Mesa Legend - Features - Creative way to make a house a home

Creative way to make a house a home

Elisa Nowicki
Mesa Legend

Everyone wants a home that looks nice and reflects their tastes. But for young adults’ budgets, busy schedules, and party-like tendencies it is often difficult to attain this goal. Young adult homeowners have two choices: to accept their living conditions as they are or take action to change them.

Turning a house or apartment into a home is not a difficult task, and it doesn’t have to be time consuming either. The only time consuming part is the housecleaning, which some may have more of a problem with than others.

The first step to turn a house into home is deciding what one desires, something that is unique to the individual and will be appealing to guests, no feng-shui required. Planning should also include engaging the senses, meaning the smell of the house, the appearance, the texture of materials, and sounds.

First impressions are everything, so you want your guests to feel welcome and provide that homey-type feeling. Set up an arrangement that makes the room look more open, for example, don’t arrange furniture so that the posterior faces the entryway of the room. Also, circular-like arrangements provide for better conversation between guests.

Furniture is also an essential component for the home. Furniture should be selected based on beauty and comfort. Color schemes are also important, as this is easier and more appealing to the eye. The furniture, pillows, and floor coverings should have a variety of textures and or patterns that should appeal to sight and touch senses.

The aroma of a home is delicious and inviting. This can range from scented candles, incense, potpourri, and food, like pies or cookies. This is based solely on the homeowner’s preference but it still should appeal to the guests (i.e., the funk of dirty laundry and last night’s dinner are not acceptable).

Sounds are simple, and mostly composed of that of the owner’s and guests such as conversation and laughter. Music is also based on the homeowner’s preference, but it should never be played offensively loud.

The decorations are probably the most exciting and imaginative component of stylizing a home. Unique flair to a home includes pictures (frames are nice and better than tacks!), plants (make sure to give them water and sunlight), floral arrangements, and awards.

Furnishing an apartment is difficult on a student’s budget, but furnishings should not look like they came directly from a rummage sale. Stores such as IKEA, Pier 1, Target, Sam’s Club and Urban Outfitters have many decorations and furniture that are nice, affordable, and the styles are tailored to the preferences of both men and women.

The possibilities are endless, but the goal should be to make it tasteful and not cluttered, too many decorations, statuettes, etc. will remain coated in dust. Creating a nice environment for oneself and guests should not be hard or a feared task. Make it fun. There is no right or wrong method to go about creating a home, just as long as it engages all the senses appropriately and is (generally) clean, subsequently it will feel like home.

What $500 can get you at IKEA:

Table and 4 folding chairs from: $119
Sofa: $219
Floor lamp: $19.99
3-piece cookware set: $19.99
TV unit: $79.99
Decorative mobile: $14.99
Side table: $12.99
Wall clock: $5.99
Artificial flowers: $2.99
Frame: $2.99
Wall shelf: $2.50
Vase: $0.99
Potpourri: $0.99