Welcome back to the third and final installment of our “designing your dream life” series and day two of Sera’s Four Days of Christmas (if you haven’t read to the end of designing your dream life, pt. 2 this has probably come as a surprise)!
For this last chapter, I’ll talk about the process of selecting the perfect interior accents and my future design goals (with lots of photos for inspo), as well as our regular feature on the best art under 50 Euros.
As a reminder, this series is behind a paywall, but if you’d like to check it out first, there’s a 7-day free trial that gets you access to my full archive. If you decide it’s not for you, for whatever reason, I’m never offended by cancellations!
But first — I want to talk about how I live purposefully in my home and create routines based off my surroundings, give a few recommendations I’ve compiled recently, and leave you with a last minute Christmas gift guide — make of it what you will!
Living purposefully
You should want to do yoga in your home. You should enjoy preparing yourself a cup of tea, sitting at your table, writing in your journal, or reading a book. You should love cleaning and taking care of your home, because you’ve chosen everything in it thoughtfully. Your home should be functional, with plenty of space — don’t cram it full of stuff! You don’t need to buy every book you want to read — so that it never feels like a chore to be in. The world gives you enough anxiety as is. There’s no reason for your home to create that feeling in you.
If your living situation is less than ideal, I am sending you a big hug and reminding you that nothing is forever — a principle that applies to good times just as much as bad (a nice reminder to be grateful for what we have)! Perhaps you have horrible roommates, or you’d like to live on your own but can’t quite afford it yet, or any other number of reasons — focus on what you can control and make your bedroom your pièce de résistance.
Get rid of things you don’t use anymore. Downsize your belongings so that your immediate surroundings are only items that give you joy and utility. Make use of a good organizational system. Make sure your clothes are neatly folded and tucked away. Get a beautiful plant you can take care of. Buy yourself a luxurious candle and light it while you write your manifestations for next year. The easiest way to feel happy and calm in your space is to live in a space (no matter how big or small) that is clean, tidy, and uniquely yours.
Recommendation lightning round
I recently joined a book club (a recommendation in and of itself) and our chosen book for December was Dolly Alderton’s new novel Good Material. It’s fiction and written from the perspective of a male (which I was initially skeptical of), but I absolutely loved it. It was funny, charming, economically written, and poignant without being cheesy.
If you’re gluten free or perhaps just looking for a less dense Christmas cookie (‘tis the season of overeating), might I suggest Ottolenghi’s Brunsli cookies. They are delicious.
I am rewatching Gossip Girl, and it is absolutely perfect for background noise. You can clean your kitchen, prepare your meals, and write emails with it just playing endlessly on loop. Fun fact, when I was 22 years old and had just moved to New York City (bright eyed and bushy tailed, one might say) I landed a job as a personal assistant to a very wealthy woman living on the Upper East Side with her husband and three kids. The building they lived in, 1136 Fifth Avenue, was the exterior shot for Blair Waldorf’s apartment on Gossip Girl.
Last minute Christmas gift guide (!)
For the skincare enthusiast: I have been using argireline and matrixyl, two Ordinary products, for six months now. I have seen many a TikTok and even a research study about their efficacy as a Botox “dupe.” I’m not sure that I can fully say they’ve made a profound difference with my forehead wrinkles, but I am going to keep using them.
For the Taurus in your life (or other lover of cozy vibes): I wanted to buy this alpaca crewneck sweater from Everlane while I was in the US and it was on sale for Black Friday. I forgot, so I did not, but I do think it makes for the perfect gift.
For someone you love: Write a poem! My mom used to ask (bordering on demand) that I write her a poem for every birthday/holiday. It was a lovely tradition (that I no longer uphold, although writing this has made me reconsider), and I would absolutely love to receive a poem from literally anyone in my life. Go forth and write!
Finding the right accent pieces
I have a huge fascination with evil eyes. They’re an integral part of Turkish culture, and I’ve loved the lore behind them for as long as I can remember. I’ve worn them as necklaces and bracelets throughout my life and frequently given them as gifts. I have them as doorstoppers. I even have an eye tattooed on my finger.
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