Sometimes our homes don’t feel like a home, as much as it feels like a house we just live in. Part of homemaking is finding ways to cultivate an atmosphere that reduces stress and creates a sense of comfort. Today we are going to go over 3 simple ways you can turn your house into a home.
This is done by little by little, bit by bit, making small changes at a time.
Just like laying the foundation for a house, building up our homes to be more than just houses, is done one piece at a time. So lets lay down a few building blocks on our homemaking foundation that can be expanded on over time.
Add Warm Lighting
This is an easy way to make the atmosphere of your home a little more cozy. By adding warm pools of light around your home, instead of using bright lights all of the time, you are causing everything to slow down a bit.
This is especially comforting at night, helping us to settle down and fall asleep faster.
It’s a budget friendly way to turn your house into a home!
I especially like to use warm lighting to change the atmosphere in my home, because it’s easy and cheap to do!
A Few Ways you can do this is…
- Set tea lights in old glass jars and place them around the house.
- Hang string lights around a window or door way.
- Place lamps on side tables or bookshelves.
- Plug in a few night lights.
I would suggest starting in a room or area that you and your family enjoy spending time in together.
Perhaps while eating dinner, you can turn off the lights and light a few candles to eat by, or put a small lamp in the living room so you can enjoy the warm glow while reading or watching a movie.
The possibilities our endless!
Use Functioning Pieces to Decorate
It’s crazy how little changes can make a house feel like a home. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on decorations to make your home feel like it’s yours.
A few pieces of decor that serves a purpose can change the look and feel of your home by adding a piece of yourself to it without creating too much clutter.
Take a walk around your house and take note of a few ordinary things that you have, that do their job but either aren’t your style or have no style at all.
This could be something like:
- A paper towel holder
- A calendar
- The soap dish
- Flower Pots
- Picture Frames
- Pen Holders
- Curtains
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They’re the simple, and basic things that nobody really thinks about but upgrading 1 or 2 of them can add a sense of your own personal touch to your home.
You may want to put your dish soap into a pretty pump, your pens in a flower pot, or change your paper towel holder to something more unique.
Get creative and keep your eyes open at thrift stores, yard sales and craft shows to find that perfect piece!
Find Your Own Style
Don’t settle for just anything!
If you are going to upgrade something in your home, make sure it’s something that matches you or your families unique style. There’s nothing wrong with the things we use every day being pretty and making us smile a little whenever we use them.
One of my favorite pieces of functioning decor is a little bell I keep on the windowsill above the kitchen sink. I use it to hold my rings while I do dishes, make dinner, and clean. It keeps my rings safe and it makes me smile every time I use it because my husband bought it for me.
“There’s nothing wrong with the things we use every day being pretty”
Have a Weekly Game/No Electronics Night.
Part of homemaking is creating a space for you, your family, and friends to gather together.
Whether its just you, you and your spouse, or a whole flock of people, this is an easy and cheap way to incorporate homemaking into your life.
Disconnecting yourself from electronics can reduce stress, free up time, and helps you to live in the present moment.1 It also helps you to slow down, and appreciate the home and family you have. Filling your hearth with gratitude.
One of my favorite memories growing up was the evenings when my grandmother, mother, and I would sit around drinking tea, talking, and playing cards or board games; with no phone or TV to distract us.
We had great, meaningful conversations with each other, that still stick with me today, and oh, how the nights would fill up with laughter!
I miss doing this with them but now that I’m married I get to carry this tradition into my own family and share it with my friends.
Spending more time with the people you love ( even if it’s just yourself), creates memories, and memories makes a house feel like a home.
*If you’re looking for a few ideas on how to do this, check out this post!
The one thing everything on this list has in common, is adding a piece of yourself, and your unique personality to your home in one way or another.
Start small wherever you can, and build on it over time; continuing to add more of yourself to your home little by little. Soon you will see the atmosphere changing in your house, and it will feel like home.
What are some ways you like to add a piece of yourself to your home? Comment below, I love hearing from you!
All great ideas for making a house a home. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks for reading, Rachel, I’m so glad you liked it!
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