A homey house at no cost {Part 1}

Weekend posts are going to be short because it's hard to write 1000 words every single day!  Well, actually, it's not hard for me to gather 1000 words together, it's just hard to edit it all, take photos, and put something together that doesn't look completely terrible!  So Saturdays and Sundays for the month of October you're going to see shorter posts - easy for me to write, easy for you to read.  Cool?This Saturday I want to chat about what we can do in our houses to make them feel a little more like home - and without spending a penny!Have you ever heard the saying "shop your house"?  It's a simple, and extremely effective way to rethink decor without having to go out, and without taking out your wallet!  Unless your wallet is part of your decor, which, if pretty enough and not a big brown brick like mine, could work.By the way, Julia, you TOTALLY inspired me to come up with more of these ideas so this series is officially dedicated to you.  Thank you for being such a genius!Now back to shopping the house.  This week I challenge you to look for specific things that make you feel good.Do you love to read while drinking a cup of tea/coffee under a warm blanket?  Come on.  Who doesn't!?! So... group those things together.  Grab your favourite books (or your e-reader), a fluffy blanket and maybe a pillow or two and leave a set of coasters close by to remind you that this is your happy corner of the house.  It'll push you to use that space and to LIVE in it.  Because after all, we need to spend time in our home in order to love it to the fullest.

*   *   *

Source

If it's treating yourself with something deliciously home-made that makes you happy inside, create a little corner in your kitchen just for you.  Don't hide your tools or even your ingredients away behind closed doors.

*   *   *

Source

Source

If you're an athletic person just like me (HAHAHA I'm so funny...), and you live in a place where real winter exists just like me (ok, that one was actually true), then don't put all of your equipment away just yet.  Use it to decorate your home and bring your interests and personality out into the open, where they should be!

*   *   *

Source

Love music?  Display your record player and your records.  My brother did something like this at his place and it's so undeniably him that you instantly feel that, yes, this is a loved and lived in home.

*   *   *

Source

Your kids are the best artists in the world?  Great!  How great will they feel if they get a whole gallery wall all to themselves in the house?

.

Take what makes you happy out of storage, into the open, and make your house a cozy, interesting and unique home that is all you.  That is useful.  That is meaningful. 

This is how I'm spending my Saturday morning. Loving my home.

Now let's go shop the house!