5 Ways to Make A House Feel More Like Home
Just because you live in a house it doesn’t mean it will feel like home. Whether you’re sticking it out in a rental, buying your first home, or bored with the basic furnishings of your current residence, there are a few small and simple ways that can make a big difference in the way your space feels.
What differentiates a home from a hotel, vacation rental, or friend’s house? You, that’s what! Infusing what you love into it brings joy into your home. Therefore, you’ll create a space that’s cozy and inviting – a place that feels like home.
Start creating the home of your dreams with these five steps:
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Scent
Our sense of smell is a powerful thing. Scents can be incredibly nostalgic and bring us back to a certain moment in life, a certain person, or a certain place. If you have a signature scent you love, try to find something similar in a candle or an air freshener.
If you’re not sure what you want your home to smell like, start thinking of memories that make you feel cozy, safe, and at peace. Grandma’s mountain cabin at Christmas time? Maybe a fresh pine scent would bring you back. Summers spent on the beach? You might like a coconut vanilla blend.
Bring Life Indoors
There’s nothing that brings a sense of liveliness to a place quite like life itself. What do we mean by this? Plants! Plants not only provide essential oxygen for us to breathe, but they also bring a bit of nature indoors and promote serenity and calmness. Their inherent elegance improves the look and feel of any space. Even if you’re renting and can’t get too creative with painting or decorating, plants allow for color and texture in a subtle, natural way.
Certain plants can even enhance your air quality or help you sleep. Start with a snake plant in the bedroom and a peace lily in the common area and you’ll see just what we mean.
Choose Decor Carefully to Feel More Like Home
It can feel like second nature to decorate your space with what you have without even considering whether or not you really love each piece. Instead of automatically using what you have, go through each item one by one to determine if it sparks joy in you. If it doesn’t spark joy and doesn’t serve a purpose, get rid of it. You could even sell items online in order to earn some extra cash towards new, homey decor.
Keep it Clean
Nothing makes being at home feel like a chore quite like a mess does. Life gets busy, and what might start out as a small mess can grow into a disaster if not taken care of in a timely fashion.
Instead of adding an extra item to your already full to-do list, enlist the help of a part time maid to take some stress off your shoulders. Coming back to clean space after a long day of work will immediately bring about a sense of home.
Embrace Hygge
‘Hygge’ is the danish term for the art of coziness. You can embrace this concept by pulling out all the cozy touches in your space. For starters, make sure each room has a soft blanket and comfortable place to sit. Then, incorporate other cozy textures from pillows, rugs, and wall decor. Green plants, plenty of books to read, and having hot beverages at the ready will also help.
