Hi Friends,
Ever walk into a house and just feel at home? A house that is cozy, warm and makes you want to plop down on the couch and stay forever? I have. These houses are special. They are the kind of houses that welcome everyone with open arms, and make each person feel important.
This is what I want. I want a house that everyone wants to hang out in. A place where everyone feels comfortable. A special place where you never know what you will be doing, but you know you will have fun.
Growing up, there was one house in particular that everyone congregated at. It was the house that didn’t require a knock. Everyone was always welcome no matter what was going on…it could be a family party, Christmas Eve, or just a weeknight on the couch. There wasn’t always something going on, but it was a place you could just go to hang.
Some of my favorite memories were over there playing games, watching TV, and dying hair. One day someone mentioned what a beautiful day it was, so we took all the living room furniture outside on the driveway. It was just a fun place to be.
Romancing the Ordinary
My family spends A LOT of time outside. My kids are finally at an age that I can trust them not to eat bugs if my eye dares to wander away from them AND it really helps my anxiety to be outside. In the Spring of 2019, I was outside with my kids and got tired of looking at our weed covered flower beds. Now, I’ve mentioned before my love of efficient cleaning inside, so why wouldn’t that apply outside? While the kids played, I pulled weeds. I pulled weeds FOR WEEKS, but eventually finished. I also managed to cover myself in poison ivy, which led to discovering that I am SEVERELY allergic to poison ivy (more on that at a later date).
Anyway, once my landscaping was weed-free (Praise Jesus) I was ready to add pretty plants where the weeds used to be. It was then that I discovered the Garden Answer YouTube channel. If you are even the slightest bit interested in gardening, or have any sort of appreciation for landscaping then you MUST check this channel out. Laura and her husband have the most beautiful garden with the most beautiful personalities to match.
In one of her videos she mentions that she keeps fresh flowers in her house because her mom always did when she was growing up. Her mom called it “romancing the ordinary,” which is a beautiful way of saying she makes ordinary things special. I’ve never related with a phrase more in my life.
What Makes a House a Home?
So, what makes a house a home? For me, it is paying special attention to the details. It is a place that romances the ordinary.
Your home should be the most beautiful and comfortable place in your world. Your home should make you feel special.
My favorite ways to make my house a home
- Light a candle every day
- Fresh flowers in the kitchen
- Decorate for each holiday (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.)
- Create cute gift baskets for my kids for each holiday
- Cute dog food/water bowl
- No paper plates or plastic cutlery
- Display fruit in a cute bowl on the kitchen counter
- Pack goodies in a cute picnic basket when we go on picnics
Why go through all this trouble? I know it sounds like a lot of work, but making my home enjoyable is one of the ways that makes me happy. Since it makes me happy, it doesn’t feel like work.
Other Ideas to Make a House a Home
Please note, romancing the ordinary is not about buying expensive things. Most of the time it is about re-purposing things you already have or doing everyday tasks a different way. Most of the things on this list can be found at a consignment shop or a thrift store. Don’t let money be the reason you don’t make yourself feel special!
- Use cloth napkins
- Keep cute note cards handy for day-to-day notes
- Find vintage/thrift-store dessert plates/saucers to go underneath houseplants
- Make meals beautiful with garnishing
- Keep bath products in coordinating baskets that match the room
- Mow the grass so you have lines in your yard
- Hang curtains/drapes on every window
- Use matching linens
- Use cute pottery to house the scrub brush or sponge by the kitchen sink
- Wear your good jewelry everyday, not just for special occasions
- Put liquid soap and hand lotion on a beautiful small cake stand
- Keep eggs in a pretty bowl in the refrigerator
- Enjoy a glass of wine before the evening meal
- Use a tablecloth
- Pot house plants in beautiful pots
- Use seasonal coffee mugs
- Handwritten “thank you” cards
- Change pillow covers monthly to match the seasons
- Use wine glasses at the table even if it is just water
- Hang a chandelier as a porch light
- Keep homemade cookies in the freezer so you always have homemade treats for guests
- Use a cute watering can to water house plants
- Keep mouth wash in a decanter
- Keep laundry detergent/fabric softener in cute glass containers
- Store pet food in a cute container
I hope this post inspires you to make yourself and your home feel special!
Until next time,
Julie
Happy new year!!
Thank you! Happy New Year to you as well!!
Great ideas! I love that each idea is unique and can work for a lot different types of people.
Thank you!
Interesting and informative post! I am also very sensitive to poison oak and once got a terrible, terrible case of it. Luckily, I have not had it in many years.
Thank you for reading! I had poison ivy for the better part of the summer & fall. My friend’s niece calls me “poison ivy Julie” lol
Thanks for the great ideas! I will have to check out Garden Answers on YouTube. I definitely can use tips to make my home more warm and inviting!
You won’t regret it! Garden Answer is my favorite!
Love the small details! It doesn’t take much to make a home feel welcoming. I’d like my family to spend more time outdoors for meals and just hanging out. Thanks for the reminder to work on making the ordinary a little special.
You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by!
Such amazing ideas! I felt cozy and warm just reading through this post. Thank you for such timely inspiration as the winter is upon us and we’re spending so much time in doors! I particularly like fresh flowers, coffee brewing, and comfort food but I’m definitely adding the bowl of eggs in the refrigerator. Bravo!
Yes, I have to keep my thoughts on happier things during the winter! Thank you so much for taking time to read and comment!
I am so glad I found you! This post is such a good read. I love having fresh in the house and a bowl of lemons in the kitchen. I love the idea of having our eggs in a pretty bowl in the refrigerator and using wine glasses even for just water! Thank you for such wonderful ideas!
You are too sweet! I agree, there is something about a bowl of lemons that just makes the kitchen look fresh! Thank you for reading!
This might be one of my favorite posts. I love these simple ideas to make a house a home, especially the one about putting laundry detergent in a glass container.
Thank you so much for reading!
Great tips! I will be using some of these tips to make my house a home.
Thank you for taking time to read! I really appreciate it!
Wow I love this post because I am obsessed with finding the perfect little items to make my home look pretty! Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous post!
Thank you so much for the sweet comment! I’m glad you enjoyed!
These are all great tips! Fresh flowers always make me feel homely, I must get them in more often!
Definitely! Treat yourself! Thank you for stopping by!
So much fun. Just the exact thing I need on a cold winter day to cheer me up.
You are so sweet! Thank you for taking time to read!
These are some great ideas! I just started buying fresh flowers, and it really does make a difference.
It really brightens up the house! Thank you for reading!
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I do so many of these things and my contractor says my home is the coziest he has ever seen. HOWEVER, wine {{ WITH }} dinner, not before. Food and wine always go together as the enhance each other. But I was raised a proper Spanish girl and this was taught. Wish I could send photos of my entirely remodeled/redecorated French Normandy…my fav pinks, teals whites, ALL new wallpaper in every room, handcrafted teal mermaid tail backsplash with my swirl brown granite, almond wraparound cabinets, blush velvet stools/chairs, oversized floral teal Anthro sofa in the big kitchen, my two scrolled romantic sinks, antiques mic with traditional , lace draped over shades, velvet fringed shawls on chairs, jeweled trinkets tucked around for the children to find, ..elegant, romantic and whimsical. And, so-so ME!