How to Make a House a Home
By: Genevieve Glynn-Reaves
Often, decorating where we’re living can feel like an unnecessary luxury. It can be expensive and time consuming. Sometimes we’re not even sure how long we are going to be staying and it can seem pointless. For the less aesthetically focused of us, it just feels overwhelming even working out where to start. However, taking time to make your living space comfortable and homely is an important act of self-care.
A lot of people dismiss Feng Shui as spiritual mumbo jumbo, but even if you are not inclined towards believing in it on a more astral level, it has teachings which can be applied to any worldview. We, as human beings, are always observing things subconsciously, even if we aren’t aware of it. This can affect our thought patterns, our decision making, and even our moods. If we are surrounding ourselves with objects that don’t make us happy, and might even make us frustrated or sad, then it’s expected that we’ll confirm this with our actions as we go about our day.
There are several reasons that we feel better on holiday. One of the most important ones is that often, during a getaway, we are surrounding ourselves with beauty and positive stimulation. When you spend time in a place you enjoy, you will feel better; it’s just common sense. In our society, we are too often told that the pursuit of happiness is frivolous and if results aren’t tangible, the whole process is just a waste of time.
However, a better outlook is not only better for your day to day quality of life, but can actually make you a lot more efficient in any of the tasks you carry out. Being around negativity is draining; and being around positivity is energizing. It’s as simple as that. It’s only logical to subconsciously want to make the space where you go to rest and recharge as positive as possible.
This doesn’t have to be a difficult challenge and you don’t need to enlist the help of an expensive interior designer or decorator. There are lots of really easy ways to make your space homelier without inconveniencing yourself or breaking the bank.
Here are just a few you could try out this week!
- Put up photographs of loved ones and happy memories. Being constantly reminded of happy times and people you care about is sure to lighten your mood.
- Do a deep clean once a week and declutter your living spaces once a season by throwing things away or starting a donation pile. Surrounding yourself with mess is a sure fire way to make everything seem far more overwhelming than it is, and purging your space of clutter has a cathartic effect on the mind.
- Find an object that reminds you of home. This could actually be something from your childhood or just something that reminds you of it.
- Find an object that you think is beautiful. Beauty is subjective, so take the time to treat yourself with something that truly brings you joy when you look at it.
It can be overwhelming looking at Pinterest houses or Home & Garden magazine -- but they could serve as a source of inspiration for many of us. In the end, create your space that matches your ideal area. What kind of home tricks have best helped you? Drop them below and share them with us!