Whether you rent your home or own it, it is important that yo create a home that you love living in. It is so easy to get stuck with a home that doesn’t look good, make you feel good or meet your needs. Whether it is budget constraints, time constraints or a lack of motivation, there are always reasons not to do the work. I have used all of these excuses for years now but I am getting much better at overcoming my own limitations. The time will never be just right to do the work. But the longer you put it off, the longer you delay your own happiness.
In this post, I would like to share some of the wisdom I have gained in 11 years of home ownership to help you create a home that you will love living in.
Declutter Your Home
ORTHEX SMARTSTORE Bedroller Underbed Storage Box from A Place for Everything
The first thing you need to do to make sure you love living in your home is to declutter. You will never enjoy your home if you feel like you are drowning and can never find the things you need. Go through your belongings and get rid of what you don’t use or need any longer.
Our consumerist society convinces us that we constantly need more and that we have to keep up with the latest trends. But this is a trap to make us spend more money. It can’t buy happiness. Instead, only buy things you genuinely need and will love for years to come. Not only is this a more sustainable approach, it will also ensure that you don’t end up getting crushed by your clutter.
Keep Your Home Clean
When your home is full of clutter it is almost impossible to keep clean. How can you keep surfaces dust and dirt-free when they are covered in stuff? This requires a monumental effort to move everything around in order to clean. So decluttering will dramatically improve your ability to keep your home clean.
Instate a regular cleaning schedule that feels manageable and that you can keep up with. Break your cleaning schedule down into smaller tasks. For example, tackle each room one-by-one or group similar tasks around the house together.
It is much easier to stay on top of cleaning your home if you do little and often. Leaving it until breaking point will make it overwhelming and easier to avoid. So keep the cleaning supplies handy so this task stays top of mind for you at any given moment. You’ll enjoy living in your home more when you make it a point to keep it looking spotless.
Create More Storage
ORTHEX SmartStore Recycled Baskets in Taupe with Bamboo Lid from Homebase
Once you have decluttered and cleaned your home, you should make sure that your remaining belongings are well organised. There is nothing more annoying than not being able to find things when you need them. One way to get better organized is by investing in additional storage solutions for the items you want to hang onto.
I recently had a tidy-up at home as my own clutter was really getting on top of me. I hated having my belongings out on show and it made my mind feel overwhelmed every time I look at it. So I bought some really lovely ribbed storage boxes from Dunelm and I sorted all my things into specific boxes making it look much tidier and also easier to find. For example, I now have a specific box for charging cables so no more tangled mess of cables on show. I have another box for batteries, another for notepads and craft paper, another for pens and pencils.
I can’t tell you how much this has helped my wellbeing as my mind feels a lot calmer not seeing all the clutter and having it neatly organised in places I can always find them, that are easy to access.
Focus on the Small Details
CupboardStore™ Set Of 4 Grey Pan Lid Holders from Joseph Joseph (Affiliate link)
Recently, I have found so much joy in focusing on the small details. It’s easy to think about all the huge jobs you haven’t done yet and focusing on this will always make you feel disappointed and unhappy. Sometimes, like us, you simply can’t afford your loft conversion yet, or maybe you can’t afford your dream kitchen or spa-like bathroom just yet.
However, there are lots of small changes that you can make that will help you to create a home that you love living in. For example, I have recently upgraded lots of the homeware in my kitchen. I adore Joseph Joseph (affiliate link) and their creative and innovative homeware solutions, many of which are also space-saving, making them perfect for our small flat. I’ve bought new chopping boards, new utensils, storage solutions for pot lids, a new cutlery drawer and countless other things. They bring me so much joy as they make my kitchen more organised and easier to use.
Update Your Entryway
SlatWall Waterproof Panels in Walnut from Naturewall
Ever since we bought our flat we really disliked our hallway. The entrance to your home sets the tone for how you feel coming into you home. It’s the first thing you see and feel when you come home after a busy day. If you hate the entrance and the hallway it doesn’t bode well.
So updating your entryway should definitely be a priority if you want to create a home that you love living in. Choose a colour that will work well in your entryway. This will depend on ceiling height, size of space, orientation of the space, how much light you have and may more factors. Other things to consider are furniture, flooring, lighting, storage and decorative accessories like mirrors and plants.
You really want to transform your hallway into a stylish and inviting space if you want to love living in your home.
Add Plants
Bathroom Plant Collection from Patch Plants
I cannot tell you how important plants are for me when it comes to creating a home that I love living in. I’ve said many times before that I am not the best at keeping them alive but this does not stop me from bringing in as many plants as I can fit. They just make me feel calmer, happier and more at ease at home. Seeing the greenery and the life in my space is so good for my physical and mental health.
Once you have decluttered and freed up some space, consider bringing in some plants. Whether you have plants on furniture, on shelves, on the window sills, hanging from the ceiling, on side lamp tables or in large planters on the floor, bringing plants into your home will boost your mood and increase your happiness.
Choose Feel-Good Colours
Harbour Momentum Wetroom Shower Door & Optional Side Panel in Brushed Brass by Drench
Colour is such an important factor when it comes to how you feel at home. To create a home you love living in, it is essential to choose the right colours. The transformational power of colour should not be underestimated and you really should spend some time thinking about the rooms in your home, what they are used for and how you want to feel in each room.
Don’t be tempted to redecorate every time a new colour trend is announced. Colours are extremely personal and you need to work out how they make you feel. Literally, ask yourself how your body responds to the colours you are considering for your home.
Set Up A Garden Oasis
Evening Garden Setting in Summer with Lights and Fire Bucket from Lights4Fun (affiliate)
Make the most of your outside space. Whilst we live in a flat, we are super lucky to have our own private garden and one that is quite sizeable too. Our garden is on a slope so for the first few years we lived here, it was difficult to use. Alfresco dining was not possible as we had no flat ground for a table and chairs and the garden just wasn’t very useable.
After a few years, we did a nautical garden makeover and installed decking to create our very own garden oasis. We now spend a hell of a lot more time outside and as everyone knows spending time out in nature is good for the soul. We have regular BBQs in the garden, often eat outside or sit out of an evening for drinks. Watching the sunset from the decking is divine. I feel extremely grateful for this space.
Although it does still need some work. In an ideal world, I would have an outdoor kitchen to make al fresco dining even more enjoyable and easier. I’d love a pergola to create some shade in the garden as we get a lot of sunshine in the summer months.
Like most people, I guess, I would also love to have a hot tub or swimming pool in the garden, or both. If you are lucky enough to have a pool, make sure you use a professional pool service. This will make it both safe and sanitary to enjoy all summer long.
So these are just a few things that you can do to create a home that you love living in. Many of these projects you can tackle yourself instead of hiring someone. They arent that costly or difficult but they will make a huge difference to your enjoyment of your home and your mental health and well-being.
Do you have any tips that you can share with us? If so, please share them with us below.