Please note: this is a contributed post.
Have you moved into your new house, condo, townhome, or apartment but are wondering why it doesn’t feel like home? We know this may sound like the craziest title since you first picked up a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy because a home is just those four walls you call your own. But think about it for a minute – how are you going to decorate your home and office in your brand new space?
It takes a lot more than living in a space to actually make a place feel warm, cozy, welcoming, familiar, friendly and distinctly yours. It takes little moments of familiarity that make you go, “awwww, yes – this is my happy place; this is home”. Of course, you probably knew this already. What you might not have realized, however, is there are certain things you’ve done to your home that are preventing it from feeling the way you want.
So, without further ado, here are some of the most common home decorating mistakes you need to undo this weekend.
No More Matching at Home
When all the furniture matches (matching pillows, curtains, upholstery, etc.), a home can feel a little sterile, a little boring, and a little un-lived-in. That’s why you need to embrace a pinch of mismatching and start combining different colors, different patterns, different textures, and different styles together. This simple decorating tip will instantly transform the rooms throughout your home very quickly.
Don’t Just Buy New Things
People love a contemporary look these days, but having a home filled with the latest and greatest furnishings is not always the most welcoming. No one wants to live in a home that resembles a furniture showroom. Shop around at flea markets, thrift stores, and consignment stores to find a few vintage collectibles to sprinkle throughout your home.
Shabby chic items, where the furniture is a little worn and torn around the edges, or a few vintage, mid-century modern pieces can give your home just the atmosphere you are looking for. You can still go shopping for a few new pieces – look for throw pillows, lamps, and decorative items that you can combine with your one-of-a-kind vintage treasures.
The Power of Scent
The most powerful sense we have is in our noses. That’s why you should make sure your home has a specific scent, one that hits you with a calming and joyous feeling the moment you open your front door after a challenging day at work. It could be a diffuser filled with lavender or coconut essential oil or a vase filled with fresh flowers.
If citrus scents are more your style, scatter a few orange or lemongrass scented candles throughout your home. Even something as simple as using pine-scented cleaning products can be the perfect touch. The point is: a distinctive and familiar fragrance can help make your house feel more like home.
Don’t Forget Your Walls
Art is one of the secret ingredients when it comes to making a home feel more like your personal space. Decorative artwork, or even affordable framed posters, helps transform boring, plain, empty walls. One or two statement pieces help give your space that special wow factor.
Antiques Aren’t Always Good
Yes, great art can cost a premium, but even “bad” art (think vintage 1960s thrift store treasures) can do a lot to make your house feel more comfy and cozy. It could be as simple as adding a wall filled with collectible plates you found during your visit to the community yard sale or any of the fabulous decorating ideas found at My Mad Little Family’s house. It could even be a dramatic gallery wall filled with oversized prints. No matter your decorating style – you’ll soon have a customized space that feels like home.
Think about it: most people don’t feel comfortable sitting in a living room that is filled with precious (get your feet off the table!) dark wood furniture, oriental rugs, and ancient trinkets that look more fragile than single pane glass. Yes, it may look stylish, but you need to throw in some comfy furnishings too.
Best Places to Find Vintage Collectibles
- Thrift stores
- Consignment shops
- Estate sales
- Live auctions
- Garage sales
- Flea markets
- Community yard sales
- Online – think Etsy, Ebay, RubyLane, etc.
- Department stores – to find great deals/sales
Let’s Keep in Touch
Do you have any tips or tricks you’d like to share? Leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email: info@thecreativecottage.net and I just might feature your story in a future blog post.
Take care,
Lynn Smythe
Founder and Chief Blogger
The Creative Cottage
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