If you’re not “feelin’ the love” for your home that you did when you first moved in, that doesn’t mean it’s time to “up anchor” and find a new place to live – often all it takes is a few changes to make your house feel like home again.
Start by remembering where it all started.
Think back to when you first moved in. What was the first meal that you cooked…you know…the one you made after all of your dishes, pots and pans were put away and the new place finally started to feel like home?
Or the first birthday party or anniversary? Then ask yourself…what’s changed?
Once you’ve figured out what’s different, you can do what you need to do to love your home again.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Banish clutter and disorganization
You might not realize it, but clutter adds to stress and can impact the love you feel for your home in a big way.
Are your closets stuffed to capacity? Do dishes try to slide out of your cabinets when you open the doors?
How much time do you waste looking for things that you’ve misplaced?
Clear out the clutter and you go a long way to feeling more affection towards your home.
Baby steps
Don’t let the idea of decluttering and organizing your home add to your stress. Set aside as little as 15 minutes each day to tackle your mess and it will be done in record time. It’s better to do a little every day than overwhelm yourself getting it done over a weekend.
Decorative storage
Once you’ve rid your home of things you no longer need or love, it’s time to organize what remains. Decorative storage (e.g. a wicker basket or vase) serves double duty as both a place for your things and a beautiful piece that makes you smile.
Use aromatherapy
Use a mister or scented candles in a fragrance that you love to wind down after a long day. While you might be tempted to save them for only those times you have company, don’t – when you bathe your senses in beautiful scents you’ll reduce your stress level and feel more affection for your home.
Put wasted space to good use
Have a spare bedroom that’s filled with clutter or a back entryway that’s sitting unused?
Repurpose those areas of your home that aren’t being used or that can be repurposed. For example, if your dining room table is also home to your computer, reclaim the table for family dinners (instead of eating in front of the tv).
Place a beautiful centerpiece and/or placemats and keep clutter from reclaiming it and you’ll be surprised just how much you’ll love having your dining room table back!
Revamp your existing furniture
Nobody said you had to spend thousands of dollars on furniture to give you warm fuzzies about your home.
Once you know how to do it, it’s really not that hard to change the feel of your home by modifying your existing furniture. Products such as chalk paint and milk paint work wonders and can really breathe new life into a tired (boring) piece of furniture.
Finally, remember that your home is your escape from the stress and pressures of everyday life. All it takes is a few small touches of colors, textures, lighting and beautiful fragrances to help you fall in love with your home all over again.
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