10 Simple Ways to Fall in Love With Your Home
Inside: How to love your home all over again by bonding with it emotionally. Sounds weird. Changes your life anyway.
I used to love running errands. Not because I liked the aisles of the grocery store, but because I wanted to get out of the house, a house that felt strangely boring and stressful all at once.
It was what most people would consider “nice.” But I couldn’t stand being there. A little dark, a little messy. Nothing terrible. But just…I don’t know. I wanted out most of the time. You too?
The good news? We can change that. And don’t worry, we aren’t painting, buying lighting, or shopping for throw pillows. We’re making it a place you love, in all the human ways that matter.
You can’t buy that, but you can create it. Here’s how.
1. Make a reading spot
Make sure you own at least ten books that you love to read and are easily accessible to you in your living room. Not classics that you think you should be reading, but books that you truly love, whether they be novels or home decor books.
Group them together on a shelf in the room you are most frequently in. Try to get in the habit of settling down to read instead of watching TV. It feels more productive and not so gross.
2. Start planning your meals
Nothing is more damaging to the budget than going out to eat for dinner all the time. The most difficult and most important part of getting dinner on the table is having a plan.
Even if it is frozen pizza and carrot sticks, have that plan either written down or firmly planted in your mind.
You won’t feel anxious all afternoon because you have no idea what to serve for dinner, and won’t be forced to waste time and money going out to get something at the last minute. Knowing what’s for dinner for the whole week is very peaceful, but just having one day planned is a good start.
3. Do all your housework in the morning
Work as hard as you can all morning, to the point that you are maybe a little overworked. I like to set up a weekly schedule with specific things to focus on each day, but it’s not necessary if it doesn’t interest you. Make your bed and clean the bedrooms every morning.
Do a bunch of laundry, clean the house, arrange your bookshelves. Stay busy.
Then when afternoon comes, you can take a break… but you won’t be bored. Boredom is the enemy of staying home. Getting everything done in the morning allows you to focus on dinner in the afternoon. You can turn on the radio and have a drink while you cook.
You start feeling that maybe being home is fun.
4. Grow something
Anything. A big garden, a small garden, herbs in containers, a house plant. The more things that are at your house that require care, the stronger your connection to your home. The stronger the connection to your home, the less you will want to get out all the time.
Plants can be beautiful, they can be useful, but the most important thing about them is the care they take and the emotional response that creates. Maybe this sounds a bit wacky to you. Try it anyway.
5. Automate less
Having a bunch of machines running the show does not make you feel like you want to be at home. It makes you feel like you are not really that important and might as well be out shopping.
I love many of my machines: the dishwasher, vacuum, bread maker, and deep fryer are all my friends.
But don’t neglect the human element of your home. Everything you can do by hand at home strengthens your bond to it. Sweeping by hand, hanging your laundry, or heating water in a kettle instead of the microwave will all affect your sense of home satisfaction.
Just a few things done by hand will make a difference.
6. Do something creative every day
Not cooking, cleaning, gardening, or laundry. Something else.
You can create a pretty photograph, a napkin you’ve sewn, or a new gallery wall. It doesn’t have to mean retreating to your art studio or composing a song.
Obviously, completing one project a day is not realistic, but working on one every day is usually doable, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Keeping up this takes you out of the consumerist mindset that tells you your main function is to buy things.
7. Declutter and beautify
Not decorating. I don’t know how to do that.
I just mean taking your everyday practical spaces and making them appealing to you.
For me, this means natural materials, warm neutrals, and visual calm. For you, this might mean bright colors, lots of modern art, and lots of energy.
In my shower and by my sink, I’ve switched everything to wooden brushes and clear bottles, and now those practical spaces are uplifting instead of soul-crushing.
Try making your cabinets and fridge pretty when you open them. It is depressing to pull a drawer open and see a jumbled mess. This is hard for me and I have to make a conscious effort at this. But when I open a door and find everything looking pretty and organized, it’s like a little gift to myself.
8. Change the view out your window
What do you see when you look out your windows? Your old deck furniture and some cracking planters? The back of someone else’s house? A bunch of outdoor toys sitting around? Perhaps the curtains are always closed?
Change it, as much as you can, to something you’ll enjoy. This might mean putting some flowerpots out. It might mean making your kids put their outdoor toys away every time they are done. Maybe a bird feeder would help, or even just bird seed scattered on the ground every morning.
Looking out the window should be a happy thing.
9. Get some natural light and fresh air
This is the difference between a home and a prison. Open the curtains unless it is night. Open the windows whenever you can. Air out your bedrooms early in the morning. If it’s cold out, shut the bedroom door so cold air doesn’t rush through the house.
Find the sunniest corner of your house and put a chair there. Spend the mornings in places that face east and the afternoons in places that face west. It’s good for you.
10. Change things up
There is plenty you can do to mix things up around the house without spending any money.
- Rearrange your furniture to make a conversation grouping instead of facing the TV.
- Style your bookshelves by mixing in some picture frames and vases that you already have.
- Simply rearranging throw pillows, blankets, frames, and fresh flowers makes a big impact.
- Keep in mind many small things can look like clutter, but a few bigger ones make more of a statement.
Love your home
When you take care of your house, it will take care of you. There will always be days you’re itching to get out, but I hope these changes make you happier where you spend most of your time.
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
What a brilliant article! Absolute common sense, practical, easy and very do-able strategies to make our homes 🏡 pleasant and inviting spaces. I’m inspired!🥰
Hi maria! thank you so much! I’m so happy it was helpful 🙂
Well said! These are great ideas. A happy woman at home equals happy children and a happy husband.
Thank you for this – it made me smile.
thank you for letting me know this 🙂
Hi…. I love your article…. I already do some of these things but you have given me lots of ideas for doing more! I love trying to use what I have, maybe repurposing items and using them in a different way. Thank you 😊
Hey Kim, i’m so glad you liked the article. Thanks for letting me know ❤️.
Muchas gracias por compartirnos estas bellas ideas, que nos hacen sentirnos mucho mejor, mas realizadas y recordar cosas que ya habíamos olvidado.
Son preciosas y encantadoras las sugerencias, todo es encantados bello y delicado.
muchas gracias.
Hi loved your post. I do these things. Except creating something this is so important to just take time for yourself do something you enjoy or something you want to do but never took the time.I learnt the hard way when I needed surgery and stuck inside my home. There are so many things you can do at home and be creative make it beautiful. Thank you for the post and enjoy every thing you do.
thank you so much karen ❤️. i hope you are recovered.
You are so insightful, I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Planning to try several of you ideas.
I love your suggestions. I am getting ready to retire/rewire after 47 years of full time employment. My work situation has forced me to make this decision earlier than I wanted, but I am trying to adjust. I was wondering how to plan my days as I am a Ennegram 6 – Organizer and Planner. I will take your suggestions of getting my work done early in the day and then spend my afternoons doing something creative, working in my garden, cooking good meals, and enjoying my home. I am relearning how to love my new life of being home and having time to actually do things I want to do and have not had time to do for many years. Thank you for the encouragement and wisdom to help me make a plan.
Love your suggestions. Practical, good advice.
thank you margo, so kind
Love this so much!
Thank you, this was good practical advice and made me feel comforted 🙂
I loved everything about this post. We are building a small cottage for my retirement years, and I want to use all of your ideas to love my home, and be happy there. Thank you.
Although i consider that i already do most of the things suggested here, it has been so lovely reading through largely because for me it’s almost an affirmation or an affirmative that it is perfectly alright to indulge in your home in little whimsical ways and have beauty and comfort surrounding you and not be made to feel guilty or selfish and yes it does make you feel safe, secure and warm inside, my home is my bolt hole in my life and i love it dearly, thankyou for your lovely article.
Hi – I’m in Australia and I’m 50 years old and recently quit my job to be a homemaker. I have to 2 teens with additional needs – and a needy husband too :). We love our home for all the reasons you have stated above. It too is 50 years old, but I’m always working to making our house feel like a home and was so pleased to read your article as it has put a reason around everything I do. Now I know why I do it x Thanks so much
I have been loving your beautiful blog and the way you encourage your readers to value home and our families. Thank you.
thank you. suzanna you’re so kind ❤️❤️❤️
I recently remodeled/redecorated my French Normandy home. I LOVE MY HOME….and once my divorce was all settled I could upgrade my 36 yr old home. Using my strong intuition and fav colors of pinks, teals and whites, I had every room rewallpapered, antique furniture with traditional and even some modern pieces.My kitchen backsplash is a handcrafted teal mermaid tail design, blush velvet stools/chairs and oversized teal floral sofa. Who knew I was a maximalist?! It ended up a version of French/English Cottage, Coastal design, romantic, whimsical and elegant…very much ME. I get raves and I entertain so much more now.
To love your home, you also need to love yourself. Most people I know, when they are home, don’t take much care in their appearance e.g. no makeup, hair in a ponytail (maybe not washed yet), wearing any old thing. This isn’t good for you mentally because it means your home isn’t important.
I learned this. I lost my dream job as a college professor during Covid when the college went through a radical downsizing. I went back to being a program manager in the military industrial complex where I led teams and traveled internationally. But my heart wasn’t in it and after a few years I took early retirement. At first being home was like a life sentence. I live in a beautiful home in the country on over 50 acres. But I really didn’t want to be there so I was only seeing the negative. My wardrobe went from business dress to jeans and t-shirts. That was 6 months ago. I changed my attitude and started looking at how lucky I was to be living here with time to pursue some hobbies and that helped. But the biggest difference came when I realized that just because I am home doesn’t mean I can’t wear things that make me feel good about myself. After all, in summer pretty sundresses are cooler than shorts and tees anyway. It doesn’t matter if no one else sees what I am wearing it makes me feel better about myself. I am now at a point where I love my home and love being here.
A bit of rambling but it was a journey.
Hi Debra, how wise and strong you are, it’s strange how things that we cannot control in life sometimes make us stronger especially when it turns out well in the end, it seems to give us a kind of wake up call to what is important to us to get through each day. Well done
Wonderful article reminding of what truly matters. So interesting reading the comments here, as well — we think if we only could have that extra thing it would make all the difference, but it’s really not about that; although I love scrolling pinterest or even zillow for inspiration (anyone else do CIRCA?), sometimes it can be too much and I find myself thinking it would all be so much better, IF… (more land, older house, new yada yada…). But the grass will always look greener over there if that’s where all my focus is. Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughtful suggestions, this gives me a nice nudge in the right direction to make my home my family’s own little sanctuary. 🙂
Thank you Katie for your down to earth ideas that are pretty easy to use in our homes! I have collected to many things over the years being 62 and I need to keep slimming down my home! I love your sweet ideas and appreciate your wonderful ideas! Sincerely, Cheryl Frey retired 2nd grade teacher.
Thank you for sharing this post. I’m 75 years young and the things you have outlined is what I’ve tried to do every day for many years. I can truly say I love being at home and I love the way I feel when I walk through the door. Many friends and family have shared they love coming to my home too. For many years we had large homes busy with 5 children and all their activities and learning! Now it’s just the 2 of us in a condo but I have a sign on my wall that says “Breathe — you’re home”! A sanctuary from the crazy world around us for sure.
I loved this post, thank you so much!!! It’s been a goal of mine recently to enjoy being home more and I’ve really been working on it. I have to say that your post was so worthwhile to read and I plan to start implementing your great ideas! Balance encourages happiness and I too believe that when we do something creative each day it can be a game changer. Thanks again and bless you!