Fun Houzz: Help! How Can I Fall in Love With My Home Again?
Has the romance with your house died? Are you failing to feel the love for your pad? The Houzz interiors agony aunt has some advice…
Our relationship with our home is constantly evolving. From the flush of young love when you first get together, to a comfortable middle period when things calm down but you’re still willing to overlook your home’s faults, and finally to the inevitable over-familiarity. At this point, we can fall out of love with our homes. They no longer thrill us. We only see their drawbacks. We are out of ideas about how to reinvigorate the owner-home relationship.
If this is you, don’t panic! Houzz’s interiors agony aunt has the answers to 10 of the most common domestic complaints. So read on and get ready to fall for your home all over again.
If this is you, don’t panic! Houzz’s interiors agony aunt has the answers to 10 of the most common domestic complaints. So read on and get ready to fall for your home all over again.
Ditch the baggage
Your home has been putting on weight in recent years. It’s carrying a lot of extra baggage and you don’t find it as attractive any more.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘We can all become weighed down as we go through life, but shedding the excess is good for your home’s health and its looks. Try a thorough declutter, sorting bits and pieces into those you must keep, those you can give to charity, and those you can bin. It can be surprising how much lighter your home will look as a result.’
Discover ways to declutter your home
Your home has been putting on weight in recent years. It’s carrying a lot of extra baggage and you don’t find it as attractive any more.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘We can all become weighed down as we go through life, but shedding the excess is good for your home’s health and its looks. Try a thorough declutter, sorting bits and pieces into those you must keep, those you can give to charity, and those you can bin. It can be surprising how much lighter your home will look as a result.’
Discover ways to declutter your home
Bring it up to date
Your home has been wearing the same neutral outfit for years, but you would like it to dress differently to move with the times.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Here is one word that can really help: upcycling. Try painting your furniture or cabinetry in a fresh shade to bring your home’s look up to date. If that sounds like hard work, why not encourage your home to accessorise? It’s an easy way to freshen up a pared-down look. New cushions in bright tones, a colourful rug or a gorgeous throw can all reinvent your home’s look without forcing it to commit to a total restyle.’
Read about the secrets of successful upcycling
Your home has been wearing the same neutral outfit for years, but you would like it to dress differently to move with the times.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Here is one word that can really help: upcycling. Try painting your furniture or cabinetry in a fresh shade to bring your home’s look up to date. If that sounds like hard work, why not encourage your home to accessorise? It’s an easy way to freshen up a pared-down look. New cushions in bright tones, a colourful rug or a gorgeous throw can all reinvent your home’s look without forcing it to commit to a total restyle.’
Read about the secrets of successful upcycling
Spice up staying in
You stay in together all the time, but it doesn’t feel special. How can you create a date night atmosphere?
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Staying in has been the new going out for some time now, but it’s still worth making the effort so a night at home feels special. Light candles, play some music and turn off your mobile phone. Get your table dressed up in your best china and real napkins, then enjoy a favourite dinner.’
You stay in together all the time, but it doesn’t feel special. How can you create a date night atmosphere?
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Staying in has been the new going out for some time now, but it’s still worth making the effort so a night at home feels special. Light candles, play some music and turn off your mobile phone. Get your table dressed up in your best china and real napkins, then enjoy a favourite dinner.’
Turn away from the TV
Your home is too focused on the TV. You are feeling neglected.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘TVs can dominate, turning a sociable room into a single-focus space. Try hiding your TV inside a unit or behind a screen, or simply orientate your seating so it faces inwards to promote sociability.’
Your home is too focused on the TV. You are feeling neglected.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘TVs can dominate, turning a sociable room into a single-focus space. Try hiding your TV inside a unit or behind a screen, or simply orientate your seating so it faces inwards to promote sociability.’
Curb a wandering eye
You have been looking at other homes on Houzz and like what you see. You are having unfaithful thoughts.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘There’s a lot of temptation out there, isn’t there? Beautiful rooms with attractive décor, bursting with fresh, bright ideas. It’s enough to turn anyone’s head. Remember, it is acceptable to admire other homes, but rather than let them undermine your relationship with your own place, why not take the ideas you see in them and use them under your own roof, to help reignite your love for your house?’
You have been looking at other homes on Houzz and like what you see. You are having unfaithful thoughts.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘There’s a lot of temptation out there, isn’t there? Beautiful rooms with attractive décor, bursting with fresh, bright ideas. It’s enough to turn anyone’s head. Remember, it is acceptable to admire other homes, but rather than let them undermine your relationship with your own place, why not take the ideas you see in them and use them under your own roof, to help reignite your love for your house?’
Stop being so safe
You love how comfortable you feel with your home, but sometimes think you have both become a bit safe and boring.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Familiarity breeds… content. But you’re right, it can be a bit boring, too. No problem, simply shake things up a bit. Hang an exciting piece of artwork or splash out on a sexy design classic. It’s a fast track to booting out boring and injecting some energy. Be brave and try something new to spice up your home life.’
You love how comfortable you feel with your home, but sometimes think you have both become a bit safe and boring.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Familiarity breeds… content. But you’re right, it can be a bit boring, too. No problem, simply shake things up a bit. Hang an exciting piece of artwork or splash out on a sexy design classic. It’s a fast track to booting out boring and injecting some energy. Be brave and try something new to spice up your home life.’
Find that party feeling
Your home and you never have fun together any more. Help!
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Turn your place into a party pad for a day or an evening and rediscover how much fun it can be. Hang up bunting, streamers, fairy lights and glitter balls. Push furniture to one side to make space for a dance floor, play some music and invite friends over to enjoy a great night in a perfect venue.’
Your home and you never have fun together any more. Help!
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Turn your place into a party pad for a day or an evening and rediscover how much fun it can be. Hang up bunting, streamers, fairy lights and glitter balls. Push furniture to one side to make space for a dance floor, play some music and invite friends over to enjoy a great night in a perfect venue.’
Spruce up
Your home has stopped taking care of its appearance and you are upset by this. It has grubby corners and an unpleasant aroma and you find this rather unattractive.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Tut, tut! Your home has let itself go. Time for a deep clean! Rather than the usual flick round with a duster or wipe with a damp cloth, take time to really clean your rooms. Move furniture, dust and vacuum, polish surfaces and clean windows. Take down curtains to launder them and consider getting carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned. The result will be a sparklingly clean, fresh, sweet-smelling home that will charm you all over again.’
Your home has stopped taking care of its appearance and you are upset by this. It has grubby corners and an unpleasant aroma and you find this rather unattractive.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘Tut, tut! Your home has let itself go. Time for a deep clean! Rather than the usual flick round with a duster or wipe with a damp cloth, take time to really clean your rooms. Move furniture, dust and vacuum, polish surfaces and clean windows. Take down curtains to launder them and consider getting carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned. The result will be a sparklingly clean, fresh, sweet-smelling home that will charm you all over again.’
Quash the competition
You feel your home has more in common with the dog. It lets the hound hog the sofa and seems to prefer its company to yours. You feel sidelined.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘A-ha, a rival for your affections! You must fight back. Don’t let the dog steal your home’s heart. Those sofas are yours, not the hound’s, and you should remind the dog of its place. Turf him off the sofa and send him to his bed, keep muddy paws off your favourite rugs, and remind your home who is master.’
TELL US…
How do you keep things fresh with your home? Share your advice in the Comments below.
You feel your home has more in common with the dog. It lets the hound hog the sofa and seems to prefer its company to yours. You feel sidelined.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘A-ha, a rival for your affections! You must fight back. Don’t let the dog steal your home’s heart. Those sofas are yours, not the hound’s, and you should remind the dog of its place. Turf him off the sofa and send him to his bed, keep muddy paws off your favourite rugs, and remind your home who is master.’
TELL US…
How do you keep things fresh with your home? Share your advice in the Comments below.
You and your house have been together for several years and you are taking each other for granted.
Interiors agony aunt says:
‘This is a common problem that happens all too often. At first, you fall madly in love with your home and spend the early years treating it to new paint jobs, exciting furniture and fresh artwork, but then the romance fades. You don’t notice your home so much any more and you forget to spoil it. But you can rekindle your passion for your pad by showing it some love. Treat it to a new rug, some pretty china or simply a bunch of fresh flowers. Try moving furniture, too, or hanging pictures in different arrangements and alternative rooms. Your home will come alive and repay you by looking and feeling fresh again.’