Home Improvement Ways Of Making Your Property Attractive

A well-kept late 19th / early 20th century home on a street of Jacksonville, Oregon. A nicely cared for home makes it the most attractive one on the block. Photo Courtesy: John Lloyd

Having a home you love to come home to isn’t just about fancy decorations, expensive flooring and over the top electronics to entertain your guests. A great home can be created from the simplest of upgrades and changes. When your home looks and feels the way you’d like it to, there is something so powerful in that. Today we are going to discuss with you a few things that will help to keep your residence a place you can go to get lost in your thoughts and forget about stress.

Tidy Up: Outside

Your front yard is one of the first things you see when driving up to your home, and if it’s messy or unkept, this can instantly shoot your stress level through the roof. Instead of putting off mowing your lawn or taking care of those weeds that have grown through your walkway, take a moment to get started on the project now. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to walk through the entire space, but accomplishing something, no matter how small, is going to feel much better than accomplishing nothing at all.

Tidy Up: Inside

The busiest areas of your home should be the places you put most of your energy into. For instance, do you have a lot of counter space but are barely able to see most of it? This can be a problem. Not only does this make cooking meals a much more difficult experience but this also takes away from the beauty of the room.

Right: A really busy kitchen counter! Photo Courtesy: Mary-Lynn

When you arrive home from the grocery store, instead of placing food on the counter and leaving it there, do your best to place things where you want them to go. If you aren’t sure where certain items will work best, have an area of the counter that you can come back to, just don’t get into the habit of leaving them there for extended periods of time. Habits are tough to break, but with determination, these kinds of things will become second nature to you.

Create a System and Stick to It

Just like it’s important to keep up with the exterior appearance of your home, it’s equally as important that you keep a close eye on the inside of your home. It can become extremely easy to get caught up in how tired, overworked or completely overwhelmed you are, but discipline can help alleviate all those feelings. Walking into a room that is organized, easy on the eyes and clean can make you feel surprisingly more at ease, no matter what may be going on in your life.

Instead of letting the trash pile up and waiting until the last day to take it out, make it a point to carry it outside. This way, it’s out of sight and can become ‘out of mind’. Have dishes that need to be cleaned? Instead of tossing them in the sink to be dealt with later, wash them right away and let them dry. Or, place them directly in the dishwasher. Having less clutter and items on your daily to-do list is going to make you feel much better.

Presentation Means Everything

Many people get caught up in the trap of not changing out of their night clothes or doing their hair if they aren’t leaving the house. While this may not seem like a very big deal, there’s something so empowering about getting up, having a daily routine and taking the time to give yourself a little TLC. Allow yourself the luxury of selecting an outfit you like, even if you aren’t going to be leaving the house all day. Take that quick shower instead of waiting until you’re exhausted later in the evening. Make your bed. Open up those curtains to let the sunshine in and do anything else that makes you feel motivated. Maybe this means drinking that daily cup of coffee and giving yourself 10 minutes to veg in front of the television.

What does this have to do with your home being attractive? Well, when you feel and look good, you instinctively take care of your home and your home looks nice. It’s also much easier to take on any stress that may come your way during the upkeep of your home when you are feeling fresh and confident. A nice presentation of your personality and home go hand in hand.

Have Some Fun

While it’s important to keep up on your household chores and daily tasks, it’s equally important to give yourself some time to relax. Reward yourself by watching a movie or taking a warm bath (without looking at the clock, for once).

A hot foamy, relaxing bath is a great way in which to end the day. Photo Courtesy: Bob Peters

Trying to cram too much into every single day of your life can make everything more complicated, reducing your quality of life. It’s amazing what a few minutes of relaxation can do. Don’t feel you have enough time for fun? Schedule the little things, such as walks, into your to-do list. May not seem like a big deal now, but you’ll thank yourself later. All work and no play definitely isn’t a good way to stay energized and motivated and those are the keys to make you keep improving your living space – your lovely home.

Jenny Atkinson is an interior designer and the author of today’s post. She has worked closely with Concrete Perfection, leading dealers of liquid limestone in Perth, WA. With the current trend of constructing liquid limestone pavements for homes, she finds it imperative to comply to her clients wishes. She also blogs regularly and gives useful tips on home improvement.