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I’m not talking about the little things, like buying a new rug to decorate the living room or rearranging furniture. Instead, I’m talking about making your home a place that reflects who you are. These are ten ways to make your home feel like yours, including, but not limited to, changing out light bulbs and painting walls.
When looking for a new home, there are many things to consider. You might want to live in the country or on the coast, near family or far away from them. You might want a big house with lots of land or an apartment with cool neighbors who love to cook. And then, once you find the perfect place, it’s time to make it your own. That means putting up pictures, hanging curtains, and maybe even painting walls (or not! It’s totally up to you). But no matter how much work goes into making your new home feel like yours, one thing will never change: that feeling when you walk through the front door is said and done.
This is what makes buying a house so exciting. You might love the idea of picking out new countertops or building a deck, but nothing will compare to the moment you step into your very own home for the first time.
Making Your Home Your Own
This is what makes buying a house so exciting. You might love the idea of picking out new countertops or building a deck, but nothing will compare to the moment you step into your very own home for the first time. After all, that feeling when you walk through the front door is said and done? That’s what makes it truly feel like yours.
While there are many steps to make your house feel like yours (and this article will cover ten in detail), let’s say that having an open mind is the first step. This means don’t pass up that 200-year-old farmhouse on a lark because it has some cracks in the foundation or isn’t quite as bright inside as you’d like. If it’s got all the rooms you need and you love everything about it, chances are pretty good that no matter what coat of paint they slap on the walls, it will never feel like home to you. Instead of looking at these minor flaws as something that needs to be changed, look at them as what makes your new house all that much more special.
What Makes Your House Feel Like Home?
Your furniture does not have to match perfectly, but it should fit together well enough, so everything looks pulled together without being too stiff. Toss a bunch of pillows on the couch and some rugs on the floor to bring it all together. In other words, don’t buy a bunch of new stuff to make your home feel more like you—you’ve got great pieces already.
1. Paint your front door a bright color to make it stand out from the rest of the house
This is an excellent idea to make your house last longer. The more time the door spends in the sun, the more it will deteriorate. Painting your front door a bright color can also be a great way to make it feel like home!
Changing the colors in your house can do wonders if you’re bored with how everything looks together, but sometimes there’s no better way to change things up than by painting your walls. Neutral colors can give your space a cleaner feel while accommodating all of the pieces in your home without feeling cluttered.
2. Replace all your light bulbs with LED lights for energy efficiency and lower power bills
LED lights are not only safer, but they also last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs. When you are shopping for new light bulbs, make sure to read the labels. There may be a difference in all that comes with the package. For example, the “warm” bulbs will emit more yellow/orange light, while the “cool” ones will emit more blueish-white light.
3. Install a new mailbox that matches your home’s exterior design
Changing up the mailbox is a great way to add some personality to the exterior of your home. There are plenty of different styles and colors to choose from. You can even paint your mailbox a color that matches the front of your home.
4. Add an outdoor rug to create more space for relaxing outside
Putting an outdoor carpet on your porch or patio is a great way to make it feel more like home. Add some comfortable chairs and maybe a heater for the colder months. Snacks and drinks are always a plus!
5. Get rid of clutter around the house, including old clothes, shoes, and books
One of the best ways to make your home feel like it belongs to you is not only by decorating but by decluttering. This means purging things you’re not using and removing any clutter you don’t need. Bookshelf? Get those old textbooks out of there and take your favorite books to college. Closet? Limit what goes into that space as much as possible and put away anything that doesn’t cut. Ordering a few boxes and labeling them “donate” can be a great way to get started on this process or enlist the help of family members who live near you.
6. Clean up after yourself – don’t leave dishes in the sink or dirty clothes lying around
What if I told you that the clutter in your house is causing you to procrastinate? It may sound counter-intuitive, but this is often the case when it comes to areas of our life where we have a lot of anxiety. Areas that may be more worrisome for us are often the ones we avoid because they’re associated with uncomfortable memories. The more anxious we feel when walking through a room, the less likely we want to go in it.
To make your home feel like a place where you can relax and make yourself at home, start by tackling the most challenging area in your home first. This could be anything from an old box of papers from college or a messy closet. Next, tackle something slightly more complex and continue until the task becomes more manageable.
7. Get your home’s exterior painted to freshen up the look of your house
Paint the exterior of your home. One way to make it feel new is by painting the front door and the side of your home facing traffic.
The easiest way to break up the monotony of our homes is by adding some color. Painting may be too expensive or not feasible in some cases, but there are still plenty of other things you can do! For example, place plants near windows (my favorites are Boston ferns or jasmine plants) or create a focal point hanging on the wall framed pictures.
8. Hang some photos on the walls so that your family’s not the only thing you see
Photos are a great way to make your home feel like it’s more of a home. Hanging pictures up on the walls means you’ll spend more time there and may not even want to leave! Another way to make your photos work for you is by hanging them on the walls with magnets.
9. Get rid of any furniture you don’t like (you can always give it away or sell it)
This is a process that most people do, and it is usually conducted when moving or redecorating. This means the old furniture is shelved somewhere in the home. The last thing you want to do is make your new house feel clutter central! Instead, get rid of furniture you don’t like and never use and donate it or sell it to someone else who may like it. If you’re not sure what they’re worth, look them up online on sites such as Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist.
10. Plant some flowers by your front door to make everyone who visits feel welcomed
You can make your home feel welcoming to visitors by planting flowers by the front door. I’ve seen this done with hydrangeas, jasmine, and hibiscus. It’s a lovely way to welcome guests and anyone who stops by unexpectedly. This is also a great way to make yourself feel like you’re greeting someone special every time you step outside.
Don’t forget that your home should be an extension of who you are! There’s no better feeling than returning to a place where you can relax and recharge. I hope these tips helped you learn how to make your home feel more like home.
Thanks for reading, and leave any questions below!
