We spend a lot of time in our homes, especially if we work from home, which has become the new normal. That makes it more important than ever to really love the spaces we live in.
Our homes serve a lot of different purposes. It’s where we sleep, cook, eat, work, exercise, raise our family, create, learn, garden, entertain, and gather.
You may not even realize it, but how we feel in our homes greatly affects our health, our mood, and overall wellbeing. It also affects how well we learn and grow as both children and adults. I believe having a home we love spending time in is essential for our overall wellness. It’s part of a holistic, healthy lifestyle.
Living in a space that feels dark, uninviting, or uninspiring can drag us down. It can even make achieving our goals or being creative and productive that much harder.
How Does Your Home Make You Feel?
Take a moment and look around your home. How does it make you feel?
- Do you feel relaxed or stressed?
- Do you get frustrated when you can’t find what you need?
- Does your space feel light and airy or does it feel dark, outdated, and uninviting?
Over time, we become blind to the disorganized mess, the broken closet door, the worn-out paint, and the outdated furniture.
We simply learn to live with it and ignore it, because we feel overwhelmed or don’t know where to start. Deep down we know something feels off. We know we don’t feel relaxed and at ease, but we may not be able to pinpoint why.
Creating a home you love starts with being honest about what works and what doesn’t.
How to Discover What’s Working (and What’s Not)
Start by making two lists:
List 1: Make a list of what you like or love about your home.
List 2: Make a list of all the things that drives you crazy or makes your life harder.
Ask Yourself:
- Which spaces or rooms inspire me and what spaces stress me out?
- What do I want to change?
- What is the character of this room?
- What personality could I bring into this room to create some interest and more of me?
- Does this room reflect me?
- Does it reflect an old life, or does it reflect the life you want to live?
- If you were looking for a new home, what features would be on your wish list?
There are no wrong answers. If you need time to think about out, take that time. Sit down in your living room or the space that bothers you the most, and ask yourself these questions.
If you dislike the location you are in, you can still transform the house you live in now into a place that feels like home. Your home.
Biggest Bang for Your Buck. Small Changes with Big Impact
A long list of changes can feel quite overwhelming. Instead ask yourself:
“If I could change just one thing, what would that be?”
Prioritize the changes you want to make.
- If you work from home, a dark, cluttered office is not going to inspire you to sit down and work. Start by decluttering and organizing your desk, add good lighting, and bring in décor that makes you want to spend time in that space.
- Feeling frustrated every time you’re cooking? Maybe it’s time to reorganize your kitchen cabinets or add a rolling island to give yourself more workspace.
- Your garage is a total mess. Your garage might not be the priority if you don’t spend a lot of time there, BUT it has potential. A garage could be so many different things. A home gym, a craft room, an office, or even a guest bedroom.
Maximize Your Space by Organizing
I must admit, as a creative person, staying organized is a constant struggle for me, so I have to work at it. But after I have purged and organized a space, it feels like a burden has lifted, like I can breathe better. It also helps me be more creative and productive. It feels very satisfying to get rid of old stuff you didn’t even remember you had buried in your closet. It feels almost like a new lease on life.
If purging and organizing sounds overwhelming, just start small, one drawer at a time, one stack at a time, one shelf at a time. Ten minutes a day. Anyone can do that. Just start. Small efforts amount to big rewards.
TIP: Maximize your space by organizing, but start purging before you buy any storage solutions. You won’t really know what is needed until you get rid of the “stuff” you don’t want. It will save you money and frustration.
Create a Welcoming Entryway
The entryway sets the tone every time you or your guests enter your home.
Make your entry more inviting by:
- keeping the area clean and organized.
- adding a small table or shelf for your keys.
- adding hooks for coats and bags.
- getting a new door mat.
- adding artwork or other wall art you enjoy.
- painting your door for a fresh new look.
Feng Shui Tip: Don’t place a mirror facing the front door. In the traditional Feng Shui viewpoint, a mirror facing the front door will reflect the energy back out of the door.
Choose the Right Color
Color has a huge effect on how we feel. Bright, airy spaces often create a sense of calm and joy, while overly dark rooms can make us feel gloomy.
Before selecting your paint color, consider that colors can evoke different feelings in us. A bright room does not mean you have to paint your house in neon colors or paint your bedroom red.
Red does not evoke feelings of calm and restfulness, so it is not the best choice for a bedroom. I like most of my walls to be white because I have poor natural light in many parts of my house and it really brightens up my space. The white walls also act as a neutral backdrop to the darker furniture pieces and wall art creating a nice contrast that I love.
White doesn’t have to mean boring when you pick the right white tone and add texture and layers into your decor. Pick a color you love while allowing your home to dictate what it needs.
A co-worker had shared with me that he sometimes feels depressed and down. Then I found out that his bedroom was painted black, all the furniture was black, and the space was really dark.
I’m not saying that changing the wall color is going to cure your depression, but what I know for sure is spending time in dark spaces is not going to help, and research backs it up. Of course, there are people who enjoy moody rooms, and if you do, go for it.
Painting is one of the most affordable changes you can make that has the biggest impact.
The Right Lighting Creates the Mood
Just like with color, the right light in your home will make all the difference. The Scandinavian countries are experts at creating a cozy, homey feel with their lighting. Their winters are long, dark, and gloomy, but when you step into a home in any of the Scandinavian countries like Sweden or Denmark, you get a warm and cozy feeling. In the evenings, there is always a soft window light on that welcomes you in from the outside.
Think beyond harsh overhead lights which can be a mood killer. Create cozy vibes by layering your light sources, like:
- Table and floor lamps
- Task lights, like a reading lamp
- Accent light, showcasing a picture or a plant
- Decorative light, like a ceiling lamp over a coffee table or dimmable dining room lighting
- Non-toxic candles to create a mood and that “hygge” cozy feeling.
Even just cleaning your windows and adding sheer curtains can bring in more light.
Add Greenery for Ambiance
Adding plants to your home will instantly add warmth, color, and energy to a room. Bringing the outdoors in has proven to lift spirits and help purify the air in your home.
Choose plants that fit your lifestyle.
- Low-maintenance plants if you are busy or don’t have the best track record with plants
- Pet-friendly plants if you have animals
- Statement plants where it makes an impact, like a taller plant in the corner of a room
On a Budget? No Problem
You don’t need a huge budget to create a home you love.
- Start with a good purge. Putting in some elbow crease cleaning and organizing goes a long way. It’s not fun, but it is free and the foundation for changing your home.
- Shop second-hand stores, flea markets, and estate sales for unique finds.
- Refresh what you already have with paint, new hardware, or upholstery.
- Swap out accent pillows, curtains, and rugs for an instant facelift.
Small changes with some creativity can go a long way in making your home feel fresh and inviting.
Buy a New Home or Stay Where you Are?
In today’s housing market, buying a new house is often not an option for many people. Between high prices, interest rates, fees, and taxes, staying put makes a lot of sense.
Relocating to a less expensive area or city could be a solution if moving is a must.
The good news is you don’t need a bigger or “better” house to feel happier. A bigger house means more space to clean and more cost to cover.
Who knows, after upgrading what you already have, you might decide you don’t want to move after all.
Get Instant Gratification
Want results now? Try these easy fixes:
- Switch out throw pillows and curtains in a room
- Hang a piece of art that makes you smile
- Add a statement chair or an accent rug
- Rearrange the furniture for an updated look
Just adding something new or changing out a worn-out piece of furniture could get you started on your journey to creating a home you love.
Incorporating vintage pieces into a modern space is a great way to create a more interesting look and feel.
Conclusion: Make the most out of the home you have
Bottom line, we should all enjoy the home we are in now. Whether you rent or own, you deserve to feel joy in your home every day.
Life is too short to wait for the perfect house or perfect time to come along. Start small. Organize one drawer. Buy a new pillow. Add a plant. Layer in changes as you can and watch your home transform.
Home is where the heart is. Make it a space that reflects you, how you want to live, and who you want to become.
Put these suggestions to work and make your home sing!
What’s the first change you will make in your home this week? Share in the comments, I’d love to hear your ideas!