Feel Good Home: Ideas to Make Your Space Welcoming and Inviting
Make your home a place guests won't want to leave with these ideas and styling tips
Have you ever entered a home that just feels warm and inviting? A home in which you feel immediately welcome? We all have that friend who has managed to get the atmosphere in their home perfect, and we’ve all wondered how they’ve done it. Here are a few things you could consider to create the kind of space you, your family and your friends want to be in.
Draw up a weekly schedule and jot down certain things you do that are unlikely to change. Notice patterns where you go from one area to the next and place these areas near each other. Then make sure your home features clear pathways so it’s convenient to go from one room to the next and access any items.
Make the most of natural light and fresh air
One of the most important elements in a home is its connection with nature. Sunshine and fresh air are a natural mood lifter and promote health. You probably notice how your mood changes when you’re exposed to natural elements, compared to when you’re cooped up in a place that has limited natural sun and fresh air. To get a natural flow of energy, warmth and freshness, design your home so it has access to the best of the outside world.
One of the most important elements in a home is its connection with nature. Sunshine and fresh air are a natural mood lifter and promote health. You probably notice how your mood changes when you’re exposed to natural elements, compared to when you’re cooped up in a place that has limited natural sun and fresh air. To get a natural flow of energy, warmth and freshness, design your home so it has access to the best of the outside world.
Think about which rooms you use at particular times of the day to get the most out of the sun. To capture morning light in your bedroom, you will need windows that face east, as this is where the sun rises. If you would like the dining room or outdoor deck to receive the glow of afternoon sunshine, then it should face west, where the sun sets.
If you don’t have the luxury of designing your home from scratch and the rooms don’t clearly face east or west, then try to position your furniture, such as your bed or sofa, in an area of the room that makes the most of the light it gets.
If you don’t have the luxury of designing your home from scratch and the rooms don’t clearly face east or west, then try to position your furniture, such as your bed or sofa, in an area of the room that makes the most of the light it gets.
To further maximise natural light, open your home up as much as possible by having large windows where you can. New builds and renovations offer a great opportunity to gain more natural light and air flow inside the home.
Try tricks to enhance light
If your home doesn’t have much natural light, you can use lighter paint colours to make the space feel brighter and more airy. Use colourful soft furnishings, but try to avoid heavy hues and heavier coloured furniture. Also, try popping in a large mirror to reflect more light and space.
If your home doesn’t have much natural light, you can use lighter paint colours to make the space feel brighter and more airy. Use colourful soft furnishings, but try to avoid heavy hues and heavier coloured furniture. Also, try popping in a large mirror to reflect more light and space.
When choosing light bulbs, make sure you look at the bulb’s colour temperature. The lower the colour temperature the more yellow the light and the higher the temperature the more blue the light. If you are trying to make a room feel brighter and fresher, stay away from yellow light (3000K) and go for something in the middle of the colour temperature spectrum, so a light that sits at about 5000K. This will be a nice white light, similar to that in this calm and crisp bedroom by C + M Studio. Alternatively, you may want to go the other way and use a low-Kelvin yellow light in your bedroom areas to promote the feeling of warmth, and brighter white light bulbs in the rest of the house.
I always recommend LED lighting as these can come in a range of different Kelvins and will last 15,000-25,000 hours, compared to an incandescent light which only lasts about 1000 hours. So in the end LEDs will be more cost efficient, and they’re kind to the environment, too.
See 10 creative lighting ideas for bedrooms
I always recommend LED lighting as these can come in a range of different Kelvins and will last 15,000-25,000 hours, compared to an incandescent light which only lasts about 1000 hours. So in the end LEDs will be more cost efficient, and they’re kind to the environment, too.
See 10 creative lighting ideas for bedrooms
Play with furnishings
What makes this design by interior designer Claire Stevens so joyful?
What makes this design by interior designer Claire Stevens so joyful?
- The use of bright and contrasting colours, such as orange and blue, plus the orange and green, which create a visually exciting display.
- The bright, bold and happy furnishings and artwork show a positive and somewhat nostalgic scene.
- The pot plants have sweet but complementary designs on them, which arouses playfulness. These items, along with the artwork and wellies, complement each other while incorporating quirkiness and surprise into the home.
Have fun when styling and pick things you really love or have meaning to you or your family. These are the personal and one-of-a-kind touches that will make the atmosphere of your home. They also make for great conversation – guests are often interested in the individual stories behind the pieces.
Indulge in the big and small things
What could possibly be more relaxing and homely than areas that allow you or your guests to indulge? Creating an area in your home similar to this wonderful bathroom by Leung Architects is so important in order to live a balanced and positive lifestyle. Whether its a big indulgence, such as a freestanding deep bath, or a little one, such as an always-stocked chocolate box or gorgeous-smelling candles, these items will have a relaxing effect both on you and your home environment.
What could possibly be more relaxing and homely than areas that allow you or your guests to indulge? Creating an area in your home similar to this wonderful bathroom by Leung Architects is so important in order to live a balanced and positive lifestyle. Whether its a big indulgence, such as a freestanding deep bath, or a little one, such as an always-stocked chocolate box or gorgeous-smelling candles, these items will have a relaxing effect both on you and your home environment.
Need something to remind you to smile? With a handy chalkboard in your home you could have a schedule of your family’s movements, or just a place for people to write nice messages or draw pictures. A simple chalkboard like this one is easy to replicate by painting a blank wall with chalkboard paint. You could even paint a piece of board and hang it like a picture. By increasing the number of enjoyable yet small things you do or see everyday can really perk up your mood and, ultimately, the atmosphere of your home.
Create beauty behind the scenes
Don’t just show off beautiful design in areas that are on display. For a truly happy and harmonious home, take design into consideration and choose what you love for all areas, including the inside of any walk-in wardrobes, the utility room and any storage rooms. This walk-in wardrobe design uses raw materials, such as the timber bench and woven pull-out storage solutions, that bring a smile to your face when you’re changing or putting laundry away.
Don’t just show off beautiful design in areas that are on display. For a truly happy and harmonious home, take design into consideration and choose what you love for all areas, including the inside of any walk-in wardrobes, the utility room and any storage rooms. This walk-in wardrobe design uses raw materials, such as the timber bench and woven pull-out storage solutions, that bring a smile to your face when you’re changing or putting laundry away.
Think about spots to socialise
The heart of the home is fuelled by the people in it, so think of having an ‘open door’ rule, where your friends and family are welcome at any time. Creating places in which you can socialise with your family and friends is the key to making a friendly and welcoming home. Look at how this home has been enhanced by adding an outdoor living space where people can congregate.
The heart of the home is fuelled by the people in it, so think of having an ‘open door’ rule, where your friends and family are welcome at any time. Creating places in which you can socialise with your family and friends is the key to making a friendly and welcoming home. Look at how this home has been enhanced by adding an outdoor living space where people can congregate.
The cabana, designed and constructed by Harrison’s Landscaping, is warm and inviting as the timber slats let the sun seep through, creating warmth and a playful light.
Display flowers
Of course, having freshly cut flowers is one of the easiest ways to make your home burst with happiness as they are one of life’s most beautiful miracles. Many flowers will also bring a sweet aroma into your home.
Of course, having freshly cut flowers is one of the easiest ways to make your home burst with happiness as they are one of life’s most beautiful miracles. Many flowers will also bring a sweet aroma into your home.
If you can’t afford to keep buying flowers, create the same effect with indoor plants – they will last longer (or forever, if you have green fingers). I usually have my basil, coriander and any herbs we use out on display by popping them in a vase on the kitchen counter, rather than hiding them away in the fridge.
Check out ways to bring plants into your home
TELL US…
What do you think makes your home, or a home you’ve visited, have such a wonderful atmosphere? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Check out ways to bring plants into your home
TELL US…
What do you think makes your home, or a home you’ve visited, have such a wonderful atmosphere? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Having a good layout will make transitioning between spaces in your home much easier. You’ll feel a lot happier walking around a home where you don’t bump into things or have to navigate through a maze of furniture to get somewhere.
There are, of course, obvious areas that need to be next to each other, such as the dining room and the kitchen, but by going deeper into the way you run your life, you can figure out which layout will best work for you.