Want to live the high life? It’s totally possible to get yourself a little slice of luxury--without having to leave town. Don’t let a a bi-annual cruise or yearly massage be the only time you pamper yourself. It’s worth investing in something that you can engage with on a regular basis, to uplift your spirits and remind yourself that you are, in fact, living a bit of the “good life.” Remember: a happy you is a healthy you. It’s okay to occasionally splurge, especially if it’s on something that will last you a long while.
Your home
If you haven’t updated your interiors in a while, now might be a great time. What’s your favorite room in the house? Or, perhaps more importantly, what room do you spend the most time in? Decorate from ceiling to floor to make this room feel welcoming and luxurious from the moment you step in. Hire an interior designer to update your bedroom, or go online to luxury kitchen supplier dacor.com and remodel your kitchen in such a way that it won’t feel like a purely utilitarian room anymore, but rather a classy experience. Implement cushy rugs and carpet or classy tile, warm or natural lighting, antique doorframes or super-modern doors, and original works of art. When you step into your house, you will step into a resort, a spa, a cozy cottage, or even an exotic getaway.
Your clothing
Surround yourself in what feels good. It’s time to update your wardrobe. Give yourself a couple days to do a full purge of your closet, and then take yourself on a shopping spree and get a whole new set of gear. If you have a favorite kind of fabric--either because it feels good on your skin, is sturdy, or always carries color well--aim for pieces constructed primarily out of that fabric. If you want your luxurious new clothes to feel extra good, buy them at a fair-trade store: there, you can find pieces made by people from developing countries, and you can be sure they’re getting paid a fair wage. These pieces are often traditional wear as well, so you can add some flash and flare to your new wardrobe.
Your hobbies
Luxury is also what you do with your time. If you have a hobby, fully invest in it with both your money and your time. If you love knitting, buy new needles and high-end yarn, so you can make yourself or others cozy pieces (see the above section!). If you’re into yoga, outfit yourself with clothes, a new mat, a block, a strap, and a membership to your favorite studio. If you’ve always had a hankering drink martinis out on the lake, it’s time to finally buy a boat--and while we’re on the subject of martinis, how fun would it be for your new swanked-out kitchen (or living room) to have a minibar! Luxury can also be nothing more than allowing yourself an hour each week to take a long walk in the woods or along the beach, letting your mind wander and your body breathe--taking a step away from your hectic life.
Robert Alleson