A while back, I shared a personal post on how I wasn’t feeling completely in love with our home and where we live. I have since then vowed to practice more gratitude towards our home and make it a space that I can fall back in love with. Fast forward to many years later and I have grown to love our home with all of my heart. I transformed it into a space that brings warmth, comfort, and all the joy. So much so, that I have become quite the homebody.
If you sometimes feel the same way as I do, maybe the below will help spark some happiness in you or re-ignite the love you have for your own space.
I know not all of these will pertain to everyone, but these are changes and things that my husband and I personally tackled and accomplished that has helped lift my spirits and spark joy.
— De-clutter. This is always the first thing I do when I start to feel like I’m in a rut. It’s amazing how much better you feel in a space that feels clean and intentional. I even went as far as cleaning out items in our basement/storage. It just feels “lighter” to get rid of things that no longer serve you. I can’t speak enough about this. And also, de-cluttering never ends, here! It is something I am constantly mindful of and doing.
— Add life. As in plants! There are a wide variety of house plants that not only look beautiful, but can purify the air in your home. If you have pets, be careful to do your research and choose plants that are non-toxic to them.
— Re-organize. As a part of the de-cluttering process, I also re-organized. When we moved into this house, I kind of just put things where I thought they should go, but now that we have lived here, I realized that I wanted some things moved around for easier access/availability/etc. I finally sorted through and re-organized drawers, cabinets, etc. The flow of our home feels much better now. And of course, I got rid of a lot of “junk” along the way.
— Put what you love on display. I like to keep most surfaces clear (it helps manage the clutter) but when I do need to fill an area, I do so with things that make me happy. For me personally, that is books, plants, and other natural elements like crystals or shells. If something makes you happy, show it off.
— Make simple improvements (or big improvements). We did both, including new window treatments and a new deck. Yes, the new deck is a huge improvement but we did this because the old deck was rotted when we bought it and it definitely hindered our use of the backyard. For our safety (and use), it was important to finally save up and do this. I can’t tell you how much better it has made me feel already. I have been using the deck non-stop (playing/coloring outside with Willow, meditating/relaxing in the morning, working outside, etc.) It has brought me so much joy and was an investment/improvement that we really needed.
As for the window treatment, the old owners of this house used old-school blinds in some spots of the house and they were not my style (and also pretty beat up). Since we had a dumpster for the deck removal, we decided to finally take down these treatments and use rods and curtains that we had. Not only do the spaces feel our own now, but so much brighter!
After doing these few things, we felt really good and accomplished. We also created a list of action items for the next few years (again, some big, some small). Having goals in mind for the inside of our home and even outside has given us something to look forward to and ignited some excitement and anticipation.
— Add personal touches to the walls. We put up a gallery wall of our favorite family moments and this has been one of my favorite additions.
— Make repairs where needed. Repairs such as fixing door hinges or just paint-touch ups. We went around and took a good look at all “pain points” that we had been putting off. Simple and quick fixes make such a big difference.
— Aromatherapy. Find a scent that makes you happy and fill your home with it. I really love eucalyptus, so I have been diffusing the oil every morning. It sets a great tone for my day and makes the living room/kitchen smell great. I also use my own cleaning products (water and vinegar solution) so I decided to add the oil to those, as well.
Whatever you enjoy, oils or candles or whatever, it’s comforting to keep these smells alive in your home.
— Get up early and spend time with your space. I have been making an effort to sit quietly and reflect in the morning. I grab a cup of tea or coffee and just focus on the good in our house. I admire the things I love about it and give thanks to it.
— Mortgage refinance. This is something that isn’t for everyone, but the universe aligned for us at a moment where I was feeling very suffocated with the mortgage, bills, etc. We were able to work out a lower interest rate on our home which resulted in a significantly lower monthly mortgage. I can’t tell you how lucky I feel that this happened. It never hurts to find out if you can make something like this happen.
— Invest in good bedding. In the past, I am the kind of person who goes to Target, grabs the cheap bedding, and goes on my way. But I am working on buying less and investing in items that will actually last. Good quality over quantity. I care very much about the comfort of our bed. We sleep in it every single night, right? Why not invest in it? For our health and comfort, I finally decided to pull the trigger on linen sheets. I waited for a great deal ($50 off!) and I am so happy I did. My husband and I literally wake up every morning saying “I LOVE THESE SHEETS.”
Also, I am not saying you need to spend money to love your home. Of course, you can do anything on a budget! But this was something I personally wanted to invest in because it has always enticed me. I have no regrets because I know we will get our money’s worth for years to come. Eco-friendly, fair trade, comfort, breathability, durability, quality… these are all things that made this purchase worth it for us. Here are the sheets we decided on, if you are interested.
— Visit your local thrift store. You can find some decor gems on a budget at the thrift store, whether wicker baskets, pottery, picture frames, etc. If your decor needs a refresh, head over and see what unique treasures you can find. I love wicker baskets for organizing and I will buy thrift. They are never more than a few dollars, to be honest! They help me organize while still keeping in line with our home’s laid back/minimal style.
— If you are in the market for a big item, ask around. We really wanted patio furniture for the new deck, but you know… expensive (on top of already redoing the deck). I mentioned it to my mom and she actually had an extra set in storage that she wasn’t going to use. SCORE. I am lucky it was my mom, but it could be anyone. Friends, extended family, etc. If you are in the market for something, post about it on Facebook or Instagram and just see! It’s worth a shot. Now we have a beautiful piece for our new space that has been a game-changer for me. I love to spend quiet moments on the deck first thing in the morning.
— Practice hygge. Pronounced “hue-guh,” this is a Danish term that is hard to translate in English, but the idea is creating coziness and intimacy in your life and home. It really sparked my interest because I get seasonal depression and this felt like something I should practice during the cold winter months. Some of the things that I have been doing is creating cozy spaces, mood lighting, and being more mindful of moments in our day.
— Remind yourself of the obvious. Your home is your shelter. It keeps you safe, shielded, warm, and protected. Anytime I start to feel down about where we live, I focus on these mantras. It’s a gentle reminder that your house is more than just a floor plan.
For me, the above and a change in mindset is what really kicked things off (you know, the realization that I need to practice gratitude because we are truly very lucky). In my case, comfort, coziness, minimalism, and cleanliness are key. Prioritize your needs and make an action plan.
Thanks for being here, as always. xx bianca
