What is it that makes a house—or an apartment, a condo, a cabin or even a yurt—a home? Everywhere we look, there's another expert telling us the answer lies in something we don't have, from fancy rugs, knick-knacks to an interior decorator. This feeling of being "at home" can't be bought, however, because it comes from an intimate relationship between us and our most personal place--and how we share it with those who enter. Like other love affairs, this one shapes us just as we shape it. We lavish not only money but also our time and creativity on our homes, and in return, they give us comfort, pleasure and sanctuary.
We worry a lot about what our homes look like, but how they make us feel, emotionally and physically, is way more important. That pricey renovation or those high-thread-count sheets matter less than how our living spaces nourish who we are, buffer us from stress, and give opportunities both for privacy and for socializing with family and friends. From a rented studio to a sprawling estate, any home can become the foundation for a better life—all for the price of fresh thinking.
Some of us know that five minutes in the garden makes us feel like another person, and that flowers and candles turn a meal into a decadent spread. Other home remedies require an individual touch. Does every room hold something—a picture, a quilt, or even a bit of color—that you love? What helps you count your blessings? Research shows that, particularly when life is difficult, being near things that remind us of better times helps restore us.
Perhaps the most surprising way to get more from home is to pinpoint the activities that really make us happy there. Feeling "stuck at home" often signals that we settle for passive, unsatisfying time-killers instead of going for real joy, whether that's reading a challenging novel, cleaning out a closet, or breaking out the paints and easel.
Finally, we can let the sun shine in. One out of three of us suffer from mood or sleep problems related to inadequate light. If we free ourselves from gloomy drapes, we also benefit from views of the backyard, a skyscape, or even a window box. Apply some fresh thought—and perhaps a little elbow grease—then sit back, put our feet up, SHARE and receive our home's new gifts.
We worry a lot about what our homes look like, but how they make us feel, emotionally and physically, is way more important. That pricey renovation or those high-thread-count sheets matter less than how our living spaces nourish who we are, buffer us from stress, and give opportunities both for privacy and for socializing with family and friends. From a rented studio to a sprawling estate, any home can become the foundation for a better life—all for the price of fresh thinking.
Some of us know that five minutes in the garden makes us feel like another person, and that flowers and candles turn a meal into a decadent spread. Other home remedies require an individual touch. Does every room hold something—a picture, a quilt, or even a bit of color—that you love? What helps you count your blessings? Research shows that, particularly when life is difficult, being near things that remind us of better times helps restore us.
Perhaps the most surprising way to get more from home is to pinpoint the activities that really make us happy there. Feeling "stuck at home" often signals that we settle for passive, unsatisfying time-killers instead of going for real joy, whether that's reading a challenging novel, cleaning out a closet, or breaking out the paints and easel.
Finally, we can let the sun shine in. One out of three of us suffer from mood or sleep problems related to inadequate light. If we free ourselves from gloomy drapes, we also benefit from views of the backyard, a skyscape, or even a window box. Apply some fresh thought—and perhaps a little elbow grease—then sit back, put our feet up, SHARE and receive our home's new gifts.
The Seasoned Collector
