Tips to Make Your House Feel Like a Home

Whether it's your first apartment with no roommates or your first house, decorating your new home is exciting. Your home is your haven, the place where you will sleep, unwind and entertain. Toward that end, you want it be warm and inviting, but most importantly reflect who you are and your own personal style. Though it may be tempting to run out and buy bed-in-bag ensembles and living room sets, take the time to figure out your personal style, then employ a few simple tips that will make your house feel like a home:

1. Pictures
Nothing gives a home more personality than pictures - and not just artwork. Scattering pictures of friends and family around the house scheme warms up your home instantly and can make you feel better! Scout out stores like Target for fun and affordable picture frames, but don't be afraid to check out funky shops and boutiques for more unusual pieces. For affordable, more personalized artwork, frame greeting cards or even pictures from magazines.
Quick tip - Framed black and white photos add drama and sophistication to any room.

2. Bedding
Frankly, this is the one place you should splurge. We spend a lot of time in bed and it should be a place we can't wait to crawl into at the end of a long day. When shopping for sheets, let the words "thread count" should be your guide. Thread count means the number of threads per square inch. The higher the thread count, the softer the sheets. Strive for a minimum thread count of 400 and if you haven't experienced Egyptian Cotton, try it. It will make you feel like a king or a queen. Go for a high thread count when it comes to the mattress cover, too. If you can afford it, down comforters and pillows will make you feel like you never want to get out of bed. Restrain yourself from filling the bed with a cascade of decorative pillows; keep the pillows to one or two.
Quick Tip - Spritz your freshly-made bed with lavender linen water.

3. Bathroom
Vinyl shower curtains are fun in college, but when it comes time to spruce up the bathroom in your
new place, go for fabric. Fabric shower curtains give your bathroom a chic and luxurious feel. Indulge in
extra large Egyptian cotton towels and buy plenty of hand towels for when you have guests. Look for a
bath rug that coordinates with, but doesn't necessarily match your bathrooms colors. While it isn't
necessary to have bowls of decorative soap like your mother had, consider buying bars of soap in colors
that coordinate with your decorative scheme and displaying them on a fun and funky soap plate or
tray. Don't be afraid to dress up the walls with fun photos. Finally, don't skimp on the TP! Again, a little
indulgence goes a long way.
Quick tip - Steer clear of toilet rugs and toilet seat covers.

4. Curtains/Rugs
Don't let your floors and windows go bare! Adding curtains and rugs to a room add warmth and style and
can instantly transform a "blah" room into "wow." Again, retail outlets such as Target and Bed Bath &
Beyond are your friend as they offer a variety of styles and colors to choose from. Even if you have carpet,
rugs will pull the whole look of your room together and allow you to have a little fun with your overall
décor.
Quick tip - Ordinary flat bed sheets make quick and inexpensive curtains. Try a fun curtain rod such
as a copper pipe.

5. Candles
Scented candles not only make your home smell good they also act as a great accessory for any room. Avoid candles encased in glass. "Nude" candles give you more design options and you can display them on fun plates and trays. Experiment with different colors, heights and sizes. After a long day of work, coming home to a glass of wine, soothing music and lit candles with a soothing scent will make any bad day disappear.
Quick tip - Don't light scented candles during dinner. They will interfere with the scent of your food.

6. Flowers
If you have a green thumb, invest in plants. Otherwise, fresh flowers liven up a room and smell
fantastic. Again, play around with different vases and containers - use your imagination! Glass bottles
and candle votives make for fun flower displays. Most grocery stores have great floral sections where
you can find fresh flowers for not a lot of money. Avoid fake flowers and plants. Not only are they dust
magnets, they can actually make a room feel gloomy. If you're determined to have fake flowers, try drying
out old bouquets by hanging them upside down and displaying them someplace unexpected later.
Quick tip - If you want to hurry up your blooms, add a little sugar to the water in your vase.