Hi guys,

Today is Thursday and around here it means it is time to share some home improvement ideas. If you are anything like me, you know home decor and organization is an obsession. I can literally spend my whole day off watching home related videos on Youtube. Hummm... that was hard to admit. Sounds almost as though I have no social life... Oh my days lol! Anyways, I digress.

Our homes are our sanctuaries. They are the places where we retreat after long days of work or shopping accordingly. They are the places where we entertain our family and friends. They also happen to be the places we are the most proud of or inversely the most ashamed of.

I, for one, am constently looking for ways to improve my living space. I want it to be appealing, appeasing, and functional. Basically I want it to be not just a house but rather a Home. So in order to achieve my dream home (and also help you achieve yours ^_^), I came up with five tips to kick start your home improvement.

1- Keep it clean The first step to having a beautiful space is to keep it clean. I can never stress it enough. It sounds obvious, does it not? Well you would be surprise how many times I have walked into a space and wondered "WHY?". I know, I know, you do not believe me but trust me when I tell you not everyone is like us. That being said, I understand different people may have different notions of what is clean or not. For that, I am going to say the first step is to declutter our homes. Taking the time to maintain a clutter-free environment will make a big difference in how much peace you feel when you walk through the door.

2- Have a vision

A vision to me is as important as keeping it clean. We've all thought about our dream home at some point. Some of us even know exactly how it should look... even though that idea evolves a lot. How do you picture the perfect home? I am sure there are shades and tones you are attracted to. Is your style modern? Or rustic? Do you like to cook? Is entertaining a big part of your lifestyle? What are your needs and(or) your family needs? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself. It can get a little overwhelming at times but take it one step at the time. Jot down thoughts and ideas, then try ranking them. Get inpired by looking at pictures online or in home improvement magazines. I love Pinterest and Good Housekeeping amongst other places.

3- Think functionality

Whatever design you come up with in your vision, remember no matter how beautiful a house is it is nothing more than a building if it does not work for you. Personally, I do not see the point of having big fancy kitchen when you will only use the microwave. Not saying there is anything wrong with it; I would simply rather use the extra space for an extra closet or a larger bathroom. A lot of times we look at large homes and imagine they are the best. I must confess, I used to equate square footage with functionality and livability; I still do to some extent. However, I now also think it all depends on your organization system. Are you currently using your space the best way you could? Are you wasting precious space with pieces you almost never use? Is your oversized sofa blocking the entry way? Or are you, like me, shopping a little more than you should?

4- Plan ahead

As any project, home imporvements take time. And money. That is not to say that you should or will inevitably break the bank. A key to creating a beautiful home is to set a budget and try to stick to it. Trust me, I know how hard it is not to go overboard. However, you should be able to have you perfect home without being forced to be on a ramen noodles diet for the next ten years. Learning to work with what you already have, repurposing, can help you stay on budget. And if you must buy something check the discounted stores near you for more affordable alternatives before you spend the big bucks.

5- Get Started

Now that you have considered all the basics, you are all set to start reinventing your space and making your dream home a reality. Remember, one step after the other. There is nothing worse than starting several projects all at once and having trouble completing each of them. Another tip I will leave you with is to really love every piece you choose to add to your design. Love is The Key!

#home #tips #diy