10 Ways to Love The Home You Hate

Not loving your space? That can be hard. But if you're feeling stuck because now is not a feasible time to make a move, we have some strategies to help you love the home you have.

1. Make it more personal.

You might find joy in adding some more personal touches to your home. Add art that means something special (maybe a piece that features a favourite vacation spot), hang mementos, put up some of your children's artwork, or just fill it with pictures of your loved ones. Adding content to a space you don't love will make it feel more like your space.

2. Create a mood.

Think of how you feel in your favorite places. Do you have a hotel you frequent, a friend's home that makes you feel comfortable, a restaurant that has the perfect vibe? Try to emulate that feeling in your home. What are the colour schemes in that space? Think of all your sense. Candles, textiles and greenery can all make a space more of a specific mood.

3. Clear the clutter.

Clutter can absolutely ruin how you feel at home. Get rid of the items you don't need. Clear out some toys, donate some clothes, organize that paperwork, and throw away that item you think you'll use but you know you never will. Do you hate your kitchen? Look at the counter tops. Are they full of old mail, appliances you don't use, decor that is in the way? Get rid of it! You will be breathing a breath of fresh air in a clutter free space. 

4. Make a few small updates.

Large renovations may not be an option, but a few small tweaks may satisfy that urge to move. Do you hate your backyard? Maybe update your patio furniture! Is your mudroom full of stuff? Add some cabinetry and space to put away things nicely. Is your living room feeling unwelcoming? Add a fresh coat of warm paint. 

5. Focus on the positive. 

It might be time for a mindshift. Focus on what you do LOVE about your home. Do you love your neighbourhood? Focus on that. Is your ensuite an oasis? Have a bath and embrace it. It's easy to focus on the negative, but take a look around and find what you do find appealing!

6. Carve out a space for you.

Maybe what you need in your space is a place just for you. You might be bogged down with clutter and sharing your space with your family or roommates. Find a corner that you can put a comfy chair, some books, a blanket. This can be your special corner of your home just for you. Go there when you feel overwhelmed at home. You'd be surprised how much it helps! (A nook not your thing? Maybe it's time to make your garage a man cave or the basement into a home theatre!)

7. Get involved in your neighbourhood.

It may be time to get more involved with your neighbors and community. Volunteer, take a class, frequent the same coffee shops, see if there are any neighbours who would like to start a walking or running club. You'd be surprised how feeling welcomed in your community can make your home feel more like somewhere you want to be.

8. Re-arrange.

Maybe it's time to move around some furniture. Put your couch in a different space, change around your bedroom. Have a dining room you never use? Maybe move the table into your kitchen if it's feasible and use that space for something else!

9. Is it really the house?

This might be a tough question to ask yourself, but some self reflection may help. Is it the house, or is it something else in your life that is making you feel unsettled? Is there any other changes you can make to help you feel more content. 

10. Make a long term plan.

Look at the future and focus on when you may be able to make a move. Find some comfort in that. Look at your options and think about when you do move, what you will look for a in a home. Get serious about making that goal a reality and put the energy you have into feeling sad about your current space in to figuring out how to make change a reality.

Note: much of this content was curated from Bob Vila. Check out their website for more great home tips.