What makes you love your home?

[Matleaveconfused]

Hiya

We live in a new build home that we have been in a couple years now. I had all these grand ideas about what I'd decorate and do in this house but with 2 toddlers and me and DH working a fair amount, it's ended up a bit of a tip! I don't really enjoy my home at the moment and it needs a freshen up for sure.

This summer holiday I am determined to fall back in love with this house and have some money to do a few things (think hundreds NOT thousands!). We have 3 bedrooms, a largish front room (that is mostly full of toys!) and a kitchen / diner. Nice size garden that needs a look at but is really just for the kids and dogs at the moment so not a priority!

So I'd love to know, what changes/purchase/decorating have you made/done in your home that makes you love it?

Thanks xx

Things of similar budget are furniture from roughly the same year the house was built (1934) upstairs, nobody wants heavy dark walnut furniture but we did and got some beautiful pieces. So much now gets upcycled that the gorgeous veneered items are disappearing. Framed posters and birthday cards, and some prints, all up on the wall. I even have a framed beer mat that is significant to us.

Lots of houseplants and books. Have kept the walls and furniture very neutral then gone bonkers with plants. They really transform a room imo.

Decent storage for coats/shoes/ bags and for Toys. If they are all hidden away when not in use, everything else looks better

Garden should be for you too - even if it's just a small area to sit with a few flowers in pots this year, but a seat in a pretty green space is really valuable.

Two comfy year round chairs for the garden.
Decent storage for toys, I find I love my house more when it's tidy

My house is light and airy, and I love it. Makes me feel calm and relaxed. I'm not a fan of lots of stuff cos it constantly needs dusting where we live, so a few tasteful candles and vases. Am firm believer that your house has to be for you, what you like might not be to the taste of others but it's your sanctuary so do what makes you happy :)

And yes to good storage. We had the loft done last year and have storage under the stairs, hides everything away!!

I love mine because I'm surrounded by things I love - photos, books, candles, throws. It's comfortable and lived in and everyone has always loved visiting because I'm not precious about anything being broken.
I have a playroom that children love. So many toys, so I just rotate them. I like everything organised, especially the kitchen. And storage in the bedrooms. I can't sleep / rest amidst clutter.

It's the accessorising that does it for me:

Lots of house plants; big potted ones and delicate trailing ones and all in between.

Framed prints (etsy are good for these) and family pictures. Ds art work on walls, some framed too.

Plus candles/a few choice ornaments etc.

Also for toys, I second pp re:storage. Kallax units with doors or baskets are great for this.

I love our house, because I know how much we could sell it for.

Storage and house plants. Get those toys packed away at the end of the day (get the kids to help).

Thank you all!
Storage definitely is an issue here. We have one cupboard upstairs in the hallway which is about half height as it's above the stairs and then downstairs we have this tiny corner cupboard... don't know if anyone is familiar with the Persimmon Claytons but it is pretty rubbish for storage!! I always love the idea of plants but they might have to be fake... I don't have the best track record!!

I think my first job is to declutter... go through every room and get rid of a bunch that we don't need or used, have a chuck out then have a good clean and re-evaluate !

Xx

I would look at getting high shelf in utility area at back, and having two large baskets with lids up there to store any shoes/ hats/ jackets in the opposite seasons. Ie all winter stuff completely cleared out of hallway cupboard now.

Toys - declutter. And then have a box kept at the top of a wardrobe to rotate. So if they have 10 puzzles, hide 5 out of sight, and swap every few weeks

I love the layout of my house but I've accepted that it doesn't and won't look the way I really want it to while my children are so young.

Lots of plants and pictures , I hate too many bare walls and you do see that fairly frequently.

Watching with interest.

Clutter free , clean carpets , plants , candles , nice cushions . Do you have nice garden furniture? I got mine free of Facebook , the old fashioned wicker style I have sprayed it all white and put throws on it, so comfy .

I moved around a lot in my twenties and only got a proper house after I had my child. This is more than I've ever hoped for in life. The area is safe, we have outside space, it's affordable, secure, it's airy, tidy, minimalist, and homely. I wake up every single day grateful for my home and family.

IKEA is great for house plants. They are so cheap that it isn't the end of the world if you kill a few!

We've got great storage that really helps. I like my house lived in but not cluttered, so having a place for everything helps. Ottoman beds for linens and winter clothes (even the spare bedrooms) good wardrobes, sorting through clothes to make sure drawers aren't over-filled etc. When your house is easy to tidy it's nicer to have bits and bobs like picture frames and house plants on surfaces. And make the storage kid-height so they can put their own toys away

We don't have any white paint, it's all off white or pale grey or cream so it feels more lived in than clinical or new.

Candles or room diffusers if that's safer for kids and animals, nice lighting (lamps, fairy lights) shelves with knick knacks on. It'll make it look more lived in when there's personal touches

@pumpkinpie01 nah we have an old set given to us and it needs a bit of love! To be honest most of our furniture could do with replacing soon expecially our dining table... we are down to 3 good legs and 2 intact chairs ! X

@Carrieonmywaywardsun every wall.in our house is still standard new build trade white so that's a goal over the summer holidays to get it all painted up and fresh xx

Clean, declutter, fix things that are broken, rearrange furniture (always takes a couple of goes), buy a what you need to make sure everything has a place i try and wait to consider each purchase between paychecks to do this (you be amazed what I thought was essential and now I can't believe I considered!), and don't mass buy as I tend to go into a frenzy, clean again and then when you are happy hang photos and add house plants.

Also I find thinking this would make the room nice list (phase 1 I call it!) And this would make the room perfect list (phase 2 if I win the lottery next week) separate and working towards phase 1. Otherwise I think we'll it all next year and it will perfect and just procrastinate 🤔

Biggest thing is keep the house clean and in working order and try and buy something you love with each paycheck if possible but do something towards the house most days (clean out a drawer/hang a picture)

We have used second hand items and sales and balance how crap I am with money!

Good luck op

Big Attractive baskets make good toy storage…. My house is full of baskets 😂