Making your home – more homely!

Ok, so maybe you’ve just had a refurb: new carpet or new wallpaper fitted, or perhaps you’ve just moved into your new home and want to make it well, feel more like home!

* Collaborative post

Whether it’s a large architrave on all your doors to give it a more period feel, or a new lick of paint on a drab wall – it’s easy to get drawn into the big changes and forget about the little ones that can really make all the difference!

However, it can be difficult to find the time or the money to purchase high-end items that we think might make our home seem more appealing, but do we really need to spend spend spend? Here you’ll find a few tips on how to make your house, feel more like a home in no time!

Your windows

Are your curtains or blinds older than you are? Maybe it's time for a change. If you want to make your room less — or more — formal, window dressings can do the trick. Look through catalogues and magazines for window treatments you like, and then figure out how to make them yourself. An inexpensive fabric draped over a new curtain rod may be all you need. 

Lamps and lighting

Overall lighting sets the mood for any room. Step back and review the lighting in your living room. Most seating should have light available from a lamp or overhead fixture. While you're looking, check out your lampshades. Do they complement each other? Purchasing a new shade is a quick and inexpensive way to update a lamp. If you have house-plants, consider adding twinkle lights. These lights add warm, subdued lighting when used alone, and are great at setting a romantic mood.

Photographs and artwork

Try breaking up the monotony of books on a shelf by tucking photos between stacks of books, or propping photos on easels for display. You can also slip pictures under glass table tops. A picture ledge (a narrow shelf specifically made for pictures) is a great place for displaying all sorts of artwork — and it keeps you from covering your walls with nail holes. Consider grouping pieces together for an eye-catching focal point.

Rearranging furniture

Your lifestyle or taste determines what the focal point of your living area is. So, if you have a piano for example, and this is the focal point of your living area, your furniture could be set around it. When rearranging your furniture, also consider traffic in your living area. Does the arrangement of your furniture allow free movement and flow? Does it give an uncluttered look?

Carpets and rugs

A carpet or an area rug can be an easy way to mark off a conversation area in your living room. You can angle the rug for extra decorating drama. A brown floor can look nice with a dark chocolate carpet. You can also add a comfy throw or your sofa and make just about any piece of furniture look like a great place to curl up!