Home Planning
Defining Home
“Home is where the heart is.” We’ve all heard the saying before, but where are our hearts? We can tell so much about people by visiting their homes. There are the more obvious observations. Whose portraits do they have hanging on the walls? What books do they have stashed away on the shelves? Then there are the more subtle observations. What music do they listen to? How are their drawers organized? What do their closets look like? These little – or large – spaces we call our own are a snapshot of our lives. Our homes are where everything important to us intersects.
How do we turn our houses into our homes? First we choose the structures and locations, whether it’s an apartment, condo, loft, or older fix-me-up house in the city; a farmhouse or cabin in the country; a new home in the suburbs; or even a house in a planned community.
Next, we decide how to use our homes. Are they just a pit stop in our otherwise busy lives? Do we entertain? Do we work there? Do we hole up for hours reading or watching television? Is it our safe haven and place of refuge?
Aesthetically, we demonstrate our identities in decorating our houses. What colors do we choose? How much light do we let in? Are we more traditional, contemporary, or a mix of the two? What mediums do we like? Tile, ceramic, wood, glass, or carpet? Is our furniture comfortable, fashionable, or both?
Are you new to your house and don’t know where to begin? Flip through home magazines and rip out pages you like. Don’t stop to think about what you like about them; go for initial reactions only. Then stop and look at each picture. What attracts you to it? The light? The style? The colors? Is there a common theme? How can you replicate this in your house?
Ultimately homes are created by the memories we make there. Simply living our lives and inhabiting the space turns our houses into homes. But, we can certainly create the atmosphere that helps shape the lives we lead.
