Have you ever walked into a room in your house and thought “I love this space, but it just doesn’t feel quite like home yet”? Well, you’re not alone. Whether you just purchased a new house, or you are renting an apartment, it can be a struggle to turn your house into a home.

Below I have listed 10 tips to help you truly transform your house into a home.

MAKE YOUR BEDROOM A SANCTUARY

It doesn’t matter if you’re living in a huge house or a small one-bedroom apartment. By making your bedroom a sanctuary you can really help create a sense of home.

You can start by ensuring you make your bed every morning! If you don’t do this already, please start. It really is amazing how a made bed can transform the feeling of the room. It can also create sense of satisfaction within yourself.

Next, make sure your bedroom is bright. If you don’t get much daylight in the room then invest in some good lighting. There is nothing more painful then a dark and gloomy bedroom. If you can, give the room a fresh coat of paint, something you find relaxing.

I would also consider adding wallpaper to one of the four walls. Adding texture can help break up the painted drywall that sometimes leaves you with a cold feeling.

Try incorporating some plants into your bedroom; the greenery really helps bring life to a room.

My final tip for making you bedroom a sanctuary would be to keep things simple. Less is more when it comes to your bedroom.

FT Decor

SCENTED CANDLES AND DIFFUSERS

There is no better feeling then walking into your house and smelling amazing aromas that make you feel happy, relaxed and at home!

Candles are a great way to bring inviting scents into your home. The best part is that you can change them up every season. Bath and Body Works is my go-to for scented candles – they have a scent for everything (I try to stock up and get them when they go on sale). In the Fall my favourite scent is Pumpkin Spice and, in the Summer, my favourite is Tiki Beach.

If you’re not a big fan of candles, or you have little kiddos running around and you would rather not risk an open flame on your coffee table, then opt for a diffuser! Saje Wellness is the best place (in my opinion) to get beautiful diffusers, and they have so many different aromas to choose from. A few of my favourtie diffuser blends from Saje are Allergy Release, Tantra and Good Karma.

viennawedekind

MIRRORS

If you have some rooms in your house that feel small and dark, try adding a mirror into the mix. Mirrors are great for picking up light and reflecting it across the room when placed near a window.

Mirrors can also help you add texture to a space. Choose a mirror that has a personality of its own, something that will stand out in a good way.

Some areas that you can add mirrors are, above the sofa, in your entry way, above an ottoman, above the dresser in your bedroom and (my personal favourite) at the end of a hallway which helps create an illusion that the hallway is longer then it actually is.

204 Park

PLANTS AND FLOWERS

Plants, flowers and any type of greenery can really help your house feel like a home. As I mentioned earlier about tying greenery into your bedroom, plants can really help bring life to a room. Now, if you are anything like me and you struggle to keep plants alive, don’t hesitate on purchasing faux plants. I have tons of faux plants around my home and you can barely notice they’re not real unless you touch them (thank you HomeSense Canada for those finds). If you are keen on having some real living greenery in your home I suggest you check out  Invincible House Plants blog post on 5 Unkillable House Plants.

Elle Quebec

DE CLUTTER, LESS IS MORE

De Clutter! You don’t want your home to feel stuffy with things you don’t use or like anymore. Now, I am not about to go all Marie Kondo on you, but less really is more! If you have pieces that you have collected over the years and you really don’t love them anymore then donate them to goodwill. Your nice, but no longer loved pieces, will find new homes where they will be cherished and loved. “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”

Try to go through each room in your house and fill a box of all the things you no longer love, then go through that box and if anything screams out to you, take it out and put it aside to keep. If you are too scared to give away your previously loved pieces because you might miss something, put the box in your garage for one month. At the end of that month if you didn’t find yourself missing something that is in that box, then make the move and donate it!

Apartment 34

TURN YOUR BATHROOM INTO A SPA

No, I don’t mean literally turn your bathroom into a spa but, try to create a spa like feel in your bathroom. Make sure your sink is always clean, your mirrors wiped down and your shower and toilet are always sparkling. There is nothing worse then coming home at the end of a long day to find your bathroom a mess! If you have kids (or husbands) make sure you set some rules, like wiping down the sink when they are done with it, meaning no toothpaste left laying around. Adding candles, stick scent diffusers, faux plants and lavender soap to your bathroom can also help tie in the spa feeling.

Rue Daily

FRESH COAT OF PAINT

Paint – what an amazing thing. If you find yourself staring at the walls of your house and not loving what you see, then I would strongly suggest painting them. It is amazing how a coat of paint can completely transform a space. If you are renting a house or apartment, ask your landlord if they would mind if you painted, they will probably be OK with it if you cover the costs. Fresh coat of paint = a fresh start!

Behr

RUGS

Rugs – something that can completely change the look of a space. If you find your living room looking a bit cold, boring and not very homey, then go out and buy yourself a new area rug. The designs and different textures that are out there are beautiful. Not only will rugs help your home appear warmer and more inviting, but they will keep your feet warmer too! For some great rug inspiration, check out Wayfair, they have tons to choose from.

The Glitter Guide

CENTERPIECES

Who doesn’t love a good centerpiece? Centerpieces are a great way to add a special touch to a room. They bring your style in to a space and make the space really feel like your home. A good centerpiece has the ability to give the room a spark of personality. In my opinion, when done right, they can really tie a room together.

There are a few important things to remember when creating a centerpiece, try not to go overboard with it, keep everything to scale and again – less is more! For example, if you have a small coffee table and you have a tray you want to put on display, use the tray and add one candle to it along with a small succulent plant, and then add your remote controller on top of it (this will also give the remote controller a home – rather then it being thrown on the couch).

Cuded

PILLOWS AND THROWS

I saved the best for last – pillows and throws! Oh how I love pillows and throws. There is nothing more satisfying to me then waking up on a cold winter morning, walking over to my couch with a cup of coffee in hand and plopping down into a mountain of pillows with a blanket over my legs.

Pillows bring so much character to your space, and they really help bring out your personality and taste into your home. Another positive about having pillows and throws is that they are so easy to switch out when the seasons change.

In the spring I tend to have more blush tones out in my living room. In the fall, however, I like to bring in some darker colours. If you don’t have space to store extra pillows, you can always purchase pillow covers separately and switch them out each season!

The Every Girl