More and more people are choosing to spend more and more time at home. Today let’s discuss 17 ways to make your house feel more like a home.
No one would dispute that the world feels a bit crazy at times. So if your house is going to be the place where you spend the most time, and wish to encourage other family members to do the same, then it’s time to focus on making home feel the way you want it to.
Here are 17 ways that you can make your dwelling, whether house, apartment, or other, feel more like home.
Make it comfortable for all who live there
Whether you live alone, with pets or children, or even in a multi-generational situation, consider all who live in your space.
Even if your square footage is small, create rooms that bring people together, offer a bit of privacy, and make it feel like a haven to all. Then you can set out on creating a space full of personal style that feels like a home.
Declutter often
One of the best ways, and frankly most important for efficiency, is to declutter often. Time changes everything and over months and years, your needs change.
You will always have the space and clarity to create a home for each stage in your life if you can declutter often. If purging items scares you, start small.
If you haven’t touched something in years, perhaps it is time for someone else to use it. Decluttering will definitely make your room feel more streamlined and will allow your favorite things to take center stage.
Set it up to be easy to clean
When arranging your rooms, leave space around your heavy furniture so it is easy to vacuum and clean. Smaller items can then be shifted.
Place your collections in groupings, so when you dust, you can reach everything quickly. Even if you like a more maximalist style, there are ways to display efficiently to make your cleaning process a bit easier.
A clean house is one that you will feel comfortable in and enjoy as you create a homey feel.
Display meaningful items
When you look around your house and see things that you love, and which have meaning, it will definitely bring those homey vibes. From family photos, to cherished items from your journey through life, these things bring a sense of belonging.
Hang those pictures and wall hangings, and display your milk glass (or whatever) you have collected over time. Your unique style will shine through and make your house feel more like a home when you add those personal touches.
Bare walls never made anyone feel at home.
Use a variety of different lighting
From morning til night, lots of activities go on in your home. Which means, a variety of task lighting can create a mood and help you light your life in a way that is appropriate for the task you are engaging in.
No one wants to live their life with just one glaring light bulb overhead. Add lower light with table lamps, soft spots with mood lighting, and task lighting with floor lamps and overhead lights.
Maximize natural light
Speaking of light, assess which way your house faces and where your best natural light comes in. Create spaces in your home that allow you to take advantage of the natural light and enjoy the space the way you want to live.
Make sure there are no obstacles (trees or overgrown plants outside) that would block natural light coming into your space. Good sunlight and fresh air are always elements that can add to your enjoyment in your home.
Add architectural interest
If you’re up for some DIY or have a small budget for decorating, add architectural interest to your walls and surroundings. Especially if you have moved into a builder grade new home and are looking to make it more comfy for you and your family.
A new place is always great to have, but it tends to lack a bit of character that adds so much for that homey feeling. Add batten board, bead board, or DIY paneling that can make your new house feel like the cozy home you want.
Make sure there is comfort
It’s always great if things look pulled together and pretty, but how you make your space feel is most important. You want to enjoy comfort in all areas, especially the public living room, so make choices that will have family and friends comfortable and lingering.
Provide a comfy chair with a table nearby to set a cup of tea, or bean bags that the kids can lounge on and play games. Soft furnishings make a big difference in how people will enjoy and live in a house, so it’s important that those large pieces and small details alike, are thought out and created with comfort in mind.
Choose colors that speak to you and inspire you
I know many that have moved into a home and just lived with whatever the previous owners had chose, even if it didn’t feel like them. We all react differently to color, and when you want your home cozy and inviting for all who live there, then a fresh coat of paint might be just the thing that is needed.
Don’t be afraid of color! Paint is the easy way (and most budget friendly) to make your home feel less like a new space, and more like a home for you.
Add lots of layers
When you have a variety of items that bring comfort to you, you will feel more at home. Assess your space and choose coffee tables that allow you to put your feet up, and throw blankets to keep your lap warm.
Add fresh flowers to the dining room table occasionally, and soften up firmer chairs with decorative pillows that add coziness. Area rugs can add color.
Make sure favorite books are close by, and add a bit of personal style with the things you love. A variety of layers, including natural materials, will give your room that feeling of home.
Display your collections
When you are surrounded by things you love and collect, your house will feel more like a home. If you collect lego sets, create a space and display your masterpieces when you are finished.
Maybe you collect vintage art, or other antique collectibles, then display them and use them. If you have taken the time to curate those pieces, then they can be a great way that you show your personal style and make your space feel more homey and like you.
Accommodate your work and play
If you work from home, it will be very important for you to have a separate area to work, so when the day is over, you can leave the area behind and enjoy your home.
Even for play, carve out a bit of space where you can read, craft, assemble legos, or whatever it is you and your family enjoy. When your space is inviting and accommodating to how you live, you will feel comfortable and more at home.
Make it inviting for visitors
If you are a people person and want visitors, start your homey feel at the front door. Make sure your entry room is inviting, and there is a place for guests to hang their coat or place a purse and jacket on a chair.
Thinking ahead and providing something special goes a long way to showing friends and family that you want them there.
Handle house problems when they arise
Nothing ruins a good house like neglect. It’s hard for anything to feel homey if there are broken items, or missing elements to important features of the house. Safety issues are especially important to keep on top of.
The funny thing is, most little jobs just take a few minutes if taken care of in a timely manner. Fix that broken hinge before the whole door comes off. Even something like a broken screen can change the way you live in a space if it stops you from opening a door or window for fresh air.
Don’t forget window treatments
Not only do window treatments provide a decorating layer in making your house feel like a home, but they do much more.
They provide privacy, light filtering, and temperature control as well. This can make a huge impact on how you feel in your home.
Invest in a comfy bed
It is said that we spend one third of our life in bed. Frankly, that is probably the only place we spend the most time in one spot. Buy the best mattress you can. This can make a huge difference in your overall night’s sleep and how you perform in the rest of your life.
The entire house doesn’t need to be overly decorated, but if your private space offers comfort, a few personal items, and maybe even the occasional fresh flowers bedside, it can be the first thing that feels like home and allows you to start your day right.
Promote peace
We can talk affordable decor, or maximizing small spaces, and providing a clean home. However, if family and friends do not feel loved and safe in a home, it will never be a haven for them.
Not everyone was fortunate to grow up in easy and happy circumstances. But if you want your space to feel different, and you want to create a happy life, you will need to know how to foster peace in the home.
More important than decorating, learn how to provide a calm environment in your house. Then, and only then, will it be the best place to be, where people feel cared for and at home.
Whether therapy can help, reading self help books, or merely having a strong will to want things to feel different, having a peaceful environment in your house will be the biggest step to creating a space that feels like home.
For more inspiration, follow me on these platforms. Tell me in the comments, what is your favorite tip for making your house feel like a home? If you’d like to check out some of my home favorites, visit my Amazon shop (link below).
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Great post! The tip I need to implement is fixing problems as soon as they occur!😂 Thanks for the motivation!