Setting the tone of your home.

I've been thinking a lot lately about how it is my job as the wife to set the tone of our home.

When we first got married I literally had no idea how to even do laundry correctly, let alone keep a whole house in order. For the first year or more our house wasn't disgusting, but it was definitely far from spic and span.

While pregnant with Gage I was on a mission to have a spotless home. You could call it a bad case of nesting, I guess. And since then, keeping our home clean has been a priority of mine. No, it's hardly ever deep cleaned- and there are probably a few cob webs and dust bunnies hanging around here and there, but it's important to me to be able to feel at rest and cozy in our home. I can't feel peaceful if there is laundry piled on the couch or toys covering the living room floor. Yes, at points throughout the day it looks like this... but when it's time for Ryan to come home I like to have it all picked up so that when he comes in he can feel at rest too.

Putting on my big girl pants and learning how to keep a house tidy is just one of many things I've discovered helps set the tone of my home.

Our house isn't big. We don't have the nicest of everything- in fact there are many changes I would make if money allowed. But instead of wanting more and not being content in my home- I want to make what we do have into something that we love and feel at home in.

One thing I'm big on is candles. I love in the evenings as it gets darker outside to light a candle and have my scentsy pot burning. I love yummy scents like cinnamon roll, pumpkin pie, and hazelnut latte for fall.

Another thing I'm big on lately is turning the TV off. Very rarely throughout the day do I even turn on the TV since having Gage. I've gotten used to peace and quiet and now the background noise of a TV when we aren't watching it drives me crazy! I feel like we can spend more quality time with one another without feeling like we constantly have to have the TV blaring in the background.

When I think of how I want my home to feel these words come to mind:
cozy, comfortable, warm, inviting.

That's one of the many jobs we as the wives/women of the home have. I have by no means mastered this, but these are just a few of things that I've been working on regarding our home.

I want my husband to look forward to coming home, and I want my children to grow up in an environment that they will look back at with fond memories. A home that they will always want to come back to when they're older. A place of peace and rest.

What ways do you set the tone in your home? I'd love any tips you have!!!