How To Love The House You Are In

Before social media was a thing, we “valued our house” based on what we saw on TV, in magazines and the “best neighborhoods” where we lived. Now that social media is here, the “expected” value we put on our houses is tainted even more. We are inundated with beautiful photos of homes from people we follow, our friends and family and companies we like.

 

It is so hard to not fall into the comparison trap. We compare our home to those we see in our feeds every day. We find ourselves longing for a home we don’t have, becoming critical of the house we do have and not appreciating what we have worked so hard for. The comparison game is not a fun game to play. 

 

We all come in different shapes, sizes and styles. If we didn’t, life would be so boring. The same goes for the houses we live in. Can you imagine opening magazines or watching HGTV and all the houses look exactly the same? BORING!! Where is the fun in that? All houses have something special to offer and sometimes we just need a little mind-shift and some help finding what that is in our own house. 

How To Love The House You Are In

When I start struggling with not loving the house we are in, I use this method to work through it.

• When you close your eyes and picture a house you love, what comes to mind? What does the house smell like? How do you feel in the house? Who is there with you? What colors do you see? Does it have hardwood floors? How do you live there? Do you entertain?  Write all of these answers down. 
• Now, make a list of the things that you aren’t loving about your house right now. Really think about this. Don’t write down comparison notes. Don’t just compare your house to another you saw. This has to be about your house only. Write changes would you like to see and need to see in your house. When you take the time to do this, you may find that your list is smaller than you think. 
• Now that you have the list of what you don’t love, look over each item and decide if it is a feature you would love to see added to your home or a feature that you would like to get rid of?

Here are some examples:

• • “I don’t like my house because it is cluttered and disorganized”. Next to that, you could write, “add more storage” (a feature you would like to see added. And, let me add a shameless plug right here. I created a guide that will help you get your home fully organized in 30 days. You can find that HERE.)
  • “I want an open concept in my house”. Next to that, you could write, “add and/or remove walls”.
  • “I wish my house had more light.” Next to that, you could write, “need more light fixtures, need a window added, need to get brighter light bulbs, need to brighten the color on the walls, etc.

• Now that you know what needs to happen to add or get rid of the things you don’t love about your house, start researching.

Here are some things you need to research: 

• • Can you can DIY any of the things you want to change? There are many projects you can DIY. Check out these 40 DIY home projects anyone can do.
  • How much will the project it cost? If you can’t DIY it, get multiple estimates for the job. If it is out of the budget right now, start budgeting for it TODAY. You can get my free, monthly budgeting printables HERE.
  • If you can DIY it, start planning for it and tackle one project at a time. Once one project is done, start another. When you have too many projects going on at one time, it will get overwhelming and you run the risk of not finishing any of them. Pace yourself and start small. Once you start seeing a little progress, you will be motivated to keep going.

•  
• Your house is more than a house. It is your home. The place that you are making memories RIGHT NOW. It is the place you are present in right now. All of these things are happening to you in your house. Your life is happening in this house. It is going on whether you love it or hate it. Why not put forth the effort to find a way to love it? 

I created a FREE printable that puts this system down on paper to help you work through it. Download that HERE. 

You will be amazed how different you will feel after you do this exercise. You may find that what you don’t love is something that can easily be fixed. Or, you might find excitement in a project you get to plan. I have created all kinds of content about different ways you can revamp your home to make it exactly what you want.

The great thing about what I share is that is doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to do it. If the size of you home is something you struggle with, read my post about The One Reason I Love Living In A Small Home. If you think that redecorating your home will cost too much, check out my post full of ways to redecorate your home on a budget. 

You may not be in your forever home right now, but you are in your RIGHT NOW home. Don’t make this time miserable because you see yourself in a different house. Life is too short. Your house is perfect for you RIGHT NOW and I am here to help you find the things you can love about it. 

To leave this post on a positive note, tell me one thing that you love about your house right now in the comment below. We can all find one thing. I want to know what yours is. 

How To Wallpaper – A Beginner’s Guide

Best Neutral Paint Colors