When Does a House Become a Home?
The personality of your home. Each home has its own personality, and how well that personality meshes with your own can make a big difference in how you feel about your home. If you haven’t thought of your home as having a personality before, it might seem strange — but if you give it a try, you may be surprised at what you find. Is your home quirky, sweet, a bit curmudgeonly? Neat? Warm? Mysterious?
Settling in and getting things just right. Moving furniture, trying different layouts and even swapping rooms can make an enormous difference in how you feel about a place. When we first moved into our home, we set up our rooms in much the same way as the past owners — something many of us do without even realizing it! If things aren’t feeling right, roll up your sleeves and try something new.
If this is the case, do everything you can to put your own stamp on the home, using all of the senses. Play your favorite music, clean and scrub every inch of the walls and floors with a pleasant-smelling cleaning product, open the windows to let fresh air in, cook your favorite meal in the kitchen and paint and decorate the way you like.