Whether you’re renting or buying, many of us have complicated relationships with our spaces. One moment we love them, and the next, we can’t get out of the house fast enough. If you’ve fallen out of love with your home, and you’re looking for ways to add personality back to your space, these home decor tips will hopefully give you inspiration.
When it comes to home decor, I tend to overthink every decision I make. Should a painting go here? Will a carpet look good there? Is this too much pattern? What about this furniture arrangement?
Because of this, it’s lead me to have a bit of a complicated relationship with my space. I’m constantly doubting design decisions and I’m forever unsure of my style.
Having said that, it’s taken a while, but slowly but surely, I’ve started to feel more confident and comfortable in my space. And really, it only took doing a few simple things to help me reach this state.
Whether you’re feeling similar because you’re a chronic over thinker, or you’re simply just not loving the space you come home to day-after-day, I want to share with you some decor/style/lifestyle tips that have helped me with falling back in love with my space.
Let’s discuss.
Please note: This post does contain affiliate links, meaning I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through one of my links. Just know I only recommend products I believe in.
1) If you don’t love something, take it away
I think this is the tip that probably made the biggest difference for me in helping me fall back in love with my space, which is why I’ve listed it first.
Quite simply, if there’s something in your space that you absolutely hate, take it away. This can include everything from wall hangings to pieces of furniture to light fixtures to pillows, and even to something as simple as a vase on a shelf.
If something is in your space and you’re looking at it day-after-day, and you hate it, you’re automatically going to have a negative attitude and outlook when you walk into the house. Not ideal.
Of course if you hate everything in your space, you might find yourself in a bit of a pickle, but more than likely, there’s only one or two pieces that top your list of things you hate in your space. It’s those top pieces that should be removed ASAP.
Remember: even if you paid money for something and you feel silly for changing your mind/wasting your money, there are always places like Kijiji where you can sell the stuff you no longer love.
Try your best to create a home full of things you love and that make you happy, and you’ll be in a much better position to fall back in love with your home.
2) Keep things light and airy
Like I just said, adding things you love to your home is key to falling in love with your space. Keep in mind, though, when you’re in the process of filling your home with things you love, it can be easy to get a little carried away here.
One minute you’re at Home Sense buying a new wall hanging that caught your eye, and the next, your house is filled with items that either don’t make sense together, or just don’t match the vision of what you want your home to look like.
And so, with that in mind, it’s always best to follow a less is more mentality with your space.
Don’t simply buy the first thing that catches your attention, and don’t intentionally go shopping with the sole purpose of filling in a space in your home. This almost always leads to making a quick decision and then regretting it later.
Instead, take your time with deciding how to fill your space. By intentionally not filling spaces, you’re much more inclined to find pieces that naturally work and don’t feel forced.
3) Buy unique pieces
Another thing I found that bugged me about my space was that everything felt generic and almost junky.
I kept shopping at the same exact stores that everyone shops at, and I just couldn’t help but feel my space looked like a 20 year old girl’s dorm room (definitely not the style I was going for!).
I was only able to rectify this when we started shopping more at consignment shops and used furniture stores.
This might not be for everyone if you have a more contemporary design style, but the main thing to be concerned with is buying quality pieces that don’t feel like they were produced in mass quantities. Doing this will help keep your space feeling elevated and in line with your unique sense of style.
4) Decorate your front porch/door
Here’s an easy one, but a good one…
For most of us, we walk in the front door everyday, right?
Well, if you’re walking up to a house that looks like an abandoned shed, lived in by people who don’t care about their space, your enthusiasm to go inside is going to automatically be lowered. Plain and simple.
Take the time to clean up your front porch: Put a wreath on the door, buy a plant, decorate for the season (i.e. pumpkins for fall, lights for Christmas).
Trust me, you don’t have to completely remodel your front porch in order to make your house feel welcoming and inviting.
And hey, if you live in an apartment, putting a wreath on the door will work wonders.
5) Fix things that don’t function well
When we think about falling in love with our space, we often think about decor: light fixtures, paint colors, wall hangings, etc.
However, one thing that can easily make you feel resentful of your space is a poorly functioning home.
What do I mean by this?
Well, if you have things located in places that just don’t make sense, this is a major indication of a poorly functioning space.
For example, if there’s something you use everyday, but you’re having to constantly walk up and down the stairs to get it, or you have the coffee maker placed in a spot that’s hard to reach, or if you have an office desk that you use frequently that gets no light… These are all likely things that bother you and that are making you resentful of your space.
If something in your space isn’t functioning well, fix it. Even if that means the coffee maker is in a spot that doesn’t look as good, when you’re not having to do gymnastics to get to it, you’ll thank me.
6) Make sure you have storage solutions
Similarly to having a properly functioning space, it’s also important to make sure you have proper storage.
Not only will this keep your home from getting cluttered, it’s also key for being able to find things (nothing makes me more resentful of my space than not being able to find things because there’s no storage and everything is everywhere…ugh, the worst).
There are so many great articles all over the internet about storage solutions (I actually have one that is all about budget friendly organization). Even if you simply order something in from Amazon, this will make a huge difference in how you feel about your home (I absolutely love Amazon storage solutions, and I highly recommend checking out some of the options below if you’re looking for quality storage).
p.s. I have all my favorite storage solutions for the bathroom in this post
7) Have people over
This one might sound a little weird when we’re talking about refreshing your space, but I actually think it’s such a key to falling in love with your home.
If you’re the only one ever seeing your space, you’re probably not going to care about it as much. If you don’t care, you’re not going to put the time and energy into making it feel like a warm and inviting space.
And hey, even if you do care, a house isn’t really going to start feeling like a home until you start creating some memories in it. Having friends and family over will help you do this.
Not to mention, having people over and hearing them compliment your space can help make you see your home in a new light.
8) Buy a diffuser
If you’re sensitive to smells, this one might not be for you, but I absolutely love my diffuser (this is the exact one I have).
I diffuse oils in it on a daily basis, and it honestly makes my space feel so much more cozy and inviting (I’m not just saying this).
I’m not sure if it’s the oils themselves (essential oils are believed to have aromatherapy benefits), or it’s just the routine of filling up my diffuser and picking my scent for the day, but I truly believe that a diffuser is something that everyone should have in their home (I have two!).
Oh, also know that with the diffuser I recommended above, it also comes with 10 essential oils, which is an absolute DEAL. I’m only now just realizing how insanely overcharged I was when I bought this diffuser at a local shop. Do yourself a favor and order online.
9) Light candles
While I love my diffuser, there’s something about the ambiance of a candle that a diffuser just can’t create.
In particular, I like lighting candles at night when it’s darker to create a mood, and I use my diffuser first thing in the morning to set the tone of my day.
10) Make something/DIY
There’s just something about creating a piece with your own two hands that feels rewarding, especially if it’s something that you love and that you feel proud of. You’ll be able to see it everyday and know that you contributed to the look and feel of the space.
Having said that, if you’re disappointed in your handy work and you hate the piece, refer to Tip #1 and don’t display it. Having things in your home that you hate is never the answer. Simply keep working until you’re able to create something you feel proud of.
11) Open the windows
Obviously this is a little weather dependent, but between having the AC blasting in the summer and the heat cranking in the winter, our houses aren’t often exposed to fresh air.
And really, do I even need to go into all the benefits of fresh air to convince you that opening up your windows is a good idea?
Trust me, when things are feeling stale and you want to bring some positive energy to your space, open up the windows and let a fresh breeze pass through. This will make all the difference.
12) Add carpets//Take carpets away
Obviously this is one that is a little restricted by budget since carpets tend to be a pricey, but a carpet can work wonders in helping bring a space together.
Carpets are also nice if you have cold floors and you want to add some coziness to your space.
On the other hand, with my space, we actually found that removing a carpet made us like the space better.
We had a carpet under the dining room table probably for a good 6 months, my boyfriend kept saying we should move it, I kept resisting, and believe it or not, simply removing the carpet made a huge difference in making the space feel more light and airy.
Don’t be like me. Don’t be afraid to try new things in order to figure out what works.
13) Consider lighting
Similarly to carpets, adding lighting to your space makes a world of a difference. ‘
Keep in mind, though, lighting doesn’t always have to involve overhead lighting, and you don’t have to hire an electrician to help brighten up your space.
Adding table lamps and floor lamps are always great options. In fact, adding lighting all around the room can help your space feel bigger.
Bottom line: just because a space doesn’t have a lot of natural light and/or there’s not a lot of built in lighting, does not mean that space has to feel dark and dreary. Adding in some light fixtures is an easy solution to help you feel more positive towards your space.
14) Switch out artwork
Brightening up your walls with artwork is always an easy solution to liven up a space.
Having said that, be careful with what pieces you buy. It’s easy enough to fall into the trap of buying generic artwork (been there, done that). Make sure you truly love a piece before hanging it on a wall where you have to see it everyday.
In addition, always feel free to switch around artwork. Try moving paintings to different walls, test out different arrangements if you have a gallery wall, and update photo galleries if you have any family shots.
(p.s. Second hand shops are always a great place to pick up frames if you need them)
15) Invest in indoor plants
I’m such a fan of indoor plants.
Not only because it fits with my whole design style, but also because I just think it’s nice to bring a little bit of the outdoors inside.
And hey, even if it’s just fake plants, adding that pop of green is always a nice treat.
16) Buy some flowers
Similarly, I love adding flowers to my space. They can be pricey and it’s not something I would do all the time, but if you’ve been finding that you don’t currently love your space, adding a bright bouquet of flowers to your coffee table can quickly and easily liven up a space.
17) Rearrange furniture
This one isn’t always easy to act on, but I think it’s one that we all know makes a difference.
Play with the arrangement of furniture in your home. It’s easy enough to get stuck in a furniture rut because it’s what we’re used to, but flipping around two chairs or trying a side table on a different wall can open up arrangement ideas you never even thought of.
Don’t fall victim to getting stuck in a furniture rut. Nothing will kill your creativity more than staring at the same thing day after day.
18) Buy new pillows/throw blankets
I love switching out pillows and throw blankets (in fact, I think I want to do this in my own space soon).
Pillows tend to not be too expensive, and they’re a great way to add a different pop of color or a new pattern to a room.
Like I just mentioned in the previous tip, looking at the same thing day-after-day can start to feel stale, and it can quickly kill your creativity, leading you to resent your space.
Pick up new pillows or a cozy new throw blanket to give your couch/bed a whole new look and feel.
(I got this throw on Amazon, and I’m absolutely in love with it. I got it in white, I’ve had it for just over a year, and it has held up amazingly well. I honestly use it everyday even in the summer. Obsessed.)
19) Paint a wall
Yeah, yeah, everyone tells you to try painting when you’re feeling your space needs a refresh. And yes, I agree that painting is never a bad idea.
Having said that, you might notice that with this tip I’m saying paint “A” wall, so not an entire room.
Painting a singular wall can create a focal point for a room. It can also add an unexpected pop of color, and it can help prevent things form feeling too sterile.
This is especially nice if you have any oddly shaped rooms that you want to help define better. It doesn’t have to be a big wall. It doesn’t even have to be a whole wall. Experiment with the idea of playing with wall colors to liven up your space. Remember: if it doesn’t work, the worst thing that can happen is you change it back.
20) Clean!
One we all know we should do, but one that most of us aren’t inclined to do…
Cleaning is probably the biggest and most important thing you can do when trying to help yourself fall in love with your space.
If you’re living in filth, you’re not going to feel good. Plain and simple.
Even if your house isn’t particularly filthy, but there’s little things here and there that you’ve been wanting to clean, do it!
Not only will this make your space feel better, it will also give you a sense of accomplishment, which always leads to feeling better and more positive (or at least it does for me).
21) Clear the clutter
And lastly, probably the most obvious tip on this whole list.
If you’re not feeling great with your space, get rid of the clutter.
That pile of mail that’s been sitting on the coffee table. Those books that you keep saying you’re going to read, but are just taking up space. The laundry that’s been sitting in a corner for a month.
If your space is cluttered, you’ll start to feel cluttered and disorganized.
Keeping things neat and orderly can make a world of a difference in helping you fall back in love with your home.
The Key To Falling In Love With Your Home
If you didn’t catch on, the real key to falling in love with your home is creating a space that’s full of things you love, but also one that’s not so full that you feel cluttered and overwhelmed.
Keep things neat. Don’t forget to clean. And be picky with what you allow into your space.
Remember: this is a space that you have to live in everyday. If you absolutely hate it and it makes you uncomfortable, that’s undoubtedly going to start feeding into your mindset and your daily life.
Take the time to intentionally create a space you love. Don’t just assume it’s all going to come together (it won’t).
In the end, taking that time is always worth it.
What are some things that you’ve done to help fall in love with your home? Do you have any decor tricks for making your space feel more inviting? Let me know! When it comes to home decor tips, I’m all ears!
As always, if you found this post helpful/inspiring, feel free to use this image on Pinterest to share with friends or save for later. Always appreciated 🙂
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