TIPS TO TURN YOUR HOUSE INTO A HOME

You may not be tackling the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel nor releasing the statue "David" from its marble prison, but you have a tremendous task before you - creating a place you can call home from the house you just bought.

There is something to be said for walking into a home and sensing the feel that the home reflects the owner's personality so perfectly.  There is a sense of warmth in the color of the walls, flooring and even the selected decor.  But like most great works of art, it takes creativity and design to transform the picture in your mind to the interior of a home.

Let's look at a few ways to bring the imagine in your mind to reality.

1. Showcase your memories - Create your own gallery of personal photos chronicling a variety of important and meaningful moments with family, friends or of great adventures.  Select a variety of frames or simple blow ups of your pictures and hang them individually around your home. 

2. Choose flooring that reflects your style - Gone are the days when dirt floors were stylish.  Today there are multiple options for accentuating the emptiness and absorbing sound.  Whether it is wall-to-wall carpeting, hardwood flooring or tile, a wide variety of surfaces and finishes are available to help create your "look".  

Laying down rugs does much to help warm up your interior and add a layer of personality to the home.

3. Create functional storage - Often cited as one reason to move was "not enough storage".  Now is your opportunity to create functionality and design with your selection of storage and display options.  Cabinets and bookcases can be enhanced by utilizing visually appealing storage items that add another layer of texture to your space.

4. Create an accent wall - Create and accent wall to break up the oneness of your wall color and to create the focal point of any room.  Let your tasteful imagination run as you design your accent wall.  Changing the textual or visual appearance of the accent wall can be a statement of who you are and reflect a personal interest.  

5. Accent with sentimental objects - Filling your home with sentimental objects is what makes your house feel like a home.  As candles can help set a relaxing mood in the bathroom, so can a collection of mementos from a holiday or an art piece tell a story.

6. Display flowers - Okay, you may not be an advocate of "flower power", but a beautiful vase of flowers brings life into your interior.  If you find a room in your home that lacks a personality of its own, arranging flowers will instantly lift your space.  If fresh cut flowers are not an option, perhaps a few indoor plants that only need to be watered once a week will be the answer.

Turning your house into a home is not a work that is accomplished in a day; but evolves over time until the image in your mind becomes reality.  The important thing is to have fun along the way.