Do you live in a House or a Home? This probably sounds like a silly question, but it really is a question that we should sit back and ask ourselves. If you are anything like me, I’m often so caught up with the everyday stresses of life that my house often becomes a nothing more than an after thought. On the flip side, for some, your house may be so showplace perfect that it truly is not a home. What is the difference between a house and a home, and does it really matter?

A house is simply a structure that provides a roof over your head. It offers water, heat, appliances needed to store and prepare your food, space for belongings and valuables, a bed for rest, and most likely a TV for entertainment; basically all of the necessary conveniences for a comfortable life. Living in a house maybe okay for some, but I think we all deserve a place to call home.

A home is so much more than a house. A home is a reflection of you. A keeper and creator of memories; It is a place that you are thankful to come home to; where you can laugh, relax, cry and share special times with friends and family. A home provides a place to play and another for quiet contemplation. A home is for lively gatherings and private conversations. It’s a place where guests feel welcome and one that you can’t wait to get back to. A home says, this is who I am and what I love.

The good news is that creating a home is something that all of us can do. Terence Conran says this; Home is the heart of lifeHome is where we feel at ease, where we belong, where we can create surroundings that reflect our tastes and pleasuresMaking a home is a form of creativity open to everyone. After all, it’s your special touch that uniquely makes your house a home. Think back to homes that you have visited and what you liked about them. What made them special and what do you remember about them? Homes that I remember best are those that reflect the personality of those who lived in them. My childhood home had bold and happy colors; purple, red and gold. There are lots of family pictures, exotic items from travel adventures, and a few special pieces from my parent’s childhood homes. It’s a home that reflects their personality, heart and passions. My home (which is always a work in progress) is done in welcoming warm tones of yellow and gold; you’ll find a painted quote on a wall by Mark Twain about following your dream, candles in every room, and kids are always in and out. It can be a lively energetic place or a cozy place to curl up and read.

One home I remember visiting years ago was an old farm house. The owners had numerous treasured farmhouse antiques, but what I remember most about this home, is that almost everything had a story. A quilt on the wall was made by a great grandmother. The walls of a guest room featured a very old christening gown and several outfits that were handed down from generation to generation. Hung next to the garments were pictures of children from several generations, each of them wearing the same special garments that were handed down throughout the years. What a great way to share history, create conversation and re-live memories.

Yes, a house provides you with a roof over your head and a place to sleep at night, but a home is so much more. It tells amazing stories, embracing both laughter and tears; it provides a place to unwind, breathe a little easier and energize for what tomorrow may bring. As Dorothy once said, “there is no place like home”. Don’t we all deserve a home?

http://decoratingassistant.com/

Share This

A well-decorated room can still lack personality. To give your room a personality, choose from among these basic design elements, modify them to suit your tastes and implement them in a way which is just right for you.

1. A Theme - A ‘themed’ room says something about you, the person who has done it, your family or the place where you live. A theme will also provide you a place to showcase your collections, prized possessions, arts and crafts.

There are endless possibilities for using themes, but once you decide upon one, it will give you focus, as it will eliminate many things which don’t fit into it. This results in great ease in shopping, planning, implementing etc. Some best decorated rooms have had themes like Water, Nature, Eighteenth Century England, Contemporary, Ethnic, Pastels etc.

2. Artifacts - A piece of artistic value will always give your room that special touch you have always wanted. It can add texture and depth to a room. Depending upon your theme, the artifact may be an an antique chair, a painted bookshelf, an original painting or even an original watercolor by your local artist.

3. Collections - It is the most effective way to display your collections in a special arrangement. Whether you collect shells, dolls or trinkets, arrange them tastefully instead of just lining things up in a row. Lining things looks even worse when objects are small in size. Instead, group them together to project variety within your collections. Lovely trays, glass cupboards, corner shelves etc. are some ideas for displaying your collections.

4. Color - Color does not get limited to painting the walls of your room. Use colors that make you feel good about them in fabrics, linen, pillows, shelves, curtains etc. Blend colors to suit your style.

Add fabrics to liven up your room with a print that contains the color of your upholstery. To maintain harmony in colors, use the same accent at least THRICE around the same room. For eg. pillows, tablecloths and curtains could have similar accents. For more on using colors, read my article ‘Using Colors in Your Room’.

Use of the above elements will still leave everything to your own imagination and creativity. These will only help you in drawing out a plan for your Home-Decorating exercise. The details of the plan are still left to you to fill up.

Happy Decorating!

About The Author

Lata Tokhi is the Founder/Editor of Dot Com Women, a premier women’s website and online community. Visit her at http://www.dotcomwomen.com.

lata@dotcomwomen.com

Share This