5 Ways to Make Any House A Home
As a college senior, I have moved around to my fair share of dorms to apartments to houses and have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I am someone who likes to be very comfortable and have everything in the right place or I can’t relax at all, which can be difficult when you’re moving around so much. Throughout each of my moves, I’ve always had a few staple pieces that would travel with me and make me feel comfortable and stationary. Add these pieces to your space to help you feel grounded in your home. The best part about these things is that they all work in rentals so all of these things can easily be taken with you when you leave and you’ll keep your security deposit!
Area Rugs
Area rugs are everything. They are so cute, so easy, and don’t have to be expensive. I have 3 area rugs that have come with me through my moves. One for the living room, one for under the bed, and one decorative area rug. I like to have a medium size (like 5’x7’ - 8’x10’) neutral rug in the living room to ground the space, but it also allows you to adapt to any space and change up your decor. For the bedroom, a rug under the bed really quiets the space and makes it feel cozy. I like a soft pattern to add some personality but not overwhelm the space. An 8’x10’ rug fits great under a queen size bed. Lastly, I like to have a decorative rug on hand for any extra spaces. In the past I’ve usually put this rug in my studio or office space, but you can put it wherever your space allows. If you find yourself in a situation where there’s no place for it in your temporary place, you can always roll it up and store it. I like to choose something colorful or with a bold pattern to inspire me every day!
2. Hang Things on the Wall
If your walls are looking bare, dress them up! I know that I never feel like I really live somewhere until I put something up on the walls. Even if you are renting, there are so many non-destructive solutions for hanging things on the wall, like command strips. When I first move into a new home, thinking of decorative every single wall can be overwhelming. My rule of thumb is to first focus on doing one piece per room, then you can keep going without feeling rushed or stressed.
3. Curtains
Curtains are so powerful. The can completely change the aesthetic and feeling of a room. They offer lighting options, sound absorption, and tie a space together. Ideally, you’d like to hang the curtains a few inches or feet above the window sill to make the room look taller, but there are options for renters that sit on top of the window sill and don’t leave any visual damage.
4. Plants
I love plants. Period. Not sure what to do in that corner? Plant. Not sure what to use for a center piece? Plant. Empty bookshelf? Plant. Adding plants adds life to a space. Even fake ones! You don’t have to have a green thumb to have plants in your home. There are so many beautiful species that are easy to care for or you can opt for silk plants. I have a mix of real and fake plants in my home, and put the live ones where I’ll remember to water them (like the kitchen) and the fake ones where I won’t (like the bedroom).
5. Throws
Throw blankets, throw pillows, just throw them all in there. Patterns, neutrals, colors, textures. Mix and Match. Layer it up. There are so many amazing combinations of throw pillows and blankets that you can do to polish off a room. For starters, try a neutral, a pattern or texture, and a color (yes, black and white are colors too!). So for example, let’s say a brown fur throw pillow on top of a cream colored chunky knit throw blanket layered on a navy plush throw blanket. Not only is this super cute, but also great for grabbing and snuggling.
These are my staples for quickly and simply making your house more homey. Everyone wants to feel grounded and like they have “their” place, by adding some of these touches your place will feel comfortable and totally yours!