What Makes A House A Home? Three Tips To Help!

What makes a house a home? It’s a valid question and one that’s probably been on the minds of homeowners since the dawn of time. And whether we say it or not, everyone knows when a house feels like a house and not a home. A house just feels like a rental, like some vacation rental you stay in and use – not a place you enjoy living. And a home, well a home feels like a resting place. A place you go to for an escape from the stress of life. A place you don’t have to work to enjoy yourself. And whether you’re buying a new house or have been in your house for years, trying to make a house that feels like home can take a special knack. Well luckily, we’ve got three easy tips for you! (psss... if you haven't found your dream home, click here!)

1. Focus on the Bones of the Home

When looking at houses it can sometimes be hard to see past the current homeowner's decorations – or even be blinded by the lack thereof. But honing in on the layout and flow of the home will immediately let you know if a house will feel like a “home” for you. Does it have an open and spacious kitchen and living room you want? Are the rooms spaced in a way that makes it functional and fun for your family? Think of things like proximity between the master bedroom and the nursery; you’ll want that room close to yours so you aren’t shuffling down the hallway all night long.

What about if you’re already in your home? If the floorplan is jarring, maybe there’s a way to rearrange furniture for more space. Or perhaps swapping the rooms around to enhance the practicality of the house (i.e. like switching a bedroom for an office if it provides a quieter working atmosphere).

And if you really want to shake things up, there’s always the option of renovation. Knock our that kitchen wall to make a spacious living and dining area – it’s your home, so go for it!

Bottom line: if the house’s layout feels comfortable and inviting to you, then rest assured you can fill this house with the things that will make it a home for you.

2. Don’t wait – Decorate!

While it is easy to want to take things slow with decorating, making sure every minute thing is aptly placed, studies show it’s better to just get to hanging! And this goes for both groups of people: new homeowners and those who have been in their homes for years. Being in a new home can often make you wait on hammering into your walls for fear of wanting to get everything just right. But chances are, you’ll only take a long time deciding and your home will take longer to feel like “your” place. So trust the experts here and turn on your inner Joanna Gaines. The faster you do, the more at home you’ll feel! And the sooner you’ll figure out if you need new decorations!

And even if you’ve been in your home a while, sometimes those paintings and pictures need a freshening up. Take stock of what you’ve got up on your walls. Does it reflect who you are as an individual or family now? Does it help represent the things you like and value? If not, then now’s the time to spruce! We spend so much time in our homes, it’s worth it to have things surrounding us that bring us happiness and joy. It’s your house, so you can always make it look like your home!

3. Do the things you love in your home

Home is the place you go to rest, to rejuvenate, to recoup. But it’s also the place you throw parties, have barbecues and hang out. So make sure to do the things in your home that make it feel like right! If you’re a family that loves to snuggle up for Friday night movies, do it! Pop some corn and rent the latest Disney flick. Or if you’re a young couple who loves to host fun dinner parties, go for it! Send the invitations and start party prepping. Do you have a great green thumb? Work for that gardener of the year award and have the best yard on the block.

Whether you’re happily settled in your home, or looking for new, these are a few tips that can help your house transform into a home. Trust in the structure of your home, decorate with things that bring you joy, and do the things you love! With these three tips, you can always say for your house that there’s no place like home.