hile our tastes may vary, we all want the same thing – to create a home that warms our heart. Our homes define us, show where we’ve been and what passions drive us. Here are my seven secrets for creating a home that’s uniquely you, yet warm and welcoming to all who enter.

1. Beautiful bed linens. Silky-soft fabrics in chic patterns give your intimate space comfort, color and style. A well-dressed bed is a joy to sleep in – and look at – and colorful linens can be swapped out to keep the room feeling fresh.

2. Big, fluffy towels. Wrap yourself in inexpensive luxury. Thick, thirsty cotton feels heavenly to your skin… and the colors looks divine stacked on a shelf. Mix them, match them, change them with the seasons.

3. All kinds of candles. Skin is luminous by candlelight. Cluster pillars, votives, tealights and tapers on trays, in mismatched candlesticks and in glass hurricanes to bathe any room in warmth.

4. Clusters of photos. A happy home is filled with happy memories. Surround yourself with framed snapshots of people you cherish and good times you’ve had as a reminder of how full and precious every day is.

5. Personality-packed accents. Colorful pillows, stacks of books and bowls overflowing with fruit or shells add a sense of abundance. It’s the details that give your home a sense of you.

6. Flowers and plants. Flowers and plants add freshness and vibrant color, boosting oxygen while perfuming the room. Fill vases, pitchers, baskets and bowls – whatever you like – with eye-pleasing arrangements. Easy-to-keep, no-maintenance focalpieces come to life in realistic-looking silk.

7. Private space. Somewhere – tucked in a corner or nestled next to a window – is a tranquil nook just for you. Sink into a big, overstuffed chair, savor a fragrant cup of tea and read, relax or just contemplate the richness of life.