Whether you’ve just moved into your new pad or you’ve always felt a little bit off in your own house, it’s never too early or too late to start transforming your house into a home. While at first, it might seem like there aren’t any real differences between these two terms, many people associate houses with being simply residential structures while homes are places of comfort, family, growth and peace.
If you find yourself moving around a lot for whatever reason, it can be hard to bother taking the time to put effort into making the space feel like your own, which is understandable. However, once you settle down and find somewhere you want to stay, you should seize the opportunity to inject a bit of yourself into the place. Here are some useful tips to help you turn your house into a home.
One: Create Your Own Look – House may look similar, especially in urban and suburban neighborhoods, but that doesn’t mean homes have to look the same. When people sell their houses, they often try to empty the space to show its potential to prospective buyers as this helps them get an idea of how they would fit into the new space. This is also why most newly-built homes are decorated as plainly as possible. It is your job, once you move in, to flood it with life and color. What matters most is how you want it to look, not what the neighbors are doing. Figure out which materials you prefer and what colors you believe suits your style the best. If you have to spend an extended period of time anywhere like most people do in their homes, then it’s vital you feel as if the rooms are tailored to your tastes. Take time to track down pieces of furniture and wall colors you like best – search the internet for ideas and ask your friends and family for their advice. As long as your home makes you happy, that’s all that matters.
Two: Concentrate on Comfort – Cutting edge design and stunning architecture are all well and good, but when it comes to relaxing at home, there’s only one thing that’s essential – comfort. Sacrificing comfort for design is a terrible way to go about decorating and furnishing your home as it prevents you from using the space as intended. Of course, the stylish people probably cannot bear the thought of being able to relax somewhere less than chic, but there’s no need to ditch design altogether. In fact, ergonomic design can be highly attractive as art in addition to providing comfort. Nobody wants to return home after a tiring day only to be perched uncomfortably on a beautiful yet severe couch for the rest of the evening. Instead, opt for something like a sofa from Midinmod to combine style and comfort into one. Any dull show-home can be flashy and trendy, but to make it a home it has to be comfortable.
Three: Make it Work – Aside from comfort, homes are all about making the habits of everyday living easier. The flow of a layout can make a huge difference in how efficiently you can operate within your home. However not everyone has the luxury of creating their own floorplans from scratch. There are other ways, though, of rearranging your home to make it easier for movement and practical use. For example, prevent furniture from becoming an obstacle by measuring your rooms and working out where best to place it. When filling drawers and cupboards, decide which items should go where for the most suitable retrieval – for example, your fine china doesn’t need to be easily accessed, but your pots and pans probably should be. Simple things like having chairs where you commonly entertain guests or keeping towels in easily reached places can make your home feel far more comfortable and suited to your needs.
Four: Lighting and Texture – Although you cannot control where your house’s windows have been built, you can control where you put your possessions in relation to them. Light has a surprising impact on people’s sense of space. Therefore, it’s important to let in as much natural light as possible to make your home feel more inviting. Avoid positioning furniture in such a way that it blocks the light into the room or reflects harshly into your eyes. Choose drapes or blinds to block the light when you go to sleep, especially if you live in a sunny country where morning light often wakes you up too early. The way light interacts with texture in the home is also important when choosing fabrics for upholstery or carpeting. Do you want clean, crisp lines or soft, warm ones? Contrast your textures for extra visual interest – without compromising comfort, of course. Sleek hardwood floors paired with plush, luxurious seating makes for a bold style. Hang your ceiling lights low over central tables to create the effect of significance and purpose while playing with the light to cast interesting shadows. Do you feel happiest in brightness? Keep your walls light and your furniture plain, so the textures don’t draw the eye too much. If you prefer depth and detail, don’t be afraid to mix your patterns and work in your own twists of style. Not everyone loves a gleaming bedroom or a gloomy, dark kitchen, but if that’s what makes you feel at home, go for it.
Five: Ignore the Trends – When you’re confronted with the opportunity to decorate your home as you please, the paradox of choice can paralyze you from making any decisions. Interior design magazines and websites are full of amazing inspiration for you to sift through and collect ideas from. However, over time you will come to see that, just like fashion, interior design has trends that go in and out of style. To make your house truly feel like a home, forget everything you read about and go with your gut. What if black ceilings aren’t in right now? Who cares if shag carpet has been long forgotten? It’s your home; youdecide what it looks like.
