I had a tiny rent house in college that I adored. I’m not sure if it was the old wood paneling or checkered black and white tile, or perhaps it was the way the noise from the football stadium and baseball field would flood through my windows in the afternoons. I loved making that house a home because the old 1920’s frame of the place seemed to soak in being lived in so well. This task is a little bit harder to do with a 1 bedroom apartment in the suburbs compared to an old college house full of character. Here are 7 things that I’ve used to make my apartment feel like home. 1. Create Harmony– No room should be an island. You should not feel as if you are stepping from one country to the next as you walk from room to room. Pick things that have something in common and that mirror your personal style. I use similar colors to transition from room to room, you can also use similar shapes, patterns, and furniture pieces to create harmony. Each room should seem like an extension to the last, this creates a spacious and peaceful area.

2. Keep It Clean- I am a clean freak. I used to clean my friends rooms when I was invited over for sleepovers. I know…it is a problem. I will say this makes a huge difference in my home though! Your home should be your escape from work and anything else going on in life. Clutter, unkept areas, and items that need to be repaired, or tended to, are not things you want to come home to at the end of the day. Take time each morning and each evening to “tidy-up”. I make my bed every morning, empty my dishwasher every evening, and put away any clothes, dishes, and straighten up my blankets and pillows as well throughout the evening.

3. Efficiency- Perhaps it was the way I was raised, but we simply did not buy an abundance of things we did not need, use, or enjoy. Treat things with care and chose items that are made to last. Know the purpose of a room, don’t have wasted space and at the same time have closets busting at the seams with junk you never use. Plan what each rooms purpose is and organize that space to fulfill that purpose.

4. Self-Reliance- Find do-it-yourself activities that fill your home with spirit. I love teaching my students how to sew because it is something that few of their family members know how to do. Some of the best things in my home are handmade quilts passed down to me from my great-great Grandmothers or paintings that I have painted myself. Fill your home with fun self-reliant projects and activities that you cherish.

5. Generosity- A home has to be comfortable. You shouldn’t design a room that you just want to stare at, design a room that is livable and cozy. Try siting in every chair or seat in the room for an extended amount of time. Is it comfy? Can you talk to everyone and see everyone’s face? Can you sit comfortably and still see the TV? Is there a place to sit your drink, enough light to read a book? I read this tip a few years ago and it really helps when arranging a room and helps you get a different perspective on where you have placed things that are not your regular spot.

6. Personality- I was once told to not worry about being afraid if an item you were considering purchasing would match the rest of your belongings, concerning interior decorations and clothing options, because if you liked it enough it would already fit right in with the rest of your likings. I find this so incredibly true! Fill your space with items that remind you of how incredible life has been and can be, where you come from and the people that have helped you to get where you are now. I keep my Aunt Lessie’s old clock, a picture of my family that my Grandmother used to keep on her nightstand, and cookbooks passed on to me from family in my home. Even silly items like a “Das Boot” that I got while in Europe sits on the counter and my Granddad’s old Winchester ammunition box, they add personality to my home!

7. Joy- Homes filled with joy have hints of the seasons, daisies for the spring time on the kitchen table and sun tea on the porch in the summer. They are always decked out for the holidays and they hold traditions, even the silly ones that wouldn’t make sense anywhere else. The simple joy’s don’t come from how big the foyer is or the amount of bedrooms in a house, they come from the little memories that you accumulate everyday. Houses become that peaceful feeling you get when you turn the corner and see your humble abode still standing after another day, welcoming you home.