Ten ways to beautify your home... that may be right under your nose

Home décor experts know: when it comes to making your home beautiful, almost all of your senses are in play. Colors, music, light, the texture of the fabrics you choose... true beauty in your home is a multi-sensory experience. So it only makes sense to pay special attention to the scents in your home; "smell" is one of our most powerful senses. So while a musty smell can upstage the most beautiful home, a pleasant scent can turn an otherwise ordinary room into a spa-like experience. Here's ten clever and inexpensive ways you can help beautify the air in your home, from the moment you open the door!

• Brew some coffee. Whether you go regular or decaf, the smell of fresh brewed coffee can perk up a kitchen – and those in it!
• Fill a spray bottle with a few ounces of water and drops of your favorite-scented essential oil. Lavender is great for rooms in which you want to relax or rest, while citrus scents help energize.
• Speaking of citrus, a few orange, lemon, or lime peels run through the garbage disposal can help keep the leftovers in the fridge, rather than having their odors overrun your house.
• Here's a fun one: place drops of your favorite essential oil on your furnace filter. When your system kicks on, so will the pleasant scent.
• Many health experts advise opening up the windows in your home for a few minutes on a regular basis, no matter the season. This advice also helps usher out unwanted scents, and usher in fresh air.
• Indoor plants aren't just beautiful to look at, they also serve as natural air filters. Just a few potted plants can go a long way in keeping the air fresher, and cleaner.
• Three ingredients: water, lemon slices, and your favorite herbs. Simmer them all in a pot in the kitchen, or in a crockpot on low in any room in your house, and let this simple and natural blend do its olfactory magic.
• Have a favorite soap? Take a few bars out of the wrapper and put them into drawers and closets. Every time you open them, it's like an instant trip to the spa.
• Bake some cookies. There's a reason that this is an old real estate selling technique; who doesn't love the smell of fresh baked cookies? (plus, you get to indulge another one of your senses!)
• Don't let the laundry room have all the fun with dryer sheets. Using them to dust not only helps keep your house tidy, but can also leave it smelling "clean laundry" fresh.

While you may be tempted, when it comes to scents, try not to overdo it. A little goes a long way – so moderation is indeed the key.