Keeping your home clean and tidy is hard work, let’s not beat around the bush, but it doesn’t have to be a horrible chore that makes you want to run and hide.

Today, I wanted to share a couple of tricks I’ve picked up along the way that have changed the way I think about cleaning – dare I say it, I actually enjoy cleaning my house! So, hopefully if you’re not feeling it, I can help to inspire you.

Because at the end of the day, no matter how stylish your home, a clean home is so much better!

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Books too pretty to shove in a shelf! Today’s post is all about inspiring ways to style your space with beautiful books. My fave way to style coffee table books, is to pile them on top of one another to create height, and then add a beautiful ornament, candle or small vase filled with flowers on top. They also look really chic in a bookshelf, coupled with matching ornaments or book ends. Via The Every Girl Photo Holly Becker Via decor8blog.com Image via  Fashionablehostess.com The home of Alex Berlin from Things That Sparkle via The Glitter Guide From the home of Erika Brechtel via smallshopstudio.com What are some of your fave ways to style coffee table books, and which are your faves? Wishlist

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I’m on a mission! A mission to add some colour and functionality to my kitchen. When hubby bought me a Le Creuset Whistling kettle, I spotted the Salt Croc (or salt pig as some call it) at the boutique store and was like, “no ways this thing will work in Durban”. As it is, my salt already clumps up in the standard plastic bottle. Then, a couple of days later, I saw it again at another store. The shop owner – who also manages his store (don’t you just love that!) told me that he had a Le Creuset Salt Croc in his kitchen. He said that it really worked and that it didn’t make the salt sticky. “Even in Durban” I asked? His response – “not at all”. So, I bought myself one. Not much to lose, since it was under R200. Now that I have used it, I am really impressed! So impressed, that I just had to share! I keep my lil’ pig on my kitchen counter, right next to the stove, and I have a “pinch of salt” an arms-length away. Best of all, the salt doesn’t get all clumpy and for some reason, it really…

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Scatter cushions are such a fun, easy and inexpensive way to change up your living space. I’ve always used dark, yet colourful cushions in my decor, but have recently been inspired to encourage some light into my dark lounge, by adding bright pops of colourful scatter cushions. My favourite style of cushions at the moment are pretty colours in soft and solid tones with graphic patterns, vertical stripes and cute, quirky sayings… Perfect green pattern cushion by Skinny LaMinx Blue love – Design Kist Linen Love from 5Rooms Eggshell blue and white strips cushion from Coricraft Quirky pillow by Jonathan Adler

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I’m such a sucker for all things pretty for the home and always get a little excited when I find unique pieces that add energy to my space. So, when I landed upon Hello Pretty, I finally found a place I could indulge my home decor desires. Best of all, being a South African website, I don’t have to worry about crazy customs and shipping charges. Hooray! Filled with such pretty things from clothing to accessories, jewellery to pretties for the home, Hello Pretty is a fabulous, nice-and-full showcase of beautiful design from various artists who have one thing in common, they all make beautiful things right here in South Africa! Supporting local love, here are some pretties that caught my eye… Indigo Blue Tea Towel by Handmade by Me Sootcookie Grenade Mug by Wolf & Maiden Creative Studio Designer Ceramic dish by Aaron Kearny Design Shweshwe Hearts Cushion Cover by Design Kinst Ceramic Ice Cream Cup by Josephine Road Birds and Leaves Lever Arch Labels by Design-a-File Marshmellow Headboard by Rodrigues Interiors

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Mason Jars are a great way to pretty up your home.  I love how they can easily be turned into cute decor and functional pieces, adding classic beauty to just about everything. Here are some lovely ideas you can do, using mason jars… Mason Jars can make great, vintage-style soap dispensers. You could make this yourself, or if you’re not much of a DIYer, then you can buy this one from Postroadvingate on Etsy! This idea is great for a summer garden party! Make your own lemonade and serve it in style through a mason jar! This idea came from Brides.com. Now, if you don’t have a fancy cutter to create your own design, just punch a hole through the lid and stick a straw in it, then put a pretty fabric ribbon on the straw to hide the punch hole! I love this idea! Using mason jars as dining table centerpieces or to store flowers around your home. Wish I could get my hands on this classic vintage style mason jar. {image source} Mason Jars make cute and personalised gifts for Christmas and house warming parties. Make your own jam or cookies and put them in a pretty mason…

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I have always loved beautiful Apothecary Jars. I don’t know what it is about them, but they are just so pretty. I never knew what to store in them until I watched an episode of Brothers & Sisters that featured Nora’s amazing kitchen and her beautiful display of Apothecary Jars by her window. Since I found a purpose for them, I had been hunting for these jars everywhere and just recently I managed to find two beautiful glass Apothecary Jars. I use one of the jars to store pasta and the smaller one store rice, and they both sit beautifully on my kitchen counter. The only problem is that I have to keep them fairly full to look pretty, but at least I’ll never run out of rice or pasta! These gorgeous jars can be used to store more than just pasta and rice. For example you could store sweets in them too – although this would not work well in my house, and they would most defintely look empty far too quickly! Not to mention, I’d need a whole new wardrobe, a size up! If you have space in your bathroom, Apothecary Jars also make great containers to store your bathroom goodies…

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I am obsessed with retro-stylish furtniture, so I was really happy to discover this great Durban based business that sells this awesome designer furniture. From awesome chairs to really cool lighting and tables, here are some of my fave pieces… Check them out www.uberhaus.co.za

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