5 Easy Ways to Make Your House Feel Like a Home
When you first move into a new house, it’s natural to focus more on functional repairs and upkeep—especially if you’re a first-time homeowner. There’s no denying things like roof repairs are important for your home’s long-term health, but that doesn’t mean investing in the home’s aesthetic touches is frivolous.
Exactly what it takes to make a house feel like a home is often a personal decision. Having said that, here are a few easy and affordable ideas for making your new house a place you and your family want to spend their time.
1) Give your family a place to spend time together.
If your main time together is over meals, put a place in the kitchen where the kids can sit and hang out with you while you’re cooking. Families that like to watch movies and play games may want to set themselves up a media room so you can do it together rather than separately in your respective bedrooms. Creating a place where everyone can enjoy time together helps give your house that homey feel.
2) Dress up the walls and windows.
A house with plain white walls and standard blinds can feel a bit sterile and generic. Hanging colorful curtains on the windows and putting some art on the walls gives the space those personal touches that help it feel more yours, without the hassle of painting.
3) Add inviting aromas.
Smell is the sense linked most strongly with memory, and that can be very helpful in making your home a place that’s comforting and welcoming. If you enjoy baking, whip up some cookies or other baked goods every so often to fill the home with that warm, delicious smell. You could also buy scented candles and light them periodically to fill the house with new, pleasant aromas.
4) Put your favorite things on display.
Do you have a comfy blanket that you love to curl up in? You don’t have to keep it stashed away in your bedroom. Throw it over the back of the couch in your living room, or over the chair in your reading nook. Those spaces will feel both more comfortable and more like yours. Similarly, if you collect things or have treasured knick-knacks, put them out on display on shelves and mantles. Your space will instantly feel more personal and yours.
5) Add some greenery.
Hanging plants and potted flowers don’t only look nice, they can also help to improve the air quality, and can even boost your mood and reduce stress. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can get plants at home improvement stores and nurseries that are hardy and low-maintenance.
The Bottom Line
A lot of people dream of owning a home, but there’s more to that dream than the building itself. Making your new house into a place where you can relax and feel comfortable doesn’t need to take a lot of effort or money. We hope these ideas will inspire you to add in those little personal touches that really make your home your own.
