Unless you follow me on Pinterest, you probably don’t know that I love interior design. It’s an art I’ve appreciated for a long time, but have little experience or real knowledge about. Despite wanting to continue living in a small, low-maintenance home in the future, I can still admire the design genius behind floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor-outdoor bathrooms, and grand entrances.
Many of us are dissatisfied– if only slightly– by our current home. Perhaps we wish we had more natural light, or a better space for entertaining. Maybe we dwell with other family members and can only call our bedroom truly our own. And some of us live in an urban environment when we want to be in the country, while others long for nothing more than bustling streets and lively evenings.
It’s hard not to criticize our current home, or hope that our abode will improve in the future.
However, I believe that homes have a greater purpose than satisfying our aesthetic preferences and holding our belongings. A home is an important space, and even if it’s not perfect, it’s possible to love.
Our current home…
I can relate to this conundrum. We currently live in a condo that I like very much; it’s spacious, cozy, and full of light. As we add plants to our small patio garden, I am constantly amazed that I get to live here.
But, I don’t particularly love the city we live in. The San Gabriel Valley, where Pasadena is located, is both urban and suburban in a non-sequitur kind of way. Lately it has been ablaze with latent summer heat– all the more reason to cultivate cacti and other drought-tolerant plants! To the detriment of my palate but the benefit of my wallet is the fact that few good restaurants are to be found nearby. True, I really don’t have much to complain about, but compared to previous places I’ve lived, Pasadena could use a few improvements.
So, to combat whatever discontentment I feel about our current home, I desire to step forward in gratitude and courage. I desire to risk emotional investment in my home because I believe it’s an important place to embrace. As part of living this season to the fullest, here are some things I’m doing to fall in love with my home right now.
How to fall in love with your current home
1) Designate a purpose for each room.
If you have more than one room to use, then give each space a purpose. Use your whole home, not just one chair or bed. Do work in one place and relax in another. Sit outside on a nice day. Read on the couch. Make use of every corner and appreciate all the space you do have.
2) Invite people over.
Sure, perhaps there is no formal dining room, but you can still have friends over for good conversation and a bite to eat. Realizing that our homes are capable of bringing joy to others is important: hospitality does not have to be limited by space.
When we have people over to our place, we enjoy our home so much more: being able to use it to entertain our friends helps us be grateful for it, no matter what inconveniences have presented themselves.
3) Keep it tidy.
An easy way to hate your home is to treat it like the laundry hamper or the dump. Caring for your space can help you enjoy it more Messes, on the other hand, cause dread and stress. Need some cleaning tips? Check out Brittany’s post, 5 secrets of people whose homes are always clean.
4) Decorate it (with plants, perhaps).
Even in a rented space, you can make simple additions to your home to make it more attractive. Try hanging up photos with a clothespin display, or put together a few succulent arrangements by your window. I believe that most homes can be improved by a few indoor plants, and the less maintenance required, the better.
Related: 5 Simple Ways to Decorate On A Budget
5) Build relationships there.
If you are living with other people, spend some time getting to know them– even if they’re already family. The more intimate your relationships at home, the more attractive that space will be.
If you live alone, try getting to know your neighbors, or meeting people in your area that you enjoy spending time with. This can be challenging (we’re still getting to know our neighbors), but it’s worth it. Having people nearby who can support you in emergencies is also invaluable.
6) Find an oasis.
This may sound anti-intuitive, but I think our love for our home can be multiplied when we know we have somewhere else to go. Finding a place outside our homes where we can relax for an afternoon means that when we are at home, we choose to be at home. This oasis can be an old library, a public garden, a park, local coffeeshop, or university campus.
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Daisy, I love these tips. When I got my first home, I was hesitant to have people over until it was ‘done.’ Well I realized it will never be perfectly done, and I started taking pride in my home, entertaining there, and trying not to make excuses for it. Sometimes I find myself telling people it’s small or it’s just a starter home and this and that, but I now fight the urge to do so.
I love all your points! I moved here in June, and for the first time in my 54 years, I’m living alone. I love the peace and quiet. And I’m learning to keep it tidy, as you said. And meeting my neighbors has added to my joy. Being mostly ready for pop in guests is so relaxing. I don’t have to get all anxious and keep apologizing. Just sit and enjoy their company!
I will look around more, since I like what I read, and your philosophy.
Melinda
keep it tidy, decorate, and invite people over! That is so my mantra!
Thank you Anna! I try to hang out in the living room when I’m not doing “serious” work. And I can’t wait for it to cool down so I can sit outside!
Yes! Tidiness (and losing the clutter) is a good way to make a home feel relaxing.
Aw thank you Jessica! I’m glad to hear it!!
That is so fantastic Emilie! And to be honest– not that I speak from experience– I hardly think that any budget affords a perfect home. in fact, sometimes it seems like the more you spend, the more potential the home has for imperfection. Smaller spaces are limiting but at least their “flaws” are finite! haha. I’m so glad you realized that you’re able to make a home together anywhere!
Yes! I didn’t use to love plants but now… well I might be a little too obsessed.
Thanks Camilla! I really appreciate you stopping by my blog. 🙂
That is such a great idea, Maria! Your own wall– I hadn’t thought of that!
Aw so glad to hear, Brittany! Your post on tidiness was so good so I had to share it! 🙂 And yes I have that “unfinished” feeling as well about our place. There are more projects I would like to do, but I’m choosing contentment every step of the way!
You are so right Julie! Yes, you will make a wonderful home in your new place, I have no doubt!
Thank you Jenna! Yes, we’re loving our space right now but I want to make sure we’re using it to the fullest. And there’s a botanical garden near us which definitely functions like an oasis for me. 😉
Yes! I love that idea too. My husband and I currently work in separate rooms because there’s not space for our desks to be in the same room, but we like to also sit at the kitchen table together!
Love it! Plants do make a big difference; I didn’t realize that until recently!
Thanks Jo-Anne! So glad you love your home now.
I am LOVING plants right now! Maybe a little too much.
Thanks girl!
Thanks Jenna! So glad you’re happy with your new home!!!
Yes I can definitely relate with that feeling! I think once we started getting rid of things after the move, it felt a little less chaotic. Still, there are improvements that remain to be made!
Yeah! what you’ve built in your current home is definitely what makes it special!
Glad to hear this, Joy! And oh yes, I can definitely appreciate the importance of a screen door 😉 We’re also in the process of making our home more and more our own; with each step we love it more!
Aw i’m glad they found a way to love their space! It’s true that you can’t do a ton of work in rented places, but there’s so much decor that doesn’t have to be nailed into the wall!
Thank you Cynthia! Yes, I’ve found that coming home after a refreshing few hours outside makes me love my home even more. And I’m so glad you’ve gotten to know your neighbors! We’re finding it a bit challenging but hoping to connect with them more.
This is important! Yesterday I was talking to someone who didn’t like where they lived and it made her miserable and ashamed, but they decorated their space so cute and it made all the difference!
Ahhh I need this. As blessed and grateful as I feel to own our home, the work behind it and slow process in ‘making it ours’ is exhausting and makes me impatient. I wish we had new carpet, that the living room was painted, that our garage was cleaner, that our kitchen could be remodeled, that our porch was screened in to save me from Georgia bugs… and on and on. Thank you for reminding me to love my home!! It IS a process and apartments were easy to settle in. But this is more permanent and I should be grateful that I don’t need to pack boxes at the end of a year.
As much as I dislike our tiny apartment, it is our home, and feels like a home. I know when it’s time to leave I’ll have an emotional connection and tears are expected. It’s where we brought our daughter home from the hospital, where she learned to crawl, walk, etc. I don’t over due the décor and such, because I know it’s temporary and spending the money would be wasteful. I do know a thing or two about making memories and building a relationship there though. (:
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
Love these tips! We moved into our first home almost a year ago, and it’s been a constant project ever since. There are so many DIY renovation projects we want to do. Sometimes I get so frustrated with the fact that it’s an eternal mess, I forget how lucky I am to live there!
xoxo
Kat
I love this! We just bought a house so I’m not having any trouble loving it right now, but this tips were great for helping me make it a home.
These are really great tips Daisy! I couldn’t agree more – #3 and #4 especially! xx
Definitely #4!
Yes yes yes such great advice, took me a while but I love where I live now
I definitely recommend adorning the house with plants – I even have a small plant in the bathroom… And I definitely agree with you that you need to keep every space tidy 🙂 When everything is well organized it looks nice and appealing 🙂
I invite you to read my latest posts 🙂
http://www.travelekspert.com/2015/09/throwback-friday-from-siena-with-love.html
I’m loving having our computers in the living room–makes it so easy to share tidbits with one another as we relax while reading blogs and forums.
Love this! When we first moved in our home, I was head over heels in love. Over time I’ve noticed some flaws, like the paint color, lack of natural light, small spaces, etc. these are really great ideas and I’m going to use them! I think I’m going to start with finding an oasis. Good idea!
This post reminds me how it’s so important to practice gratitude and make the most out of every situation. As we sell our home and prepare to move to the unknown overseas, I realize all the things I love about my first house that I will miss. I also know, that whatever our home may look like in our new location, it will be home because we make it that way. Not because it has all the requirements that we desire, but because we make it a home ourselves. Your tips show some great ways to make a house your own no matter your situation. 🙂
These tips are speaking right to my heart! I LOVE my home, but parts of it are driving me crazy right now because they feel “unfinished.” It usually doesn’t bother me too much, but it’s just that I see the intentional of those rooms and so wish I could furnish and use them. All in good time, I’m sure. 🙂 And thank you for including my post here! I find myself enjoying my home so much more when I keep it tidy.
Great tips. I have a special wall that, even though it’s technically part of my main living area, is just for me. Art I love, a bulletin board and calendar, my desk for work, etc. It’s my favorite spot in the house.
These tips are all so lovely! I particularly like the idea of designating a purpose for each room and building relationships there 🙂
Summer Isn’t Over
Having plants really adds such a cozy feeling to a home!
My husband and I are thinking about buying our first house and we were talking about how this house will not be “perfect” because,,,,budget. As we kept talking, we realized that we were perfectly happy in our current apartment and that it will be the case no mattter where we live. Your post reflects just that and I love it!
This is a great post!! I definitely struggle with being happy at home. I still live with my parents, so my room is my only real space. Definitely gonna try to use these tips to make things better. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Aw I love these tips! I find that keeping my home tidy is a huge factor in how much I love my home on any given day. Such a small thing that really does make a difference.
I love these tips! Especially the one about actually using your home. I’m in an apartment right now, but the only space I really use is my room, bathroom, and kitchen. I should hang out in the living room more really!
Really enjoyed this, Daisy! Especially #6- I hadn’t ever thought about it this way before. So many times I’m just in that routine of work -> go home, but why not choose to spend time somewhere else nice just to break things up a little bit? And YES to knowing your neighbors! Now that I know some of mine, I always want to make it a priority in the future. It makes your home so much more homey to see familiar faces instead of strangers.