There are so many little ways to make your house feel like home. You can certainly run out to your nearest Homegoods and walk out with a cart overflowing with pillows and throw blankets. Some of the most beautifully decorated mansions still do not feel like home. On the other hand, you can have a very minimalist house; necessities only, and your family calls it home. This post is about ways you can make your home feel like home; your little sanctuary of peace at ZERO cost to you – that’s right, FREE.
“Home is not a place, it’s a feeling”.
You know that feeling when you walk through the door after a long trip as you take a deep breath and a sigh of relief? That feeling! That’s home!
With that being said, here are Seven ways to make your house a HOME.
1. Making Memories in your Home: Family traditions
The first way to turn your house into a home is by making memories and starting family traditions. Not growing up with many traditions besides the holiday season; makes this topic special to me. But what about the rest of the year? Over the years, things like Meatloaf Monday, Taco Tuesday, Pizza and Wings Friday, Game Night, Donut Day, etc have become a thing in our home, and I’m here for it. One of my personal favorites to add is Dance Parties! It doesn’t matter if you have the moves or not; turn on some music that will surely bring out your inner child and fill your home with joy, love, and laughter.
Some other ideas for making memories are “Highlight of the day, Compliment and encourage”. At the end of the day, each person takes turns and shares their highlights (best part of the day), the low of their day, and what they could do differently. Complimenting and encouraging; you can name it whatever you please, but it simply means that whenever someone in your home feels down and pessimistic about their situation, everyone stops what they are doing and encourages and speaks life to that person.
2. Having a Clean Home:
This one could’ve gone first, but having a clean space is one sure-free way to make a house feel like home. I touched on this topic in the 5 Ways to Make Your Home Peaceful and Inviting post, Which is still valid. A clean home is a foundation for making your house feel like home. I am not sure about you, but I feel like I cannot breathe or focus in a messy home. I am not talking about a little mess here and junk mail there. I am talking about the accumulated mess that adds up little by little, and before you know it, the whole house needs a serious cleaning. When my home is a mess, I feel my life is a mess, and if my life is a mess, I am a hot mess. Let’s not be hot mess mamas. A clean home is a foundation for filling your home with the peace you desire. Create a cleaning schedule that works for you. At the end of this post, you can download the free printable cleaning schedule that can help get you started.
3. Building emotional connections with the people you live with.
Next, Building emotional connections with the people you live with, is a free way to make your house a home. There is a difference between enjoying spending time with one another and simply being roommates. You come in you may or may not say “hello” -like teenagers and go straight to your room and close the door. We want to enjoy our homes. Building a real emotional connection will surely make living in your house feel like home. So, as mothers and homemakers, this may look like asking everyone, “How was your day?” over dinner or an after-school snack (electronics putaway). Building emotional connections could also look like spending one-on-one time with each of your children and doing something they enjoy.
“Love builds a happy home”.
4. Music to my ears:
Now on to one of my favorites; Music. If you’re a music lover like myself, then you already know. Call me an old soul, but for me, it’s just something about turning on the record player or good playlist and grooving while cooking and doing housework, as the curtains are blowing from the fresh breeze. Oh, my heart! It just sets my soul on fire. That’s what makes a house a home.
5. The Smell of your Home:
Besides having a clean-smelling home…FOOD! Oh. You know the feeling you get when you walk into grandma’s for Sunday dinner as the smell of food greets you at the door. HOME! Or “I remember grandma always had something sweet on the counter”. The food is so warm and inviting. Issues can be resolved simply over a good meal.
If having too many hands in the kitchen messes up your flow, remember this isn’t everyday life. It’s okay to switch things up every once in a while, even if it takes you longer than usual. So, what are you waiting for? Gather your herd and get cooking!
“And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.”
Ecclesiastes 3:13 NLT
6. A Peaceful place of Rest:
Have you ever walked into a friend or family member’s home and instantly felt relaxed and at home? And then wondered if your homemade others feel the same. Or maybe you asked yourself, why doesn’t my home; make me feel this way? I recently did a post about 5 ways to Make Your Home Peaceful and Inviting ( read it here )
7. The Ambiance of the Home
Imagine walking into a clean home, with the windows open and the curtains blowing in the breeze, birds chirping, nice music softly playing in the background and a homemade meal ready to share with the people you love. It doesn’t get much better than that. There you have it mama’s, 7 free ways to turn your house into a home without spending money.
If you enjoyed the post and found it helpful, leave your comments below. Have something you’d like to add? In this community, sharing is welcomed, and you never know who could benefit from it. We would love to hear from you, chime in below.
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