Buying a house is a financial transaction. Making it a home, however, is an emotional investment. A home is more than the sum of its walls and corners. Creating a beautiful living space filled with warmth requires passion, time, commitment, and that intangible asset called love. In our series on housecare (yes, we coined that word up), we take you through the ways you can transform a house into a home.
Declutter
We all tend to accumulate things. Marie Kondo wouldn’t have written a bestseller on the magical art of tidying up otherwise. Whether it is a new house or one that you already have lived in, decluttering can give you space, create openness, and usher in light.
Declutter just one room at a time. Work in small bursts, and not a marathon. Organize and identify essentials. Sort the items in a room into ‘Stay’ ‘Out’ and ‘Later.’ This method of tagging helps you to start organising. The ‘Later’ consists of stuff that you quite don’t what to keep or throw – but put all of those together in one shelf or cupboard and tag those so that you know what you don’t need later on.
TOP TIP: Think Utility First, Sentiment Later.
Artify your walls
Colour, we all know, can change the mood and breath of every house. For long, Indian homes used to have one standard colour for the walls. But think wallpaper. Think decals. Think wall panels. That big, blank space that you see? It’s your canvas.
And there are so many ways to be creative around it. Try hanging curtains all the way across a wall. Designer Deepak Sharma divided his living room wall into a small collage of family photos and art – instant memories that make him smile every time he glances that side. The photos also personalise his living room, reflecting his life back to every visitor.
Adorn the space
[bctt tweet=”Use small accessories like throw pillows to refresh your furniture. Soft fabrics and rugs can create a sense of warmth and cosiness.” username=”RoofnFloor”]TOP TIP: Use furniture creatively
Sharma says that adding seating in the bedroom is an oft-neglected trick in Indian homes. “An affordable vintage leather recliner can add a lounge-like feel that can change the bedroom from merely functional to a space you want to curl up in with a book.”
One of the top ways you can make add a touch of beauty to your home is by changing the light. Copper-string lights are all the rage now and they can be hung anywhere to create a shimmery effect of warmth
Did you like our tips? Is there anything you want us to write about? Tell us in comments.
