101 Ways to Love Your Home More
These helpful hints will enhance your home and bring an extra dose of happy to your everyday life
Joanna Tovia
14 September 2016
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
From little things, big things grow, so don’t dismiss the details if your home is looking a little lacklustre and you’re feeling the same way. Use these tips to tweak your way to a more joyful home; even if you adopt just one or two of these ideas as your own, you might be surprised at what a difference they make to the look and feel of your house, and how much you love it.
1 Give your front door a lick of bright paint.
2 Get a new front door mat – funny, funky or swish.
3 Switch on your outdoor lights each evening, even if you’re home, to cheer up neighbours out for a stroll or driving home.
2 Get a new front door mat – funny, funky or swish.
3 Switch on your outdoor lights each evening, even if you’re home, to cheer up neighbours out for a stroll or driving home.
4 Polish or repaint your house number for good feng shui.
5 Update your letterbox.
6 Illuminate the way to your front door with solar-powered garden lights.
7 Sweep away the cobwebs and grime around your entryway.
5 Update your letterbox.
6 Illuminate the way to your front door with solar-powered garden lights.
7 Sweep away the cobwebs and grime around your entryway.
8 Fill your home with the delicious smell of baking.
9 Break out the slow cooker again.
10 Menu-plan your way to an easier week.
See 10 ways to recreate The Great British Bake Off look in your kitchen
9 Break out the slow cooker again.
10 Menu-plan your way to an easier week.
See 10 ways to recreate The Great British Bake Off look in your kitchen
11 Buy or pick fresh flowers every week all year.
12 Keep possessions – and clutter – to a minimum (hold onto only what you love).
13 Make use of lamps, candles and dimmers for a cosy atmosphere.
12 Keep possessions – and clutter – to a minimum (hold onto only what you love).
13 Make use of lamps, candles and dimmers for a cosy atmosphere.
14 Add jolts of happy colour in unexpected places.
15 Save on worktop space – hang knife magnets and paper-towel holders on the wall.
16 If you don’t love the look of your kitchen, paint the cabinets.
15 Save on worktop space – hang knife magnets and paper-towel holders on the wall.
16 If you don’t love the look of your kitchen, paint the cabinets.
17 Treat yourself to some new towels – and keep them warm on a heated towel rack.
18 Get a cleaner, even if only once a month.
19 Add fresh leaves or flowers to a vase – unbreakable if kids are around.
20 Keep your bathroom smelling sweet with scented candles or oil diffusers.
21 Get children doing some of the chores – no helping equals no Wi-Fi.
18 Get a cleaner, even if only once a month.
19 Add fresh leaves or flowers to a vase – unbreakable if kids are around.
20 Keep your bathroom smelling sweet with scented candles or oil diffusers.
21 Get children doing some of the chores – no helping equals no Wi-Fi.
22 Throw on a tablecloth… or a colourful sheet.
23 Adopt a rescue kitten or dog and love it to pieces.
24 Create a feelgood display on a coffee table or sideboard.
25 Dust your pendant lights.
23 Adopt a rescue kitten or dog and love it to pieces.
24 Create a feelgood display on a coffee table or sideboard.
25 Dust your pendant lights.
26 Frame some family photos, or turn one into wallpaper.
27 Make or buy some bright new cushions.
28 Add a cosy throw.
29 Update your living room lighting for a more modern look.
30 Hold a movie night once a fortnight – take turns picking the film.
27 Make or buy some bright new cushions.
28 Add a cosy throw.
29 Update your living room lighting for a more modern look.
30 Hold a movie night once a fortnight – take turns picking the film.
31 Invite friends over for breakfast.
32 Linger over the Sunday papers.
33 Skip the commute and work from home at least one day a month.
34 Clean your windows.
35 Seek out the best place in town to buy croissants.
32 Linger over the Sunday papers.
33 Skip the commute and work from home at least one day a month.
34 Clean your windows.
35 Seek out the best place in town to buy croissants.
36 Add a cheerful rug – it needn’t be expensive.
37 Take the day off when no one else is home.
38 Toast marshmallows by the fire.
39 Camp out overnight in your living room – kids optional.
40 Rearrange the furniture.
37 Take the day off when no one else is home.
38 Toast marshmallows by the fire.
39 Camp out overnight in your living room – kids optional.
40 Rearrange the furniture.
41 Create a dedicated reading corner.
42 Swap favourite books with a friend.
43 Wash the curtains and cushion covers.
44 Have the sofas and armchairs cleaned.
45 Organise custom-made cabinetry to make the most of your space.
Check out 9 of the best reading nooks
42 Swap favourite books with a friend.
43 Wash the curtains and cushion covers.
44 Have the sofas and armchairs cleaned.
45 Organise custom-made cabinetry to make the most of your space.
Check out 9 of the best reading nooks
46 Paint your kitchen black, or whatever other colour takes your fancy.
47 Install open shelving to show off some of your favourite things.
48 Set up a weekly (or twice-weekly) fruit and vegetable delivery, so you always have healthy food on hand.
Discover 11 ways to style open kitchen shelves
47 Install open shelving to show off some of your favourite things.
48 Set up a weekly (or twice-weekly) fruit and vegetable delivery, so you always have healthy food on hand.
Discover 11 ways to style open kitchen shelves
49 Make a new recipe from your cookbooks once a week.
50 Build a chicken coop with your own hands.
51 Stock up on fine herbal teas to enjoy in a mug you love.
50 Build a chicken coop with your own hands.
51 Stock up on fine herbal teas to enjoy in a mug you love.
52 Make your outdoor space into another living room, curtains and all.
53 Hang a hammock outdoors (or inside).
54 Make it a ritual to sit outside with your partner each weekend to reconnect – may I suggest with wine and very good cheese.
55 Have an afternoon nap outside – even if it means taking your duvet out there with you.
53 Hang a hammock outdoors (or inside).
54 Make it a ritual to sit outside with your partner each weekend to reconnect – may I suggest with wine and very good cheese.
55 Have an afternoon nap outside – even if it means taking your duvet out there with you.
56 Build a pizza oven and get friends to bring the toppings.
57 Invite the neighbours over for sundowners.
58 Make time to laze on the deck.
59 Meditate outside each evening for a better sleep (or each morning for a better day).
57 Invite the neighbours over for sundowners.
58 Make time to laze on the deck.
59 Meditate outside each evening for a better sleep (or each morning for a better day).
60 Bring out your inner artist… or celebrate the artist in your child.
61 Revamp a charity shop find.
62 Turn off the screens and play cards instead.
63 Focus on what you already have, not on what you’re lacking.
61 Revamp a charity shop find.
62 Turn off the screens and play cards instead.
63 Focus on what you already have, not on what you’re lacking.
64 Update your kitchen stools with comfort in mind.
65 Sing along to your favourite tunes while you cook.
66 Go on strike and take the night off – a bowl of cereal for dinner will suffice.
67 Give your kitchen a deep clean and relish the sense of satisfaction that follows.
65 Sing along to your favourite tunes while you cook.
66 Go on strike and take the night off – a bowl of cereal for dinner will suffice.
67 Give your kitchen a deep clean and relish the sense of satisfaction that follows.
68 Make herbs and spices easy to identify and access.
69 Grow your own herbs outside the back door.
70 Cook ahead for the week and freeze leftovers.
69 Grow your own herbs outside the back door.
70 Cook ahead for the week and freeze leftovers.
71 Go wild with wallpaper just because you can.
72 Add your favourite colours to every room.
73 Use your special lotions and potions – don’t save them for a rainy day.
74 Have a long soak in the bath by candlelight.
75 Cull old cosmetics and use up samples the same week you’re given them.
72 Add your favourite colours to every room.
73 Use your special lotions and potions – don’t save them for a rainy day.
74 Have a long soak in the bath by candlelight.
75 Cull old cosmetics and use up samples the same week you’re given them.
76 Replace bedside lamps with wall lights to free up space.
77 Paint a feature wall behind your bed in whatever colour you like – don’t overthink it.
78 Make reading your go-to bedtime activity.
77 Paint a feature wall behind your bed in whatever colour you like – don’t overthink it.
78 Make reading your go-to bedtime activity.
79 Surprise your child with a redecorated bedroom – or involve them in the decision-making.
80 Reward those who maintain clean and orderly bedrooms.
81 Set up homework schedules to avoid last-minute assignment panics.
80 Reward those who maintain clean and orderly bedrooms.
81 Set up homework schedules to avoid last-minute assignment panics.
82 Don’t settle for less – be patient and save up for the appliance you really like rather than one that’s cheap but not as nice.
83 Wash oven mitts and tea towels often.
84 Make a book of recipes to hand down to your kids.
83 Wash oven mitts and tea towels often.
84 Make a book of recipes to hand down to your kids.
85 Collect something you love and display it.
86 Ignore interiors trends – decorate according to what makes you feel good.
87 Sick of your living room? Go ahead and completely change it, even if it takes time.
86 Ignore interiors trends – decorate according to what makes you feel good.
87 Sick of your living room? Go ahead and completely change it, even if it takes time.
Ninainvorm
88 Get your craft on – knitting is good for your mental health.
89 Make a patchwork quilt and give it to someone you admire.
90 Cosy up an armchair with sheepskin.
89 Make a patchwork quilt and give it to someone you admire.
90 Cosy up an armchair with sheepskin.
91 Make it easy to exercise without leaving the house.
92 Improve your outlook with plants and trees.
93 Breathe, just breathe.
92 Improve your outlook with plants and trees.
93 Breathe, just breathe.
94 Revamp your home office.
95 Do a career reanalysis – do you love your work at least 80% of the time?
96 Reorientate your desk… just for a change.
97 Add easy-care plants.
95 Do a career reanalysis – do you love your work at least 80% of the time?
96 Reorientate your desk… just for a change.
97 Add easy-care plants.
98 Paint a whimsical mural up the stairwell.
99 Add wallpaper to your stair risers.
100 Make life a little easier in the hall with an umbrella stand, coat rack or chair to sit on while you put on your shoes.
101 Celebrate now – this very moment – for its abundance.
How does your home make you feel good? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
99 Add wallpaper to your stair risers.
100 Make life a little easier in the hall with an umbrella stand, coat rack or chair to sit on while you put on your shoes.
101 Celebrate now – this very moment – for its abundance.
How does your home make you feel good? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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I loved this article too. "like what you have" resonated with me