I can’t believe August is almost over! As someone who has always loved fall, I’ve been enjoying summer more than ever this year.

Part of it is that our summer weather here often feels a little like fall to me…soft, pretty, and never too hot. But I think it’s also because the older I get, the more I understand how quickly time passes.

I don’t want to rush ahead and miss what’s right in front of me.

There really is a season for everything, and staying present in each one feels so peaceful. Every season has something to offer, and I’m learning to savor them for what they are.

Maybe that’s why puttering feels especially restorative to me lately. It’s a simple way to stay present at home…enjoying the simple pleasures of the season and small tasks I can enjoy right now, rather than saving them for some future time.

Today I thought I’d share a few little Puttering Moments around my home and some thoughts on the joy of puttering as a practice.

Puttering as a Peaceful Practice

I’ve written about puttering for years, and it’s still one of my favorite ways to care for my home.

For a long time, I’ve described puttering as something you do without a plan — and I still think that’s part of the magic of it. You just begin. You pick something up, straighten something, put something away, move a chair, clear a counter, or make one little corner feel better.

I’ve always said you and your home feel better when you putter! And it’s true.

But as I’ve been sharing more about the process of decorating and walking HomeBodies through the steps for creating a true sanctuary, something has become even clearer to me: the rhythms you practice with puttering can make an even more significant, long-term difference in how you and your room feel.

Puttering is even more effective when you have what we call our HomeBody Rhythm and Recipe guiding you.

You know where to begin, what to do next, and how to decide what goes, what stays, and what belongs with what.

Decluttering and decorating feel more effortless and intuitive (almost second nature!) as you putter when your actions are rooted in the design principles that help a room come together.

There’s much less overthinking and going in circles when you’re building on the foundation of your own style, which makes puttering even more rewarding.

The Puttering Practice is one of the restorative home rhythms we weave through every season in The HomeBody House.

If you’d enjoy this peaceful rhythm in your own home, I’d love to send gentle guidance right to your inbox each week. Join us here, and your first HomeBody Companion will arrive in your inbox next week!

Puttering and Making Little Changes

This past week I put all of the new chandelier shades (denim blue color) on our chandelier. I’m surprised how much I love the change! When we first got this chandelier I thought how fun it would be to change the shades over time or in different seasons.Even though I still really love my original shades, this soft color feels fresh and I love the little scalloped edge for a fun change in moods.

Decorating with Scallops

While “scallops” have been on trend lately, they’re really a classic detail that can endure, especially when used in the right spaces. I’ve discovered that adding a little scallop here and there in a room brings a restrained, whimsical moment that feels just right in our home. I think the key is to determine how much is enough for each room, so I just add a touch or two in a room and that’s plenty.

Of course in our Snug we have two scalloped daybeds which I think are so fun for our “beach house” and the rooms our grandkids and family will stay in! They make me happy every time I walk in (the kids, and the daybeds).

That’s really the most important thing in decorating, embrace what you love and create rooms for the people you love. Decorating doesn’t have to be too serious.

Puttering and Swapping Rugs

Now that August is coming to a close, I put away our favorite spring/summer rug and brought this more moody blue one we’ve loved for years back to dining room. Swapping rugs wasn’t really something I used to think would be very practical. But since I have partnered with rug brands from time to time as a part of my job, I discovered it’s something I actually enjoy!

2-3 times a year we seem to change out a runner or rug somewhere in the house. We keep just a few of our classic favorites rolled up in the garage so they don’t take up much room (and I’ve passed on rugs we don’t use often to my kids!).

I find that with the lighter weight rugs, moving them around and storing them is more practical, too. And it’s relatively simple to swap out a rug in a dining room, kitchen or entry (anywhere where there isn’t a lot of heavy furniture to move).

Things You Can Change on a Whim

I love to find simple things I can change in my home on a whim. Rugs, cafe curtains, chandelier shades, bedding, throw pillows, flowers in vases, blankets, dishes, there are so many things that are fun for me to rearrange and change. That’s why I say a room you love is never finished, you can keep it fresh each season with simple changes.

One thing that’s actually nice about swapping rugs in decor is that they can add pattern, color and coziness to a room in a less permanent way than wallpapering a big room, for example, plus a lightweight rug is easier to change for the season :).

Wallpaper is also on trend right now, but those of you who’ve been around for awhile will remember not too long ago when wallpaper fell out of favor as a design choice. Wallpaper can be classic, of course, but it’s funny how times and trends change. I remember removing old dingy wallpaper in our 1930s home and it was not fun. Ha!

I’m also always changing this little serving cart around. We had family in town for the past week so i brought out some plates and fall mugs. It’s such a convenient place to serve or a piece you can easily restyle for the season! I love using it to keep cloth napkins handy. For awhile Finnegan would steal the napkins to play with but thankfully he’s over that now :).

Another thing I love to do while puttering is change what’s on tables and swap out different books! I’ve enjoyed having this one open on the table. Everyone loves look at it so it’s fun to turn it to different pages.

Even though we have a smaller home and I technically “finished this room” in the renovation, there’s always things I can move around and restyle! I don’t get bored with my home and never will!

I brought this basket trunk downstairs, rearranged some plants, moved the lamp (with this shade)….puttering truly is a practice that feels like therapy in every season, it’s never a chore. The rattan tea cart came from my mom and I don’t think it will ever move from this spot, so I just change the things on and around it.

Although I should never say never, maybe it will find a different spot in my home someday.

With that said, we have limited room for furniture pieces so I think once we have furniture we love in place it’s just less likely to be moved!

This rug is usually in our bedroom (so the dogs don’t slip) but we brought it downstairs while family was in town. I discovered I love it here so I might have to get another one!

I still haven’t bought a cushion for our bench seat (I shared our DIY no sew bench cushion here). We just cover the foam with blankets, tablecloths or quilts! I love to be able to change the look, but also it’s practical to cover it with washable linens so I’m sure I’ll continue that practice even after we finally get a new cushion. Someday! I still haven’t decided the fabric I want so I’m in no hurry.

I also love to swap our cafe curtains! I just changed our kitchen window cafe curtains to these gingham ones.

It is another simple change but a new color and pattern at the window makes our kitchen feel fresh.

Now that I know how much I enjoy this seasonal change, I will probably get more permanent curtain rods for the window. I go slow with permanent change so I that I can experiment and make sure I am making the right choice. I’m currently using these tension rods and these rings.

I swapped the curtain on our island stool nook, too. The floral stripe is so fun!

If you love puttering as much as I do, or would like a little decorating guidance to make it an even more productive and restorative part of your daily or seasonal rhythm, come join us in The HomeBody House!

You’ll learn the simple steps that help bring a room and all of its elements together. With your Rhythm and Recipe you’re no longer just decorating, decluttering or rearranging at random; you’re building on the foundation of your own decorating room recipe.

It makes me happy to know that for HomeBodies puttering isn’t something we have to save for a free day or only dream about for that “someday” season when life slows down.

The Puttering Practice has become a truly restorative experience that fits easily into the pockets of time we do have, helping us create a peaceful sanctuary in every season.

Come see what we do here!

Happy Puttering!

More Posts from My Home Lately:

A Gentle Transition to the Fall Season at Home

A Cozy Plaid Blanket for Fall in our Coastal Cottage Keeping Room

Cozy Updates in the Snug, Oars on the Wall & The Fall Nesting Retreat

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