Making A House Feel Like Home
What makes a house a home? Is it the neighborhood? The structure? The people in it? The feeling it gives you? We think it is all of the above. It isn’t always simple figuring out how to turn four walls into a place you feel at home. For some, budget is a major struggle. I can relate. I have this idea in my head of what the perfect home would look like, but my budget doesn’t agree.
Right now our house is practically wall to wall carpet. Not ideal for a neat freak like me. Also not ideal for someone who teaches others about what is on trend for interior design. If you are at home “tolerating” aspects of your home that you don’t like because you can’t afford to change them, just know that I am right there with you!
While we wait to win the lottery, here are some ways I have learned to make a house feel like home no matter what the budget is:
Pick 3 colors that are so “you”, and stick to that- Look around at your current space. Do the colors go well together? Does it look too busy? Does it look too boring? By picking out 3 main colors you can cure these issues and make your space look cohesive and calming (our bold and beautiful). You will be amazed at how much better your space looks when you stick to a color scheme. For my scheme, I have light cream/beige walls, gray brown leather couches, gray brown wood tones, and the color blue in my decor accessories. You can mix in different shades of each of your 3 colors, but try not to stray too far or it will begin to look disjointed.
Make what you have work better for you- Just about all of us have sentimental items and hand-me-downs. Sometimes our family heirlooms do not match our style which can cause conflicting feelings. The most important thing to remember is that you can make it work for your style. Do not be afraid to paint or stain Grandma’s furniture. For example, if your current furniture is orange stained oak, you don’t have to get rid of it. Add a dark gel stain to modernize the stain color or give it a coat of paint in one of your 3 main colors. In a small space, paint a large piece of furniture in the color of the walls. In a larger space, add dimension with a dark stain or pop of color. When you are finished you will wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.
Put up family pictures (in matching frames)- In this digital age it is easy to forget to get photos printed and framed. This is my favorite way to make a house feel like home. Even a nice picture of YOURSELF in a pretty frame will do wonders to make your space feel more like “you”. If you already have a lot of pictures framed in your home, are they in matching frames? I don’t mean exactly the same frames all throughout your house, but do they look like they go together? One way you can get this put together look is to use the frames you already have and paint them all in the same color or a variety of shades of the same color. For example, in my blue scheme I could paint all of my frames in varying shades of blue.
These 3 tips may seem small, but you will be surprised that they may take some time to accomplish and will make a huge difference. Take your time and find enjoyment in each step you take towards making your place a sanctuary. Don’t be afraid to use what you have and flex your creative muscles. Remember, we can make that!
