Home sweet home. But it doesn’t always feel like that all the time.
No matter how much you enjoy getting back to the house after a tough day’s work, there are likely some things that bum you out.
Maybe it’s one feature, the way the kitchen is laid out, or just a general malaise.
Whatever it is, it has you feeling just a bit lackluster about a life you otherwise love in the great city of Austin.
It actually isn’t that hard to make a few subtle changes that will really improve how you feel about home life.
Here are three ways to get you started.
1. Add a Splash of Color
As a people, we all seem to get bored pretty quickly.
Whether it’s work, hobbies or even relationships, things can get stale if you don’t find a way to keep it interesting.
The same goes for your home.
You may be living in your absolute dream house, but in time, it will simply start to feel like the same ol’, same ol’.
Don’t fall into this trap.
It can be difficult to snap yourself out of it when it comes to home life, but one life hack is to paint a room or two in the house.
By adding a pop of color or transforming that gray bedroom to a light yellow, you can completely alter the mood.
And once you start feeling different in your house, it becomes a subtle reminder of just how much you do enjoy it.
2. Take Back Your Space
Furnishing your surroundings and filling it with all the personal possessions you love is one of the greatest parts of turning a house into a home.
But at some point, it can become overwhelming. It’s hard to recognize when that threshold is crossed in the moment.
Whether you’ve been there for a week or a decade, however, it usually hits you all at once in an instant realization.
The solution is to declutter.
It may be therapeutic to actually throw away the least-useful or sentimental items, but a great option is to simply take advantage of storage units.
With great rates and easy access, this is an ideal way to store important belongings you don’t need access to regularly.
It will open up your rooms, free up some precious closets and generally allow you to take back the space you love.
3. Plant Something
One of the best parts of living in Texas is that you avoid the terrible cold weather so common in the Midwest and northern parts of the United States.
While the summers may get a bit too hot for some people, the year-round ability to dodge freezing temps is a godsend.
One great way to take advantage is by embracing your green thumb.
For people with large or even moderate-sized lawns, there are so many options for flower beds and large gardens.
You can learn how to plant your own tomatoes, beans and peppers to become a healthier and better cook.
But even if you don’t have much — or any — outdoor space, you can still make it work.
Just think smaller and go with home-planted herbs like basil, oregano and rosemary, or veggies that pack a big punch in a small package like chiles.
You may not get the same savings at the grocery store as having a full-on backyard garden, but cooking with ingredients you grew yourself provides a great feeling of self satisfaction.
Fast Route to Better Austin Home Living
The life best lived is one that is full of reinvention.
If you aren’t learning new things and having new experiences, you will never get the most out of your time here on Earth.
The same goes for your home.
Instead of allowing dullness to take over, look for subtle ways to upgrade your household.
Add some new color, put the clutter you don’t use into storage and bring some new life to the space with some plants and veggies.
