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Eliminate Eyesores
Amy Azzarito, author of Past & Present, replaced drab closet handles with a pair shaped like Nepalese goddesses and improved an ugly light-fixture cord by stringing it with beads.
old books

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Use Your Unused Spaces
When Abbey Hendrickson (author of You Are Awesome: 21 Crafts to Make You Happy) bought her home, she was stumped by a tiny room with a woodstove. But installing a bench and books turned it into "the library."
candle

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Delight All Your Senses
Design isn't solely visual. Consider the feel of your rug, the texture of your throw pillows, the logistics of making a room quieter. And don't forget scent—Azzarito burns a candle that smells like a campfire.
vase

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Mind the Details
Small touches can transform a space—like a vase of flowers, beautiful pens on your desk or an artful display of your jewelry (Azzarito hangs hers on the wall). A rule of thumb? "Buy only things you want around forever," says Hendrickson. "Buy only what you love."

Next: Is your house making you happy?
From the July 2013 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine