6 Ways to Create a Home You Love
We are all living amidst an unprecedented time in our lives - being asked to stay home much more, either by request or mandate, for an unknown amount of time. While this time is strange, uncomfortable or even scary, I’d like to look for a silver-lining. Staying-in more is going to give us time to reflect on the space we call home. Now more than ever, it’s evident that our homes should be places we enjoy living. Whether we’re working, or relaxing and spending time with family, we should feel sheltered, centered and inspired! The following 6 ideas will get you thinking about the potential your current home holds, or provide ideas for the new-build you’ve been contemplating.
1. Simplify
I’m starting this list with something you can do right now, while you’re spending more time at home, and it won’t cost you a thing! The easiest way to make a change to better your living situation, is to simplify it by way of decluttering and organizing. Clutter leads to stress, and we definitely don’t need or want any more of that! So, try to find a dedicated spot for all that stuff that seems to have piled up over time. If your closets or storage areas are over-flowing, it might be the perfect time to clean those out too! If you need some inspiration for tidying up, check out the Netflix show I recommend, located at the end of this post.
2. Rearrange
Moving furniture around is fun for me! It’s like I’ve created a whole new space without much effort and zero expense. (And by moving stuff around, I mean I ask my husband to move really heavy items back and forth until it feels right to me. He loves this, I can tell.) Rearranging is more than just fun; it is repositioning for better circulation. You don’t want to feel like you’re participating in an obstacle course to get from room to room. There are general rules to practice when placing furniture, and at the end of this post I’ve also shared a link to an article I find helpful in describing those rules.
3. Make Some Material and Cosmetic Changes
Materials can have the ultimate effect on how a space feels or is perceived. How about incorporating some natural wood or stone in your house? It could be on your floors, walls or in furniture. By adding natural materials, you are creating a connection to nature and your environment, which is great for your mental and physical health. Think about it, where are many popular vacation destinations? Natural parks, beaches, mountains, etc. These destinations are so appealing because we are innately drawn to interacting with and being in nature. It has the ability to relax and calm your mind, so bring those elements into your home! Adding plants to your space is also a great way to bring the outdoors in.
You can paint your walls for a fresh new look. I like to opt for using clean, light colors (shades of white for example), which make a room feel bright and warm. The walls then become a canvas for adding your own personality. Colors, patterns and textures can be added through furniture and décor.
4. Reconfigure
The first three ideas are easier DIY-style ideas. But sometimes bigger changes are required to really improve your space. Maybe you need more windows so more light can fill your home and you want better overall flow, or maybe you need to make new spaces within what you currently have. These are the type of changes achieved by moving walls and reconfiguring spaces, and this is where an architect becomes part of the equation. Architects are trained to think about all the possibilities a space could become, whether it’s within an existing space or yet to be built. There’s also the structural factor with moving walls which makes it important to hire a professional with training, so those changes you’d like to see, are done safely.
5. Add-On
Sometimes you just outgrow a space but don’t necessarily want to move. An addition may be the answer! This addition might be in the form of bedrooms or bathrooms, or maybe even indoor or outdoor living space. An architect can help maximize the potential in your new addition, and provide a creative approach to doing so. Overall, it’s a big investment and it needs to be designed perfectly to fit your home and your life with impeccable cohesion.
6. Build New
Sometimes, though, starting from scratch may be the best option to fulfill your dreams in a home. Every person, and every family goes about their daily living patterns in a way that is unique to them. A new home should reflect that. This may be one of the biggest investments/purchases you’ll ever make, and it is so important that the end result truly reflects what you want and need from a home. A good architect will be able to give that to you, and more. So do some research, and hold some interviews, to find an architect who is forward-thinking and ultimately makes you feel comfortable! Open communication is the only way to have a successful project, so being comfortable with your architect is so important! It is a true collaboration to create the space you need.
In a time when our normal routines have changed, and we’re spending more time at home, let’s take a moment to appreciate what we do have. If any one of the above ideas strikes a chord with you, give it a go! If one of those ideas requires hiring a professional, I’m only a call away! I will be happy to help you create a home you love.
What do you think about these ideas? Can you see the potential your home already has? Comment below if you’ve been able to transform your space using one of these methods, and provide any insight you think might be helpful for someone looking to do the same!
If you’d like some inspiration for decluttering and organizing, I’d suggest watching “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo” on Netflix.
And here’s the link for general spacing guidelines in a house, for all of you about to move some furniture: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-to-create-better-flow-in-your-home-stsetivw-vs~51694654
*The images in this post are not my own, and are not from my projects. They do, however, depict designs that embrace natural elements, and a connection to nature.