When decorating your home, or one particular room in your home, you should have an idea of the mood that you wish for that room to have.
The mood could be romantic, relaxing, luxurious, or happy.
Here are some interior designer tips & tricks for how to make your home feel happier.
photo courtesy of Brent Eckley flickr.com/photos/96831183@N08/34289820942/
Remove Clutter
Clutter is a major point of stress for most people.
In order to control the clutter in your home and make your home happier, create organizational systems that work for you and your lifestyle.
Find a designated space for things that tend to hang around, such as small electronics, remote controls, mail, newspapers, shoes, and your purse or briefcase.
Also find a designated space for things that you often go searching for, such as your keys and cell phone.
Complete Home Projects
Incomplete projects around your home can lead to stress and make you unhappy.
Finally complete any projects you have been working on.
If you can't finish it, hire someone to help or ask friends to help you.
Reduce Maintenance
Home maintenance takes away from happiness by taking away your free time.
When selecting a home or items for your home, choose things that are low maintenance.
You may even want to purchase a smaller home that requires less cleaning or a home with a smaller yard that requires less mowing.
Think of ways to reduce the amount of time you spend dusting, cleaning up certain messes, mowing the lawn, or weeding your garden.
Involve all family memebers in general maintenence tasks to it is not all left to one person.
How Will This Affect My Lifestyle?
When deciding where to spend money in your home, opt for home improvements that will positively affect your lifestyle over those that only make things prettier.
Choose to add a covered patio to extend your entertaining space over upgrading your kitchen countertops.
Finish out your basement to add a play place for all of the kids' toys (to keep the toys contained and out of the living room) instead of purchasing new furniture for your bedroom.
Don't Go Into Debt
When decorating your home, don't go into debt buying things because things generally don't make you happy in the long run.
If you purchase a wonderfully fabulous sofa on credit, you will get stressed every month when you receive the bill, thus making you unhappy.
Think about whether you will love the item in 5 years or if it will only make you happy for a short time.
Less is More
Lots of "stuff" in your home can feel claustrophobic and drain your happiness.
Consider adopting a more minimalist approach to decorating to boost your happiness.
Color
Figure out what colors make you happy and decorate your home in those colors.
Avoid boring beige and gray. Bright and bold colors often make people happy, but perhaps white brings you joy.
Remove Things That Evoke Bad Feelings
If you have something in your home that was given to you by someone who makes you upset, then remove it from sight so you don't think about that person.
If you have a favorite item that was damaged and everytime you see it you get upset that it was damaged instead of smiling because you love it, then pack it away for now.
Surround Yourself with Things You Love
If you love your family, add photographs to make you smile.
If you loved a particular vacation you took, add photographs and souvenirs around your home to remind you of that time.
If you love old quilts, sea shells, antique furniture, animal print, candles, artwork done by your kids, the latest electronics, books, fresh flowers, or nature, then bring those inside your home as well.
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