Tips for Making Your House a Home

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

23 Jan 2009 12:00 PM

Is your house really your home or just some shelter that keeps out the cold and gives you a private place to sleep? With the economic downturn, many people are rediscovering the joy of having a place to live that is a true home, cozy, warm, inviting, and a place of sanctuary. Here are some tips for turning your house into more of a home.

Good cooking

Forget take out or convenience foods. Forget the diet fads and just concentration on healthy meals. Relax in your home and get familiar with the kitchen. Nothing says home more than anything else than good smells coming from the kitchen, a warm oven and family gathered around eating together. If you don't have time to cook because of a busy work schedule, throw a chicken into a crock pot and have it ready for you when you get home. Just think about walking in to your home and being greated by yummy smells.

Clean and comfortable

Invest in healthy ways to clean your home, but don't overdo it. If everyone is afraid to take out the newspaper because you will snatch it off of the table before they get past the first page, that isn't a home. At the same time, you want to make sure that unnecessary clutter is out of site and that you can relax and look around at a clean home that makes you feel good.

Loving your stuff

If you really hate that vase that you were given as a wedding present, get rid of it. Making your house a home means that you love the stuff you have. Now living with a spouse means that you might have to make some compromises, but you might be surprised at the things in your home that are "just there," collected temporarily over time.

Low cost fix ups

It doesn't take a lot of money to turn your house into a home. Just a coat of paint or a couple of throw pillows can make you feel as though you have a wonderful home. Steam clean the rug, wash the slipcovers, get a new area rug to cover dull floors. If something in your house has been bothering you, go ahead and change it.

I hope these tips were helpful. What do you do to turn your house into a home?

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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