5 Ways Your Home Is a Reflection of Your Family

A home is meant to be a haven, pure and simple. It’s where we build our nest and nurture our families. And over time, a home might even transform into a reflection of who you and your loved ones truly are. In the same vein, your home can also mold and shape the individuals living within its walls, defining personalities and encouraging us to live happy and healthy. Ultimately, whatever type of lifestyle you and your family have, your home is bound to reflect it. Whether it’s through cherished mementos or modern furniture styles, here are five ways your home is a reflection of your family.

1. Furniture and Fixtures

While it seems materialistic, your home’s interior design, from the furniture to the fixtures, does say a lot about you. How you choose to decorate with furniture, fixtures, home accents and even decorative wood finishes are often a mirror reflection of a person’s unique personality. From laid-back and casual bungalows to elegant and formal mansions, a welcoming and inviting home means different things to different people and can often be portrayed using interior design and decor. For instance, if you choose to buy only green-friendly furniture and install sustainable finishes, it reflects how you and your family feel about the earth and nature. So choose whatever style and designs you love to reflect you and your family!  

2. Location

There’s a lot to be said about the town in which we grew up. And as an adult, this sentiment is not much different. Where you live and where your home is situated, whether it’s a condo in a high-rise building in New York City or a tiny home on a small plot of rural land, reflects you and your family. After all, we desire nothing more than to surround ourselves with creature comforts. But what defines these creature comforts and makes a home is unique for everyone. Some of us prefer privacy and the smell of fresh air, grass and pine trees while others love to be part of a larger community and require endless activities to keep themselves occupied. Either way, the environment and location where you decide to nest and settle say a lot about who you and your family are, where you came from and how you intend to live your lives. 

3. Pets and Plants

Sometimes, it’s other living things in the home that can reflect your family. Pets and indoor houseplants, for instance, can become a part of us. And the care involved with each hint at a nurturing soul. For homes with a rambunctious puppy, it may even portray a youthful and playful space full of life and carefree spirits. To some, a dog or cat is what makes a house a home. And for those homes adorned with houseplants and bouquets, which require pruning and watering, it speaks volumes. It says that someone in the family has a green thumb and an undying love for nature. Overall, a home that welcomes other creatures and plants is a true testament to a kind and loving home.

4. Artwork and Family Photographs

Artwork and photographs are another way your home is a reflection of your family. Artwork can express inner desires and aspirations. If the artwork is self-made – even if it’s a child’s finger painting – it exhibits an even more deeply personal part of the home’s spirit. Photos act much in the same way. From a gallery wall of old sepia-toned images of great grandparents to recent images of your newborn niece or nephew, pictures of our loved ones remind us what family is truly about. Even if you prefer to keep most family photographs stored digitally and in cloud storage, like many of us these days, everyone has a family photo or two hanging about the home to remind them of a special occasion. Wedding photos, graduation photos and snapshots of that one beautiful, sunny day at the beach bring back a flood of memories like it was yesterday. 

5. Cherished Mementos and Collectibles 

When an item is truly important to you, it possesses a certain kind of energy. And this is especially true for cherished mementos and collections you have gathered through the years. Whether it’s an item brought back from a family vacation or something you picked up from a local vintage store or a solo trip when you were younger, specific objects invoke joyful and sometimes even bittersweet memories. And it’s these coveted collections of items, no matter how trivial or meaningless they seem to others, that offer a reflection of you and your family’s home. Even if it’s a recently purchased decor piece that represents your current lifestyle and tastes, mementos and collectibles offer a glimpse into the soul of the home. 

Appreciating Your Home and Family

Home is where the family conjures together. And whether you all enjoy the same activities or have your own hobbies and interests, each unique family member and loved one is sure to shine brightly and reflect their own personality. What’s important is to allow room for each spirit to grow into something extraordinary. Luckily, with a happy and healthy home, it’s relatively easy to do so! 

Ultimately, when it comes to your home, remember to be grateful for your family and the cherished items throughout the space. Whether they already possess a strong significance with an unforgettable memory or are bound to in the near and foreseeable future, what you choose to surround yourself with – from furry family members to temporary decor – ties together what makes a house a genuine home.