How To Turn Your House Into A Home
When we move, we focus our energy on settling in - arranging furniture, unpacking personal items and storing things we use daily where they need to go.
I find though, that sometimes people never feel completely unpacked, settled and “at home”. Or they’ve been in their home for many years but they’ve collected so much stuff over the years or their lifestyle has changed so much that they don’t feel “settled” any longer. Or sometimes, they’ve become too concerned with designing their home to look like a magazine spread and forget to add meaningful and comfortable things that feel like them.
Especially during busy and stressful times, feeling settled at home is extremely important. Our environment has a huge impact on our emotional and mental health - either promoting happiness, or, on the other end, anxiety and despair. Clutter, unfinished projects and impersonal spaces can lead to uneasiness and frustration, which builds up and leaves you feeling lifeless. BUT…bright, warm, simple and meaningful spaces will help you feel energized and relaxed.
Here’s the thing…
Everyone around the world decorates their home in vastly different ways. Some love very minimal, clean spaces with a few pieces of carefully curated artwork. Others like tons of pillows and throws and rugs to sink into. Whatever your style, just remember that living with only what’s essential for a meaningful and joyful life, and setting up your home to make living simple is the key. Interior design trends that require you to buy expensive furniture and arrange your bookshelves by colour aren’t what make your house a home.
I’d like to share 7 key things that, no matter what style you gravitate to, will help you settle in and love your home.
7 WAYS TO SETTLE IN AND TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A HOME
1. Have a home for everything.
Every single item in your house should have a dedicated home. That way things aren’t dumped in a spare room or piled on a counter forever. Make sure you use drawer dividers, small boxes and lots of baskets and bins to make homes for all the little things you love and use. If you can’t find a home for it - consider that you probably don’t need it.
2. Make more space.
A home that feels comfortable and that flows well is one that’s not too cluttered up with stuff on the floor and surfaces. So make sure to take time to either rearrange or remove items that are not serving a needed purpose or that you absolutely love. There should be empty space on the floors and along the walls, and counters should have clear space to work on. Tables and the tops of benches and surfaces like dressers or consoles should also not be filled to the brim. Visual space makes for a calmer and more “finished” environment. To get started on decluttering, check out these tips.
3. Add rugs.
Rugs are an investment worth their weight in gold. They make a home feel more lived-in and relaxed and less like a cavernous empty space. Consider adding a large rug to your living room and/or family room, as well as your bedrooms. You might also want to add a runner to a hallway or kitchen.
4. Add lighting.
A variety of lighting also makes a house feel more warm and homey. Add pendants over an island or sink. Add a floor lamp by a reading chair. Sconces on either side of the bed look beautiful and are very functional. And, table and desk lamps add accent light that can instantly warm a space. Check out this post on how to get lighting right.
5. Bring out meaningful items.
Don’t keep things you love or memories you cherish in storage boxes - bring them out and put them on display. Use one or two of your favourite pieces of your grandmother’s china on an open shelf and donate the rest. Buy frames in the same colour, copy photos in black and white and create a gallery wall of your loved ones. Or feature a collection of travel mementos on a bookshelf so you’ll see it smile every day.
6. Create a calm corner.
Everyone in the house (but especially you!) should have a calm corner - a place where you can go that’s all your own for quiet contemplation, reading, journaling, etc. Make it comfortable and calm so you’ll be motivated to use it daily. You’ll have a lot more gratitude for your home and life when you have - and use - your calm corner!
7. Add natural elements.
Connecting with nature is immediately grounding and calming. In my opinion it instantly makes a house a home. Add plants, or if you’re not comfortable with trying to keep something alive, bring in wood elements, rocks, sticks, shells or flowers.
