What Makes a House a Home? // Interior
I feel that this is one of the main questions that I ask myself when I walk into a house.
Some homes just have it, they instantly feel warm and inviting. They make you feel at home… even when it's not your own. What's the secret? So, I’ve decided to share some tips that I use in my home and with my clients that will instantly make your house feel like more of a home.
What’s the best compliment one can give your home? 'It's so you'. If you feel at ease in your surroundings, so will others. The Key: Choose pieces and colors that are similar to what your choose for your wardrobe. If you like to accessorize your outfits..add details to your home decor. If you have more of a minimalist, neutral, style - go for that in your home too!
Stay inspired. Bookmark links online. Tear out magazine pages. Follow your favorite designers on Instagram or Pinterest. It is so easy to find examples of beautiful home decor online… so, if you aren’t the expert, borrow some ideas from those who are.
Your style and circumstances might change, so let your home adapt with you. The Key: Buy your larger and/or investment pieces in neutral colors. Make seasonal changes, style, or variation in color with smaller accessories. For example, if you have a white sofa, add life & color to it with different pillows and throws depending on the season.
Make the most of what you have. A house becomes a home when you have pieces that have history to you or have been created by you. Need a new side table? This can easily be created with piles of coffee table books or magazines. Think outside the box.
Follow your gut and don't listen to the criticisms of others. Leave all the walls in your home plain white if you wish. Or, be inspired and display art even in the bathroom (and wallpaper too for that matter). Frame what you love: even an old map, family pictures, or your kids artwork.
Bring the outside world in. Buy that beautiful cookbook (or learn how to make a cocktail) from your favorite restaurant. Books are a beautiful accessorizing tool! Stack them on a tray with a decorative object on top or frame their pages for art work. When you decorate your home with books it brings in personality, color, texture, and just helps to make your house more of a home.
Here’s a design 101 tip for you - think about Triangulation of Color when you walk into a room. What is Triangulation of Color? Choose one color, or three complementary colors, that you can place throughout a room to bring harmony into the design. An example of this is my sitting room where I have green pillows on the couch and then I tie that in with a green plant higher in the air and another green plant on the ground to the left. Having the same, or complementary colors, at different heights helps to bring the whole room together.
Last but not least - Grow something! Even if it's just fresh herbs. The energy that you get from a space that has plants is priceless. My children complain that they can’t even walk in my house because of all the plants...but, when those grey winter days come I don't hear any complaints. And, if you don’t have a green thumb - always have fresh flowers (not just for tables, but bedrooms too) around. I prefer using foliage because they last longer but choose flowers that bring life to your home and bring you joy.
If you follow those eight simple tips you will be loving your home in no time! Enjoy your space - and most importantly, the people in it. Make the most of every inch. Cook in your kitchen. Soak in your bathtub. Eat at the table. Read in a sunny corner! If you even just work on two of these things I promise you - your house will feel more like a home.