So you’re coming home from work each day and flopping down on the sofa, accompanying your favourite Netflix show with a glass of wine or a pizza. Life seems okay, but there’s something wrong that you just can’t quite seem to place. The nights are getting shorter and colder, so perhaps that’s it, or maybe you’re just tired – after all, you did have a long day at work, and stress is mounting.
Maybe, though, you’re growing bored with your surroundings at home. This is a more common phenomenon than you might think – many people think individual rooms in their house are boring, while we’ve anecdotally spoken to people who feel like they’re going mad because their surroundings just aren’t lighting their fire any more. We’re here to help – here are 5 easy steps for jazzing up your home and making it feel exciting again.
Custom furniture
Nothing says “this is my home” quite like a set of custom furniture. Whether you’re jazzing up the bedroom or creating a custom kitchen, custom furniture looks exciting, modern and sleek. With a good-quality, trusted custom DIY company working on your home, you’ll be amazed at the results. You spend a lot of time in your kitchen and bedroom, so those are probably the two best rooms to start with – cooking meals will become a joy when you’ve got a properly-organized, compartmentalised kitchen, while you’ll be glad to wake up each morning and sleep each night surrounded by a bespoke furniture setup that complements your personality perfectly. Installing custom furniture into a home can be a real injection of life in an otherwise dreary environment.
Interesting lighting
From chandeliers to dimmer switches, there are plenty of ways to turn your utilitarian lighting arrangement into a fancy light show or to make it work for you in new and interesting ways. Do you want a room to feel grandiose and elegant? Install a chandelier – there are many models that work for smaller rooms and will create the same effect as a grand ballroom simply by sitting on the ceiling. Is there a room where you need a lower lighting setting or a different colour to set a mood, such as a bedroom? Install dimmer switches, or buy a smart bulb which you can control with your smartphone. Lighting is the cornerstone of any great room, so start there for a real transformation.
Eye-catching artwork
It’s one thing to display stately Renaissance-style art such as landscapes or portraiture in your home, but if you really want a house to feel exciting and different then art is a great place to go. Why not try something provocative and modern – a piece of abstract art, perhaps, or historical art from Japan or China for that extra aesthetic edge? If art isn’t really your thing, then substitute art for photography and display photos that challenge the mind. If you’re an artist or photographer yourself, then that’s even better – there’s no better way to add a personal touch and remind yourself of your own creative endeavours than to surround yourself with them at every turn. Guests will be wowed, your mind will be engaged and you’ll fall in love with your home again.
Planning activities
One of the reasons many people’s homes feel boring is because they often come home from work without the desire to do anything else, so the home becomes a byword for boredom and tiredness. To combat this, it’s a great idea to plan activities with your family or partner. To start with, why not try planning a treasure hunt around the house? This will not only be enjoyable for your kids (if you have them – if not, there’s no reason adults can’t do this too!), but it’s also a great way to rediscover parts of your home you’d forgotten about or re-evaluate space and room arrangements. If that doesn’t sound like your thing, then you could start a garden in your back yard, or plan to bake something ambitious. Try to think of ways space can work for you and help you to have fun rather than simply being somewhere in which you exist.
Exercise
If you don’t already regularly exercise (no shame, trust us), then starting a new exercise regime is a great way to feel more comfortable and happy at home. Exercise releases endorphins which combat pain, elevate mood and generally make you feel great. When you’ve been for a fulfilling run around the block or visited the gym in the morning, coming back home to a welcoming, homely environment won’t feel boring or depressing but comforting. If you’ve got the space, time and money, it’s a great idea to try to install a home gym in your house – that way you don’t actually have to leave in order to exercise, and that’s another eye-catching feature in your home in which you can take pride.
