When you first move into a new home, it can almost feel like you’ve wandered into foreign territory. Sure, the house looks nice and lovely, but it just doesn’t have that welcoming feel to it that you want out of a family home. The same thing can happen when you stay in your home over time as well. It may have felt warm and welcoming at once, but then something has happened for it to lose some of that appeal.
Can you create a welcoming atmosphere in your home? Of course! Is it difficult to do? Surprisingly not. In fact, over the years, I find that some of the best things you can do to create this welcoming atmosphere are very small and subtle. There’s no need to reside in a home that doesn’t feel comfortable and welcoming, give some of these things a try and see how much they change the atmosphere in your home.
Clean Up The Clutter
Clutter can be very bad in your home as it takes up precious space and also doesn’t create the most welcoming atmosphere. Have you ever come home and walked into your house to find things thrown all over the place and just stuff everywhere? It’s the last thing you want to be greeted with after you’ve been out all day! Now, imagine walking home to a clean home that’s got no clutter everywhere - better, right? I find this is a problem people face over time in their home, which turns it from once being very welcoming to now being unwelcoming. However, it's also an issue when you move into a new home, and you have all the moving boxes everywhere, cluttering up all your rooms! The solution is simple; have a good old fashioned declutter and get rid of all the mess. It’s not really a difficult thing to do, and you’ll see instant results, trust me.
Lay Down Some Thick Rugs
Rugs are probably the easiest way you can transform your home in seconds, and make it feel more welcoming. I find that you don’t tend to notice the effect a rug brings until you either take one away or add one to a rugless home. There’s just a homely feel to rugs, particularly country style, rustic rugs, like the ones on the American Country website. A rug in your living room or bedroom works wonders on a wooden floor. It adds that extra layer of comfort underfoot and brings a warmth to the room as well. Alternatively, a similar idea is to use a welcome mat in your hallways. This is kind of like a rug, just a little less stylish and more footwear resistant as well. Plus, the whole point of a welcome mat is to welcome you into your home - it’s just a nice feeling wiping your shoes on a mat and then taking them off after a long day. I know, it sounds a bit far-fetched, but try it out, and you’ll notice the difference it makes.
Photo from pxhere
Tidy Up Your Exterior
Most of the time, your home doesn’t feel very inviting or welcoming because the outside isn’t looking up to scratch. If you have an overgrown front garden or a driveway that’s very chipped and cracked, then your house immediately loses some of its curb appeal. There’s absolutely nothing welcoming about walking pulling up to your house and seeing a right state out front. Again, this is something that may happen over time, but you could easily move into a new home that’s not been properly looked after on the outside. What can you do? It’s simple, just tidy up your driveway and make your home more appealing from the exterior. Often, all it takes is a little lick of paint on your front gate or the front wall of your house, and the atmosphere changes completely. Likewise, give your lawn a trim and cut any bushes or hedges that might be a bit overgrown. A great little tip I’ve heard is to get some baskets of flowers that you can hang either side of your front door. This makes your home seem so much more inviting, it’s lovely to be welcomed home with fresh flowers blowing in the breeze.
Buy Some Flowers For Inside Your Home
Speaking of how lovely and welcoming flowers are, you should also get some for inside your home too. A lovely vase with some flowers in your hallways will make all the difference when you first open your front door. But, don’t stop there, a vase in your living room, kitchen, and bedroom also adds to the atmosphere. Yes, this is a very subtle idea, but it works remarkably well! Flowers just make a house feel like home, they’re ever so inviting.
Put Up Some Happy Pictures
The final idea is to decorate your home with pictures of things that put a smile on your face. This is probably my best tip when moving into a new home. Sometimes, it can be hard to move into a new home as you keep thinking about the people that used to live there. But, with pictures of your family on the walls, you almost make the house yours. No doubt you have loads of great family memories that will look awesome in and around your home. You haven’t got to go overboard here and have full on photo collages on every wall in your property! But, a few photos here and there will just remind you of the fun times and create a homely and welcoming atmosphere.
As you can see, all of these ideas are so easy to attempt. None of them requires massive amounts of effort, and some are as simple as buying a bouquet of flowers or hanging up pictures. I really believe it’s important to live in a home that has a nice atmosphere. You and your family will find it much easier to settle in and just enjoy the home you’ve got. Now, every time you come home from work, you’ll be eager to step inside and feel the lovely welcoming atmosphere in your house!