Best Galentine's Day and Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for 2022 (Plus, Our Favorite Galentine's Day Party Ideas)

 Valentine's Day is upon us! The bridge holiday that breaks up the winter doldrums, when it's too late for Christmas decor but too early to pull out our springtime decorations - thank goodness for Valentine's Day! In the past few years, Galentine's Day has become a new trend - it's a fun, informal way to celebrate your besties this time of year. 

Best Galentine's Day Party Ideas:

If you're getting together with your friends this year around Valentine's Day, here are some of our favorite party ideas. 

Make it a pajama party - everyone can wear their prettiest pjs! There's nothing like a fun pajama party, and this is a great way to recapture the feeling of slumber parties of years past. Shop pretty pajamas here. 

Give thoughtful favors. Everyone loves a party favor - our Seda France mini pagoda candles or Pre de Provence mini heart soaps are the perfect favors for a Galentine's Day party. 

Serve tasty snacks. Charcuterie spreads and finger foods are an easy way to feed your guests. Try our Country Home Slate Cheese Board for a rustic look. 

Serve a signature cocktail or mocktail. Our Pomegranate Cosmo mixer makes it easy - just add vodka and lime to garnish (or cherries if you're feeling extra fancy). Even better? You can have club soda on the side for guests to make a mocktail, too. 

Best Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Her

We've compiled a curated Valentine's Day gift section with something for every lady on your list. 

Need inspiration?

For the decor lover: Get her a beautiful art piece or throw pillow from our Sugarboo collection. 

For the fashion lover: You can't go wrong with jewelry - we have plenty of affordable options. 

For your significant other: Our pajama section is a Valentine's Day best seller every year. 

For the spa lover: Check out our bath and body section for luxurious bath salts and scrubs. 

What Rug Is Right for You? How to Choose a Rug? | Our Ultimate Guide to Rug Types and Materials

 At Lavender Fields, we offer so many different types of rugs in a range of materials and styles: wool, cotton, indoor/outdoor, sisal/jute, and more. The biggest question we get from our customers is what type of rug is right for their unique space - what's cleanable, comfy, durable, and attractive for their home? 

We've put together this ultimate rug guide to answer all your questions. You can shop our rug collection online here, and if you'd like our help with interior design services, you can get in touch with us here. 

Wool Rugs - Durability, Comfort, and Beauty

Wool rugs are the ne plus ultra when it comes to quality, durability, and luxury in your home. They're made of natural materials, highly durable, have superior insulating properties and will last you for years and years. Their softness and beauty add that luxurious, high-end touch to your home. Wool rugs also hold dye well, allowing for rich colors. 

• If you have kids and pets and are concerned about keeping your rug clean, go with a lower-pile wool rug. 
• Wool rugs have good stain and water repellency. 
• Wool rugs may shed when they first arrive - you will need to vacuum them when they're first installed.

Where to use wool rugs: 

Wool rugs are a good option for anywhere you want a luxurious, cozy, and warm look. We like to use them in dining rooms, living rooms, and master bedrooms.

Shop the Dash and Albert Kota Indigo Rug online here

Shop the Dash and Albert Odyssey Blue Rug online here

Cotton Rugs: Casual, Lightweight, and Colorful

Cotton rugs are lightweight, easy to clean, and come in a range of fun colors and weaves. There's something for every style, from modern farmhouse stripes to bright and beachy colors to eclectic hooked styles. 

• Cotton rugs offer a lot of look at a reasonable price
• They're lightweight and casual, giving the warmth of a rug with a more lived-in feel

Where to use cotton rugs:

We love using cotton rugs in kitchens, whether under your kitchen table or a 2x3' in front of your sink. Many of our customers buy inexpensive 2x3' rugs to switch out in front of their sinks, laundry rooms, and bathrooms throughout the year! 

Cotton rugs are also a great look in a more casual beachy or farmhouse living room or bedroom, and make a fantastic runner up the stairs or down the hallway. 

Shop Dash and Albert Herringbone Dove Gray Woven Cotton Rug online

Shop Dash and Albert Olive Branch Cotton Rug online

Jute and Sisal Rugs: Natural, Durable, and Stylish

Jute and sisal rugs are wildly popular: they're stylish, durable, and work well across a range of styles. You can use them in a more traditional home to add a touch of modernity, place them in a farmhouse living room to add warmth without adding too much color, or choose a cool patterned one for an interesting statement piece. 

Jute and sisal rugs are also made of natural materials, making them an eco-friendly option. Sisal rugs are made from the agave plant, and jute rugs are made from the leaves of the Corchorus plant. Sisal rugs generally tend to be a bit coarser, whereas jute rugs are a bit softer. 

• Jute and sisal rugs are highly durable and are great in high-traffic areas
• They work well in every style of home.

Where to use jute and sisal rugs:

These rugs can be used anywhere: the answer really depends on your own personal style. Some people prefer an elegant wool rug in their formal dining room, but others might like a cool jute rug in an interesting color or pattern instead. Jute and sisal rugs tend to be a little more informal than a wool rug, but also come in many weaves, patterns, and colors - so have fun with it! 

 Buy Dash and Albert Hexile Hand Knotted Jute Rug online

Buy the Dash and Albert Jute Woven Seaglass Rug online

Indoor/Outdoor Rugs: Washable, Lightfast, and Pet-Friendly

Indoor/outdoor rugs have come a long way in the past few years. They used to be stiff and unattractive - something you'd be okay with having on the patio but never bring into your home. Today's indoor/outdoor rugs come in endless colors, textures, and styles, and you'd never know that many of them are even bleach-cleanable and virtually indestructible!

Many of our indoor/outdoor rugs are made of a material called polypropelene, which is bleach-cleanable. Indoor/outdoor rugs are also lightfast, which means you can place them in a sunny spot and the bright colors won't fade. 

P.E.T. indoor/outdoor rugs are similar to wool - they're very soft and durable underfoot. 

Where to use indoor/outdoor rugs:

These rugs can be used in many spaces besides your outdoor living areas. They're great for homes with kids or pets, where you want high style and high durability/cleanability. 

We love them in kids rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens. 

Buy Dash and Albert Bowline Fuchsia Indoor/Outdoor Rug Online

Buy Dash and Albert Zhara Stripe Ivory Indoor/Outdoor online

Buy Dash and Albert Herringbone Linen/White Indoor/Outdoor Rug online

Do You Need a Rug Pad?

Yes, you really should get a rug pad (especially if you're investing in a more expensive rug). 

• Rug pads help with slippage - this is especially essential for cotton and jute rugs
• Rug pads can help prevent the underside of the rug from scratching your floor - this is especially essential for scratchier sisal rugs
• Rug pads help your rug feel cozier underfoot
• Rug pads also protect your floor from dirt and moisture, especially in high-traffic areas. If your kiddos or pets are running through the house a lot, they'll be pounding the carpet pretty hard - and that dirt (and sometimes moisture, in the case of wet shoes or paws) can pass through the rug to the floor. The rug pad helps absorb this dirt and moisture. 

Get in touch for interior design help and rug questions

Get in touch for help selecting your rug for your home here! 

Eight Ways to Refresh Your Home for the New Year

 Once the new year begins, it's always nice to give your home a deep clean and a decor refresh (especially once you take all the holiday decorations down and it looks a little sad and empty). We like to do a few January home refreshes every year to keep our home and our clients homes bright and fresh in the new year. Some of them are easy and inexpensive to do every year, and some can be done every few years when things like rugs and towels start to get a little worn out. 

Here's our list of new year home refreshes for every home style and a range of budgets: 

Toss any old, mostly-burned candles and replace them with new ones. 

We made this mistake a few years ago - we had a few "regular" candles that were pretty much almost worn out, but we didn't want to waste them. We switched them out for our seasonal holiday candles, and in January when we pulled out the sad, almost completely burned out candle jars that we'd packed away in November... well, it was pretty depressing. Our new rule was to finish burning all the regular candles before the holiday season so we could start fresh in the new year. 

Here are some of our favorite fresh scents for January:

Roote Baltic Candle: wintery, but not Christmasy

Farm + Sea Cozy Harbor Candle: smells clean and coastal

Milk Bottle Candles: Come in 12 scents, we like "Welcome Home" or "Clothesline Linen" for the new year

Treat yourself to new towels if your old ones have seen better days. 

If your bath towels have been looking a little sad and ratty, treat yourself to new ones for the new year. Experts usually recommend replacing towels every 2-3 years, or when you start seeing the threads fraying or pulling apart. 

Pro tip: don't use fabric softener on your towels! It affects the absorbency. We all wash our towels a lot, and if you're adding fabric softener each time, it will continue to coat the fabric and make your towels less and less absorbent over time. Wash your towels separately from other linens and clothing and skip the fabric softener in the towel load to maintain their absorbency. 

The towels we sell at Lavender Fields are high quality and should last longer than less expensive brands that you find at big box stores, if well cared-for over their lifespan. 

Pine Cone Hill's Signature White Collection is a best-seller. 

On a budget? Just replace your washcloths instead. 

Even our highest-quality washcloths start at just $10 each - you can replace those and get yourself a fresh stack of new washcloths for the new year for the price of one towel!

Pine Cone Hill's Adobe collection is ultra-absorbent. 

Check the hand soaps in your bathroom - do they need a refill or a replacement? 

What's the hand soap situation in your bathrooms? A fresh new soap can brighten the mood during the cold, dreary winter months.  If you're on a budget, we like to do a fancy soap in the powder room, even if you do a more utilitarian option in the other bathrooms in your home (even our fanciest soaps are under $15, so they won't break the bank). 

We have plenty of beautiful artisanal bar soap options - don't forget the soap dish! 

This generously sized foaming hand soap will last you well into the summer. 

Add a lavender bouquet or lavender bunch to your home for a natural, fresh scent. 

We have gorgeous dried lavender bouquets that will add an organically natural, fresh lavender scent to any space in your home. They're especially fragrant in small spaces like bathrooms, mud rooms, and entryways. You can get one for just $14. 

Place it in a basket on a shelf and let it fill your room with its fragrance. 

Treat yourself to crisp new sheets or bedding.

New bedding can be as budget-conscious as you'd like - we carry a range of bedding lines for many customers and price points, including Sferra, Pine Cone Hill, Designer's Guild, Matteo, Pom Pom at Home, Taylor Linens, Traditions Linens, and Peacock Alley.

You also can start small - perhaps you'd like to start with brand new pillowcases, or you just need a new mattress topper. 

Or, you can go all out and purchase an entire new bedding set. 

Some of our customers treat themselves to a new throw blanket every January, and put last year's in a guest bedroom or the living room. 

Throw pillows are another great way to jazz up your bedroom for the new year. 

Peacock Alley's monogrammed bedding is a perennial favorite - and it'll last you years and years.

A few pretty throw pillows are totally worth it. 

You can do a major splurge on a full set of Sferra's luxurious Italian bedding, or treat yourself to a gorgeous throw blanket. 

Nothing transforms a room like a new rug. 

If you want to do a little redecorating on a larger scale, think about a new rug - we have countless rugs available in endless styles. 

If you're on a budget, try a 2x3" rug in front of your kitchen sink or washing machine. Almost all of our Dash and Albert rugs come in this size. Many of our customers buy these inexpensive rugs to switch out for the seasons! 

Pro tip: don't skip the rug pad. It prevents slipping and will save your floors and your new rug. 

Try nontoxic cleaning supplies

We've searched far and wide to find nontoxic, pet-friendly, eco-friendly, vegan cleaning supplies that actually clean well and smell nice. Our collection of natural cleaning supplies will keep your home tidy and fresh smelling while avoiding harsh and dangerous chemicals that might trigger allergies or hurt your furry friends or little ones. 

Looking for more ideas to refresh your home? Shop our entire collection online here! 

An Interior Designer's Guide to Holiday Decorating for Every Style

It's the holiday season, and there are endless ways to decorate your space. Everyone has their own preferred holiday decor style - retro vintage, farmhouse, classic red and green. As designers, we recommend picking an aesthetic that you of course like, but also one that can be worked into your existing decor. 

This can be flexible, too - a modern farmhouse home can do a classic Christmas with tartan plaid blankets as easily as it can a white Christmas full of textures. When helping clients decorate their home for the holidays or stocking our shop with holiday decor, we always focus on a few different elements. For a cohesive look throughout your home this holiday season, try to keep most of these elements the same style. Don't be afraid to mix in personal heirlooms like Grandma's ornaments or your needlepoint stockings, even if they don't "match" - it's all about the mix. 

• Wreaths: The wreath is the first things guests see when they arrive, so you want to make sure it sets the tone for your decor. Our magnolia wreaths come in a range of styles. We like  Christmas traditions for a classic Christmas and Magnolia Elegance for a more neutral look.
• Throw pillows and blankets: This is the easiest way to switch up your holiday decor. For a rustic, cabin-like holiday feel, our Camp Christmas throw pillow is the perfect find. Add a throw blanket in a winter white or a deep cranberry red, or one in a wintery tartan, to warm up. the space even more.
• Holiday wall art: Our holiday wall tarps are fun ways to temporarily add a little festive cheer to your home. You can easily switch them out for your regular artwork when the holidays are over. 
• Holiday Tabletop: This is a great way to display your holiday style. You can go classic elegance with our Natale collection or try something bold and glamorous like our Blue Pheasant Valentina placemats. 
• Candles: Candles are an inexpensive and creative way to switch up your holiday decor. We carry candle lines that have gorgeous packaging, like the Seda France holiday toile candles that double as decor. 

Winter White Holiday Decor Ideas

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: velvet stockings | sferra fiore sham | arte italica merletto collection | pine cone hill parisienne velvet in dove white set | be my guest ruffled pillow | roland pine votive candle

Classic Christmas Holiday Decor Ideas

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Twas the night before christmas wall tarp | 6" boxwood wreath |  natale table runner | North Woods Shabby Chic Vintage Style Santa by Debi Coules | seda france holiday toile candle

Rustic and Cozy Holiday Decor Ideas

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: taylor linens aberdeen collection | english holiday estate magnolia wreath | parker boudoir pillow | camp christmas pillow | cedar lakes estate cabin candle

Home Renovation: Guest Bathroom Progress

 I'm currently redoing the bathroom in my century old home, and I wanted to share a progress update with some photos. This is a total gut and remodel of the bathroom, which is long-awaited and exciting (but also a little bit scary and more than a little stressful, especially with the COVID-related product and construction delays). 

Bathroom renovations need the careful, professional eye of a designer - I would never recommend going it alone, especially one as big as this one. My project needs all new electric, plumbing, insulation, sheetrock, and a window. That's the unsexy stuff my contractor is doing, and I'm obviously selecting the finishes, hardware, tile, and the rest of the elements.

That part isn't always as fun and easy as it sounds, though. You might love a tile in the showroom, but that gorgeous pattern can become overwhelming in a smaller space, or you might need a designer's watchful eye to ensure your contractor installs it the way it was spec'd. 

A lot of clients get tripped up on the finishes, worrying about whether the faucet coordinates with the hardware, etc. This is the biggest value a designer can provide in a bathroom or kitchen project, where there's a lot of "hard" elements like plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, hardware, and tile and not many "soft" ones like furniture or fabric. The "hard" ones are very difficult for most non-designers to decide upon across all elements. 

For example, my bathtub comes in three colors - dune, biscuit, and white. Ask your husband what the difference between those three colors is - he'll probably have no idea. Your contractor will also ask you to spec things like the tub drain finish, something you probably didn't even know to think about. Most non-designers get really stressed out when facing these zillions of decisions, and it can be a costly mistake when you choose dune when you should've chosen biscuit, and now the tub looks off with your paint color.

An interior designer will ensure that your tile, grout color, flooring, plumbing, hardware, vanity color, paint color/wallpaper, lighting, mirror, shower door, etc. choices make sense in a cohesive way throughout the room. 

I'll give you a sneak peek at the in-progess photos so you can see the space before it fully comes together, and share a mood board of my final plan. 

Get in touch at Lavender Fields to design your space

The Lavender Fields 2021 Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide Roundup

 We have hundreds of gift ideas for everyone on your list, so we've put together this ultimate holiday gift guide roundup for our readers. 

For more gift ideas, head to our website to shop our curated gift shop, by recipient, by price, and more. 

Best Holiday Gift Ideas for the Hostess 

When attending a holiday gathering, you never want to show up empty-handed. For a holiday cocktail party or dinner, we like to bring a beautiful soap for the powder room, a festive candle, or something tasty like our Stonewall Kitchen jams or artisanal chocolates.

If you know that the host/hostess are into cocktails, try one of our White's Elixir cocktail mixers and coordinating bottle of liquor. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: june & december the fronds towel | seda france holiday toile candle | marine hobnail glass candle | sofia cocktail glass | white's elixirs cosmopolitan mix | seattle chocolate mexican hot chocolate bar | stonewall kitchen holiday and sour cherry jams | roland pine soap | moher Soap co. wild rose soap | spruce foaming hand soap | country home slate cheese board

Best Holiday Gift Ideas for Her

Our customers come back every year for gifts for their moms, sisters, wives, and themselves. This year they're loving everything cozy, spa-like, and pretty.

For a relaxing gift, plush robes and soft pajamas are always popular. If you want to give an at-home spa experience (or add something special to a spa gift certificate), try a sleep mask or one of our amazing Spongelle soaps (they're these beautiful flower-shaped sponges filled with fancy soap - just hang them in your shower, no need to add body wash). 

Candles, fragrance, and our curated beauty products are also popular gifts or stocking stuffers. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: violet glass jewel earrings | gal strawberry lip balm | sage eau de toilette | pine cone hill ditsy pajamas | seda france lavende candle | spongelle french lavender soap | pine cone hill sheepy fleece 2.0 juniper robe | silk lavender eye mask

Best Coastal Inspired Holiday Gift Ideas

If you're looking for a gift for someone who loves the beach, we have a fantastic coastal gifts section. This is a great place to find stocking stuffers like soaps and apothecary goods, or pretty gifts like pillows, totes, and fragrances. 

One of our favorite gift ideas are the Backyard Candles - delightful candles housed in real coconut shells. They're naturally mosquito-repellant, and are great for either sitting by the shore or pretending you are. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: taylor linens beach pillow | dash and albert stripe tote | sea garden body mist | beach at night backyard candle | beach piper ornament | pre de provence ocean air soap | sea salt soap

Best Holiday Gift Ideas for the Mixologist

This is one of our most fun curated gift guides this season! We've sourced some really fab finds for every cocktail lover on your list. 

A great gift is one of our Stonewall Kitchen or White's Elixirs cocktail mixers with the coordinating bottle of booze - tequila for the Margarita mix, vodka for the Bloody Mary mix, etc. 

Our stemless wine glasses go great with the antler bottle opener for a festive holiday hostess gift.

For a really special gift, try a handcrafted ice bucket with a special bottle of champagne. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: blue pheasant nelson bar collection | white's elixirs cocktail mixers | colette olive glassware | watercolor cocktail shaker | antler bottle opener | stonewall kitchen bloody mary and pomegranate cosmo mixer | woodland stemless wine glass set

Best Holiday Gift Ideas for Tweens 

Who said tweens are hard to shop for? Our tween girl tested-and-approved gift guide has all the bright, colorful, fun items that the young lady in your life will adore. 

For stocking stuffers, our lip balms come in a range of tasty flavors. We also have so many fun bath bombs, including ones with hidden surprises like keychains inside. Cozy flannel pajamas are another popular gift. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RIGHT: Gal Lip Balms | Orange creamsicle lip balm | pine cone hill skaters pajamas | spongelle bulgarian rose wild flower soap | hello glow face mask | geode bath bomb | pick me up puzzle | good luck bath bomb | sunshine and rainbows bath bomb

Looking for more gifts this season? Shop Lavender Fields entire collection here! Get free shipping over $50 and free gift wrap, too.