What About Transforming Your Current Home Into Your Dream Home?
I have been contemplating this week about my house and the renovations that are under way. I remember a time when what I thought would be my "dream home" looked nothing like the home where I live now. As I look back, I realize that my goals for my dream home have actually changed and this week, I really focused on "what really does having a dream home mean?"
Often times, we go on vacation and stay in a resort or someone else's home and think about how awesome it would be to live in these conditions. We can become obsessed with thoughts of what our life might look like if we "just lived here." We recently took a trip to Cancun and stayed in a tropical paradise. I'm not gonna lie to you! While I was there, there were a few times that I caught myself thinking "how can I get here for good!" The problem with that way of thinking is that the moment we move into the "perfect house" or "the perfect place", we bring all of our baggage and our clutter with us and we no longer see the paradise. The expectation of relaxation flies right out the door the minute our first few boxes are unloaded. Then, we have to go to work and those lovely people who deliver the cute little drink with the umbrella, who seem so friendly, become co-workers, employees or neighbors and our vision of paradise once again is crushed! Why? Well, if we can understand how we can so quickly sabotage paradise, then we can begin to build paradise right where we live!
Trust me, I grew up in my teenage years living on a lake. It was beautiful and it was nice but when you live somewhere, if you are not careful, you can erase the feeling of paradise with the clutter of everyday life!
Yes, even if you live in a tiny house, a condo, an apartment, in the city, in the country or just an average house on an average block in Anywhere, USA, you can make your home become your "dream home."
Let me help you on this journey. It doesn't matter where your starting point is, just jump on the band wagon and let's take this trip together. Where you end up will depend on how honest you are with yourself and how much effort you are willing to put into your paradise!
First and foremost, you have to decide what is important to you. We all have different dreams and while I will share mine with you, yours can be very different. They just need to be yours! One of the things that we check out when we are looking for a good vacation spot are the amenities. Your home should have amenities. These are the things that make you want to be there above any other place that you could imagine. So, when you are deciding what you need to make your home your "dream home", don't forget the amenities!
My dream home needs to be a place that I am comfortable. When I walk in the front door, I usually give out a sigh of relief as if I have just stepped from behind enemy lines and into ally territory! My home is my safe-haven away from the world. I need it to be organized so that I am not faced with clutter and chaos when I come in. Everything, and I mean everything, needs to have a place!
My dream home needs to have an outdoor area for relaxing and entertaining. I like gardening and plants! I like to smell the flowers and I like to attract birds. All kinds of birds! I like a comfortable place to sit and drink tea outside and a place to cook on a grill.
My dream home needs to have a warm place to curl up in the winter and a nice fluffy throw close by that I can grab while reading a book or watching a movie. I want my guest to feel comfortable like that too, so I usually have several handy. Candles and twinkly lights on my trees make me feel cozy.
My dream home needs to have a kitchen that welcomes me or anyone else who feels like cooking something. I want utensils, spices, pans, ect. easily accessible and organized so that cleanup is a breeze. There is nothing worse than needing to cook only to have your counters filled with clutter and dirty dishes.
My dream home needs to have a place for my grandchildren. A closet or drawers or some space where they can keep some games, personal belongings, clothes or whatever they want. Something that makes them feel like they are welcome and always have a place in my home and in my heart.
While these are just a few of my needs to make any home my dream home, don't think this exhausts my list! I like pretty light fixtures, fireplaces, large tables and gathering spots. I like pretty towels in the bathroom and quilts in the bedrooms. I like tropical "stuff" and since I won't be moving to the tropics, I decided to bring it to me. I have a tropical quilt on my bed, a ceiling fan with tropical banana leaf fan blades and some palm tree paintings on my wall. I just brought a little bit of my vacation home with me. Why not? Instead of trying to escape to "somewhere else" just bring "somewhere else" to you! If you are ready to start, just follow these guidelines and you might find that your dream home is right where you are standing!
1. Make a plan. Write down your plan of attack for each room. What you don't like about it now and what would make it the perfect room for you. Think about what you want in each room, what color you want the walls to be, what kind of lighting would work best to give you the feeling that you want the room to have. What accessories should be in that room and make sure everything has a place! If something does not have a place, it doesn't belong in that room! Period! Remember that resort that you stayed in? When you walked in the room for the first time, it was relaxing because it was orderly and uncluttered. Well, that was before you unpacked your suitcase.
2. Start in that room by clearing out the clutter. I mean all the way to the corners of each closet! If you haven't used it in a year, ditch it! If it is some sentimental family heirloom, but you know that you aren't going to use it in your home, put it in a tub to be stored. Warning! You have to limit yourself to a small amount of keepsakes ahead of time that are worth keeping. If you don't, you will find yourself stressed out with clutter. The whole reason that you have decided to take this journey is to make life happier and easier! Don't be afraid to get rid of papers, books, clothes, small appliances that just sit there taking up space, and organize all drawers.
3. Start with the walls. Redecorate, repaint, clean, change the furniture around. Try out some different pieces of furniture in the room. None of the things that I am suggesting take a lot of money, just some time. Repaint the furniture if it is outdated. I repainted a night stand yesterday and I only spent about 2 hours tops on it. It really made things flow better in the room.
4. Think about your light fixtures. This is a way to bring newness and a real appeal to a room for very little money. Home Depot, Lowe's and Menards have some extravagant lighting that is inexpensive and easy to install. And don't forget to check out your switch plate covers. They should be clean and neat!
Now, go through each and every room repeating steps 1-4. Be careful not to move clutter from one room to the other. You will make more work for yourself and you really need to enjoy the rooms that are done as you march into the next room or "war zone." Being able to take refuge in your newly done "dream rooms" will give you the motivation that you need to keep on marching! Now, to continue on!
5. Look at the front of your house. Is it inviting? How would you feel if you were a guest walking up to the front of your house? Well, when you walk up to your front door, it affects you the same way that it does others, so be critical. You need to feel good when you walk up to your own front door. What does the front of your house portray about the people who live there? Does it look like friendly, happy people live there? If you are like most people, this area could use a facelift as well. Depending on what is important to you, add some wreathes, flowers, lights, etcetera.
6. Now, look at the back of your house. This is the place that you will most likely be hanging out in nice weather. Do you have a nice place to sit out of the sun or in the sun if that is your thing? Do you like to cook and entertain outdoors? If so, incorporate furniture and some features that make that easier and more enjoyable. Again, this is not expensive. Most of my patio furniture has come from garage sales and a can of spray paint makes it like new again. I usually find a colorful umbrella or two to brighten things up a bit. I actually built a waterfall fountain over a 1/2 whiskey barrel. I stacked up some pretty rocks that fit on top and drilled holes with a hammer drill, run a tube through the rocks that connects to a very small pump and voila! A fountain that gives my guest the sound of running water! Do you need a swimming pool or a hot tube? These are bigger ticket items that might require some budgeting, but will be well worth it if that is an important amenity for you to feel "on vacation" while you are at home. Oh, and while you are at it, check out your outdoor lighting. Rope lights, patio string lights, nice backyard fixtures and candles can all transform the mood of your outside oasis!
I really enjoyed writing this article and made my own lists of to-dos as I was contemplating how to achieve your "dream home" without moving. I hope that this will inspire you to make some changes right where you are that are affordable and will make your home the place that you want to be above any where else! I would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this subject so be sure to comment! Happy renovating!
Julie Atkins
Milkweed Farms