Your home is your HAVEN
Does your home reflect who you really are?
Have you settled for less because it’s not your forever home or your dream home?
Why do you think Pinterest and Instagram have taken the world by a storm?
It’s because they showcase how creative and unique we are as individuals – and deep down we love that.
Why? Because it inspires us and makes us believe anything is possible. I don’t know about you – but I want to leave the world a better place than I found it. I want to make a difference –
Together we can create homes that produce – Happy, Emotionally Healthy People –
So, without further ado…here are:
25 Ways to create your own personal style – despite your lack of: Time – Talent – or – Budget!
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Address all 5 senses:
God created us aesthetic creatures – Just think – He could have created a world that was all black and white and we would not have known the difference but instead He created millions of colors — textures — smells and sounds because He created us to appreciate all those things.- Consider function first:
You want your home to be attractive but you also want it to be user friendly… Make sure the things you bring into your life function for the way you live TODAY – not sometime in the future.
“Things” should enhance your life not cause you stress.
Example: If you still have small kids (your own or grands) eating meals at your kitchen table, it doesn’t make sense to invest money in a high dollar rug that’s sure to get spilled on. Either forgo the rug completely or choose one that’s easily cleaned. - Never underestimate the power of paint:
Nothing spiff’s up tired walls, accessories and furniture like paint –
Maybe you have a piece of art you still love but the frame feels dated – Something as simple as painting the frame can refresh the piece and make it feel new again.
(Hubby loves to tell our friends — “she’ll paint anything if it stands still long enough”…and he’s not exaggerating… much) 🙂
* Next time you’re at your local big box store, take a peek at their ‘mis-tint section’ – this is where I purchase most of the paint I use to paint furniture and accessories – for a fraction of the cost of custom colors. - Avoid bold colors on your walls – Unless it’s a color you know you’re going to LOVE for a LONG TIME and if that’s the case- Then have the courage to ‘just go for it.’
Bold colors are a great way to add a punch of color to a room, however when choosing colors to paint an entire room, most of the time it’s best to stick with neutrals.
Color trends come and go, and while it’s tempting to repaint your walls every time you have a (new) “favorite” color – it’s better to stick to a neutral color palette on the walls unless you have tons of time and/or money.
You can always add your latest “favorite color” to the space with accent pieces.
*Message to self — “Joyce are you listening? You might want to re-read that last note one more time” - Get out of your decorating rut by changing things up a bit.
I call this ‘putering’ – nothing thrills my heart like having a day at home to ‘play house.’
Start by clearing all your surfaces and taking the artwork down from the walls >>>
Rearrange and repurpose until your heart’s content – That quilt you once loved and used as the main cover on your bed can now be folded and placed at the foot of another bed as an accent.
*Ask a friend to assist if need be – Then, return the favor by helping her do the same thing. (win-win) 🙂 - Purge your belongings – It doesn’t matter, how much you paid for something or who gave it to you — If it doesn’t make your heart smile when you see it – Let it go – Someone else may see it as a treasure.
If it’s sentimental and you absolutely can’t part with it – store it somewhere so, you don’t see it everyday.
*Better yet…If you’re only attached to the warm fuzzy feeling you get when you see it — Take a photo — you’ll get to keep the memory while letting go of the clutter — and if it “truly” is worth a lot of money but you don’t LOVE it — SELL IT and create a NEW MEMORY with the money.
I know I will get feedback on this..I always do…but do you ‘honestly’ think your grandmother would rather you hang on to something you don’t love because it’s worth a lot of money — TODAY (we all know, tomorrow it may have no value at all) or sell it and take your family on a special vacation or buy that dream home??
* Your home should ONLY be filled with things you (and those who live there) still LOVE TODAY. (okay, rant over) 😉 - Add interest to your room by using a variety of textures:
Soft throws, jute rugs and wicker baskets are examples of how to do this. - Artfully arrange books to ‘lift’ special items you want to draw attention to.
- Use books as accessories:
Create interesting covers to match your decor – with inexpensive scrapbook paper. - Opt for inserts and pillow covers rather than ready made decorative pillows:
For a relatively small investment you can purchase a couple pillow inserts and a variety of covers –
This allows you to change out your pillows to suit your current decorating style – and since covers are easier to store than actual pillows you not only save money but space. - Make wise investments when it comes to your basics:
There are lots of ways to save money when decorating your home – but when it’s time to purchase large ticket items: a sofa for the family room – the chair where you will spend most of your snuggle up time – or – the mattress where you sleep – think INVESTMENT and purchase the absolute best you can afford.
This will actually SAVE you money over time. - Use mirrors to open up a space:
The use of mirrors can make a small space feel larger while making a large space feel cozy and warmer. (don’t ask me how this works – I just know it does) 🙂 - Mix and Match:
Break up your ‘suites’ (i.e. bedroom and dining room) Having everything all matchy- matchy is boring.
Don’t be afraid to move your matching nightstands to another room and replace them with a beautiful antique or chalk painted table or chest. - Maximize your dollar:
Shop local antique markets or thrift stores for artwork and accessories –
* One of my ‘favorite’ pieces of art came from a thrift store for 40 bucks – It’s a large oil painting that would cost a fortune if purchased regular retail. - Repurpose things you would normally use somewhere else:
Example: Use silver serving dishes in your bathroom for soap, cotton balls and q-tips. - Inexpensive frames are a great way to showcase your child’s artwork.
- Create ambient lighting with faux candles – low wattage lamps and dimmers.
“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary” Aaron Rose - Use trays to corral items you use often:
Let’s face it – There are a few things we don’t want to search for every time we use them, but at the same time we don’t want clutter on our counters – Trays are the answer. - Add visual height to a room:
Hanging window panels 3 to 5 inches from ceiling and all the way to the floor gives the illusion of higher ceilings – which makes the space feel more open and spacious. - Make sure your task lighting has the proper wattage.
It’s very tiring to the eyes to work or read with lighting that’s not intended for this purpose. - Don’t save the china for company:
Nothing says “I love and care about you” like pizza or spaghetti served on a beautiful piece of china.
People were made to be loved and things were made to be used – so get that china out and use it. 🙂 - Create memories:
Your favorite memories should be made in the place where you spend 80% of your time – not vacation where you spend 20% (or less) of your time. - Clean out and Organize the garage:
The garage (if you’re blessed enough to have one) should NOT make you cringe when you pull in at the end of a hectic day. (I’m not going to sugar coat this)
Having a messy garage affects you mentally and emotionally, so take the necessary steps (only you know what they are) to DEAL with the mess and make it as attractive as you possibly can. If you can’t do anything else you can make it neat and orderly. - Create a Home – Even if you lease the space:
I’m aware that a lot of you rent the space you call home and you may feel like some of the things I mentioned don’t apply to you –
Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Your home should be the place you can’t wait to ‘get to.’
* Remember….no one ever said “Home is where the mortgage is” …rather….”Home is where the HEART is”
You may have to get a little creative — but it’s totally possible to turn your apartment, duplex or condo into a home. - Last but not least — Carve out a nook that’s YOURS alone!
We all need a place that’s “ours” — somewhere or something we don’t have to share with anyone else.
It may only be a chair or the corner of our bedroom but you need to create a place where you can go to read a book, pray, dream or plan.
*Keep in mind if you still have children at home – they need this also – even if they share a room with a sibling – it make take ‘thinking outside the box’ (like giving each of them a certain time period where they can go to “their room” and be undisturbed.)
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It has been a delight preparing this for you. It’s my way of saying Thanks to my community of loyal subscribers – you won’t find it anywhere else on my site. I appreciate you and Never want to take you for granted –
Keep in mind you can still comment below – or if you’d like to ask me a question feel free to email me at:
joyce@makeyourhomeahaven.com
I will get back to you as soon as I possibly can.