What Makes a Welcoming Home?

Have you ever looked around your home and asked yourself the question "What Makes a Welcoming Home?"

We all have and idea of what a welcoming home would feel like to us, but often we don't know how to get there. Some days we think we are on the right path and others we fall miserably behind.

Piles of laundry, stacks of paperwork needing filed and dust bunnies in corners all steal from us that special feeling we want to have when we enter our home. It's hard for me to relax when I know there are messes that I should clean up. Instead of feeling calm and at peace in my home, I often feel agitated and nervous. This is not at all the welcoming effect I want to have for myself or for my guests.

In the book, Simple Country Wisdom, the author shares 7 attributes that help to make a welcoming home: Harmony, Cleanliness, Efficiency, Self-Reliance, Generosity, Personality and Joy. These are the starting points I'm going to use to help me achieve more balance, simplicity and calmness in my home and in my life. It's seems a little silly to have to be told these things. In fact we really already know them in our hearts, but as I mentioned before, it's nice to have some direction and a plan on how to make something happen. Of course these are just ideas and our homes are deeply personal to each of us. Do what you love and use those ideas that work for you.

Harmony- "No room should be an island." This is something I'm already pretty good at achieving. It's my personality to choose a color scheme and style and stick with it throughout my split entry home. The upstairs is decorated in a brighter and airier way (more windows) than the basement which is a bit more dark and "cozy." I like to have a monochromatic base and then be able to change my accessories on a whim to whatever colors I like for that season. (Or in my case seasons because I don't change my color scheme that often.)

Also, furniture and accessories should be appropriate for the space. Lighting should be adequate for reading areas. There needs to be a flow from room to room. That helps provide a sense of calmness and we all need that in our lives!


Cleanliness- Your home should be a refuge from the stresses of the world. It should be a place to unwind, relax, spend time with loved ones and enjoy interests and hobbies. A home that's dirty or cluttered will hinder you from those activities. Learning to keep your house clean and uncluttered is a major key to having a welcoming home.

Efficiency- "An efficient home is one that runs smoothly and doesn't get in the way of the people who live there." Rooms need to be planned for the uses of the family who lives in them. Learning what needs to be done to keep a room efficient and sticking to the plan is the goal.

Don't be wasteful. Choose items you bring into your home with great care and treat those items as treasures.

Self-Reliance- "Households that preserve the do-it-for-ourselves tradition seem to be happier, livelier, and more interesting places to be." Turn off the TV and do something. Try making your own bread, homemade pizza or learn a craft. It's very rewarding to learn new things.

Generosity- A home must be comfortable to feel welcoming. Having too many museum pieces in your home that nobody can use will make it feel stuffy and very unfriendly. Real estate is expensive. You paid a lot for that living room and should use it more often than just when company comes for the holidays. Staged rooms are not comfy! Having comfortable spaces makes welcoming others into your home much easier.

Personality- Infuse your tastes and interests into your home. Display collections tastefully while avoiding a cluttered look. Your home should be a personal reflection of who you are. Themes are great, but don't go overboard. Just because you love to go to the beach, having a tiki hut in your living room is a bit too much. (Unless you are a college student!)

Joy- Celebrate the seasons. Little touches like scented candles, throws and pillows can make a big difference in how a room feels. An inexpensive bouquet of fresh flowers adds a touch of life to a room. Surround yourself with things that make you happy and eliminate those that don't.

Together, these attributes help to make a welcoming home and are the building blocks I will use in my quest for a more simple life.

Join me Monday for thoughts about CLUTTER control. This is going to be my starting point to achieve simplicity and create a welcoming home.