead of time. Just knowing what to make for dinner and having the ingredients on hand eliminates a high level of stress.

-- Double or triple your meal preparation and freeze the extras. Voilà! You'll have meals ready for those exceptionally busy days.

-- Presentation is everything. Make your cuisine as beautiful as it is delectable. Even a cheese sandwich tastes better when served on a china plate.

-- Offer simple after - school yummies to welcome the kids home.

-- Keep the fridge well - stocked with quick healthy (or unhealthy) snacks. You'll be the most popular parent in the neighborhood!

-- Experience the delight of fresh - squeezed orange juice or homemade lemonade.

-- Serve a warm cup of hot cocoa to bring comfort and cheer on a snowy evening or a stressful situation.

-- Conjure up a charcuterie tray, popcorn, or chips 'n dips for a fun TV night.

-- Embrace the season with warm soup in winter or watermelon in summer.

-- Foster a strong sense of togetherness with the family Sunday dinner.

-- Strengthen family bonds and create lasting memories with traditional favorite specialties.

-- Keep the candy bowl overflowing! When my mother - in - law passed away, the one thing my daughter wanted was grandma's candy dish. It was a cherished symbol of the happy memories from our visits to grandma's house.

-- Include some non - cook foods in your pantry to make sure you're prepared for power outages.

Sight

-- Fill your home with meaningful treasures and family heirlooms that spark joyful memories. Showcase memorabilia from vacations and special occasions.

-- Create a "rogues gallery" wall including pictures of every family member.

-- Hang a painting of the building where you were married.

-- Display children's artwork on a bulletin board at their eye level.

-- Learn how colors evoke different moods, and infuse your environment with color. Say goodbye to millennial gray.

-- Revamp some of your outdoor landscaping to optimize the view from the windows.

-- Maximize natural light by extending curtain rods. Position the decorative draperies on the wall just next to the window rather than covering the window.

-- Swap out those harsh "daylight" LED bulbs that give your home a hospital - like feel (unless that's your preference), and upgrade to "soft white" bulbs for a warm inviting atmosphere. Soften your mood lighting by spraying some bulbs with pink or gold translucent paint.

-- Make window washing a regular habit to let even more glorious light pour in.

-- Increase your home's ambiance with table lamps. They create a comfortable inviting atmosphere alleviating the intensity of overhead lights.

-- Improve your study space with customizable directional lighting.

Touch

-- Toss a few decorative pillows and soft throws on the couch (including grandma's handmade afghans) to make it extra homey.

-- Elevate your family's comfort. Try different laundry fabric softeners to discover the perfect one. Swap out your rough bath towels for luxurious, fluffy ones. Even if it means spending a little extra, opt for softer brands of toilet paper instead of the cheaper raspy ones. Experience the luxury of bamboo or brushed micro-linen fiber sheets and pillowcases.

-- Keep a bottle of your favorite hand lotion at every sink, especially during the dry months of winter.

-- Cozying up with a fluffy down pillow against your cheek is a great way to fall asleep.

-- Eliminate the thorny plants in your yard.

-- Stash a small pillow and blanket in the back seat of your car.

Engage Your Five Senses.

Engage your five senses in positive ways to bring joy to your life. Your family will always remember the sights, smells, touch, tastes, and sounds of their heavenly home.

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Go to the Source -- What Do the Scriptures and Respected Teachers Say?

“This house shall be a healthful habitation if it be built unto my name, and if the governor which shall be appointed unto it shall not suffer any pollution to come upon it. It shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.” (D&C 124:24)

“…He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody.” (BOM 2 Nephi 8:3)

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God." (D&C 88:119)  

"And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places." (Bible. Isaiah 32:18)

"Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." (Bible. Proverbs 24:3-4)

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