What makes a happy home?
I saw this video of Reese Witherspoon giving her personal tips on creating a happy home and it got me thinking about the topic. Consider this: just as you can affect your environment, your environment can affect you. Therefore, it’s imperative to make your house feel like a home that everyone looks forward to coming to, not the place that your family and friends want to stay away from.
Here are a few expert tips to transform your house into a truly happy home:
- Ignite your five senses
The first thing to consider is your five senses. Are they happy in your home? Consider the sense of smell. Does your home emit a pleasant aroma, like the smell of homemade cooking or lavender oils? What about a nice sound level where people speak with a moderate tone of voice rather than yelling? Think happy and relaxing music, water fountain, plants, fresh flowers, clean house, calm and playful pets, etc. - Color can affect your mood
Make sure the color of the house represents a happy mood. For example, for every 10 cold colors used, use one to two warm colors. Remember, cold is a color closer to blue and green and warm is a color closer to red. Use as much neutral color as you want. White is a great option but too much white can be overwhelming. - Use the power of touch
Share and show your affection and love. Be intimate with your partner, be affectionate with your children, give constant hugs and kisses. Love is not just something to have, but something to share. - Use positive words on a daily base
Start your day by writing three things you are grateful for. I do this every morning. Put your list in plain sight where you and your family can see. This simple step will train your brain to be grateful and happy. - Have reasonable expectations
You can have a clear structure, and have tolerance and compassion in the house at the same time. Teach others to do the same. - Get rid of all the clutter in the house
Once or twice per year, go through your stuff and get rid of anything you haven’t used for a while. Either give it to someone who has a use for it or donate used items to a local charity. Your house needs to have space for breathing, don’t clutter it. When bringing things into the house, focus on quality. - Make dinnertime fun time
While eating, make sure you keep the tone of your voice down and the atmosphere relaxing and happy. Dinnertime is not a time to argue and discuss conflicts. Make dinner together a peaceful and happy time.
If you want to create a happy home by starting from scratch with a new property in Montecito, Hope Ranch or any of Santa Barbara’s upscale communities, please call me at 805.886.9378 or email me at Cristal@montecito-estate.com. I’ll list your home and find you a new place to live at the same time. I’ve been selling real estate in Santa Barbara for more than 25 years and would be delighted to help you with all your real estate needs.