Three Ways to Make Your House Feel Like Home

When I was a fellow, my husband, 1-year old son and I lived in an apartment close to the Duke campus. It was a new complex with all the bells and whistles… modern, loft- style units with a large pool and community area.  We liked it, but I remember walking into our place at the end of the day and thinking, “This house doesn’t feel like home. It just didn’t “feel” like us.” There was something missing.  At the time, I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. 

The missing piece

In retrospect, I realize that we didn’t really live there long enough to be able to make it our own. We were only there a few months. If we had stayed, there were definitely a few things I could have done to bring more of our own personality into the space so that it “felt” more like us.  Sometimes, even if you’ve been living in a particular place for a while, it may seem that something is missing or that it doesn’t really feel like you. Would you like to make your house feel like home? If so, you can do these three things to your living space.

Display your favorite books

You don’t have to have big, nice coffee table books to make a display. You can use any book that you enjoy, hardback or paperback. Arrange them on a bookshelf or stack them neatly on tables.  There’s something about books that are authentic and cozy.  Plus, if they are books you love and have read, they reflect your personality.  

Hang photos or art

I see so many people procrastinate doing this because they aren’t sure what to hang.  Or, they don’t hang enough art to provide a real sense of place.  Nothing makes a space more “you” and more inviting, however, than hanging what you love on the walls.  

Spurge on one thing you love and highlight it in the space

It could be a piece of furniture, a rug or a piece of art.  Buy it because you like it and then use it.  If you really love it you won’t regret it.  Do you need help making your house feel like home?  As a woman physician and an interior designer, I can help you.  So if you’ve tried and you still feel like you need help, click here to schedule a free design exploratory call.