10 Easy and Inexpensive Ways to Love Your Home

It took me a VERY long time to love our home.  We didn't have time to do any updates before moving in, which meant we had to live with all the original 1970's fixtures and finishes.  We took our time making improvements and worked room by room as time and money permitted.   I've mentioned before that this was never supposed to be our forever home.  I always dreamed of moving into a larger home with more space and property.  Although, now that I am older (and I like to believe wiser) I know it is in our best financial interest to stay in our current home and live comfortably.

That doesn't mean I don't wish I could make a few changes, updating and expanding our kitchen is on the top of the list.  Do I get overwhelmed at all the work that goes into owning a home?  Yes.  Do I wish I had a bottomless budget when it comes to decorating?  Yes.  Do I love my home even though there's more work to be done?  Of course.

Try not to stress about making your home perfect.  Give yourself a break and let things happen as time and money allows.  I promise it will all come together and you will be happy that you didn't rush the process.

Here's 10 ways to love your home just in case you need a little boost!

Properly lit rooms always feel larger and more put together.  Natural light is always best, but by simply adding a floor or table lamp or painting your walls a bright, neutral color can take your room from dark and dim to light and bright.

I tend to get overwhelmed when piles start forming and toys start overflowing from toy boxes.   When I get rid of things we don't need and our house is put in order I find I'm in a much better mood and actually enjoy our home.  It truly is amazing how much calmer and more enjoyable your home is when it's neat and put together.

I went through a phase where most mornings I would roll out of bed, get in the shower and barely get myself and the kids out the door.  There was no time for making the bed or putting our breakfast dishes in the dishwasher.  Heck, it was a successful morning if the dishes even made it into the kitchen and we weren't late for work or school.  Even though we always made it out of the house on time, I would come home from work to a mess every evening.  It wasn't until I finally forced myself to make my bed every morning (and close the closet doors!) that I felt better not only about my room, but I was happier leaving the house.  Plus there's nothing better than crawling into a neat a tidy bed at night. 

Cleaning, who has time for that?  I can barely keep up on laundry and get meals on the table let alone make sure my home is free of dust and hair balls.

I'll be the first to admit, I definitely don't clean as much as I should.  I have a Golden Retriever who sheds like crazy, kids who insist on putting their hands all over the windows and dark furniture that acts as constant dust collectors.  I do what I can, but I don't always have time to do a lot of deep cleaning.  That doesn't mean what you do have time for can't make a difference.   Just waking up to a clean kitchen and getting the dog hair off the floor is a huge mood changer in our house.  Having a clean toilet and a toothpaste free sink is just icing on the cake.  

It doesn't matter if it's a piece of furniture, a family picture or a special piece that reminds you of an amazing family memory, surrounding yourself with meaningful items will not only make your house feel more like a home, but you'll enjoy your home that much more.

We didn't have a large renovation budget when we first moved into our home.  Honestly, our mortgage and expenses were doubling and I was freaking out.  I knew full room renovations were out of the question and I would have to learn to work with what we had. Our hall bathroom was covered in 1970's floral wallpaper, dated sky blue tile and a cracked acrylic fiberglass tub.  I knew I could make minor updates, but the dated tile had to stay.

Nice, huh?

Instead of trying to work around or cover up the tile I decided to work with it.  I removed the wallpaper, painted the door and vanity, updated the light fixture and mirror and picked a color scheme that blended the tile into the rest of the space.  It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but it was good enough and I actually really enjoyed the space.

Don't get me wrong, there are many bright and colorful spaces that I love, but sometimes having too much color and pattern can be a bit overwhelming.  If you are feeling like your space isn't coming together or is a hodgepodge of mis-matched hand-me-downs, I challenge you to neutralize as much as you can.  Bring in more neutrals (that may mean you have to paint your current furniture or decor items) and pick only 2-3 colors to bring back into the space.

Throw pillows are an easy way to update and freshen your space.  They can instantly bring your dated or worn out sofa back to life with very minimal expense.  Swap pillows out from season to season and give your space a whole new look.

Do you have nail pops, cracks in your walls, dingy baseboards or minor issues that need to be fixed? You can make a dramatic difference in the way your home feels by simply taking a few hours to touch up paint or make a few quick fixes.  I tend to be a little rough with the vacuum, especially in our dining room.  It's amazing how much fresher and cleaner our home feels after a fresh coat of bright, white trim paint.  

There's no better way than having your favorite people over to make your home feel loved. Hang out in your favorite room, laugh, smile and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Your home doesn't have to be perfect to be loved.  If you're anything like me, you've worked hard updating and decorating your home.   Take a moment, relax, and appreciate what you've worked so hard to create.  Remember, a house doesn't turn into a home overnight.

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