Every relationship expert warns about the infamous butterfly effect in love. At first, seeing your crush and going out with them gives you butterflies in your stomach. Everything about them seems wonderful. In the beginning, you can’t have enough of each other. But then, as time goes by, the new love romance turns into a long-term relationship and the butterflies disappear. Psychologists agree that the secret to long-term relationships is to learn how and when to adapt to a changing reality. Indeed, people evolve and new situations – in their professional or social environment – might arise, forcing your relationship to transit to a different form. It’s the inability to accept the transition phase and to move with the flow that kills the butterflies. In other words, everybody knows that they can’t put the relationship in a box and expect to keep it the way it was. It is in the very nature of things to change.
However, when it comes to the relationship you build with your home, the expectation is that the nest you made should remain as it was. To put it in simplistic terms, most people believe that buying a house is all it takes to feel at home. Here too, things change over time. Failure to adapt to the new requirements of your house and lifestyle can gradually lead you to a breakup point. Suddenly, you wake up one morning with the sensation that you can’t love your home anymore. How do you get those butterflies back?
Change your decor to lift your spirits
Your home is a living entity. It reacts to changes in temperature, passage and pressure all the time. As a result, it’s not uncommon for properties to change over time. The once straight floor might lean a little. The stairs begin to show signs of wear and tear. The bright cream walls appear dull and beige. While those transformations occur over a long period of time, the changes are so small that you only begin to notice when it’s too late. The home sweet home feels dull, dark and gloomy, especially during the winter season. Create a cosy and inviting atmosphere by focusing your attention on mood-lifting elements. There’s nothing like letting more light in to brighten up the room and your thoughts, for instance. Why not add a little music to fill the place with happy tunes too?
Assess whether renovation works are required
Where modern properties might only need a fresh coat of paint to feel brand new again, older homes might require more in-depth maintenance work. Indeed, your internal structure might need updating to keep you safe and comfortable. Invisible elements, such as insulation solutions or plumbing systems, can lose their quality over time and lead to unpleasant situations. If the house feels cold even with the heating on or if you find yourself experiencing mild respiratory discomfort, it might be the indication of a dampness issue as a result of poor insulation or faulty plumbing. When the house doesn’t feel safe and cosy anymore, it’s time to assess its condition in all honesty. You need to work with a chartered surveyor to identify areas of improvement in the building.
Learn the basic DIY skills
Thankfully, more often than not, not all renovation and improvement works need to be done by a professional. With the right tools and approach, you can fix the most common issues in your home. Previous generations of homeowners were used to adjusting and altering their home during their spare time. However, nowadays, over one-third of Britons don’t have the necessary DIY skills, to the point where even the installation of IKEA furniture becomes an issue. As a result, little tweaks turn into major and expensive complaints.
It’s fair to say that you don’t need to become a certified electrician or plumber to improve your home. But you need to know how to handle simple DIY requirements such as:
- Painting walls and ceilings
- Measuring and cutting materials
- Using the appropriate tools
- Tiling walls and floors
- Using a silicone gun
- Building and painting furniture (chalk paint is your friend for this)
- Sewing, cutting and fixing curtains
Don’t lie to yourself; you need to invest money in the house
Craft enthusiasts claim huge savings through a DIY approach to home improvements. However, while it’s true you can save money by doing a lot of it yourself, major renovation works, and the purchase of adequate material for all remodelling projects come at a cost. Sure, you can save yourself the fees of a professional contractor in most cases – but make sure to check with your insurer –, but it doesn’t mean that you can get things done for free. For homeowners, financing improvements is a financial challenge. Many choose to apply for a personal loan for the purpose. Homeowners who experience difficulties finding a lender can look for alternative options, such as asking a friend for support while researching the best APR for a guarantor loan. As a rule of the thumb, you want to assess the cost and the urgency of the project before applying for a loan.
Get to know your neighbours
Modern life has introduced isolation in communities. Most people don’t talk to their neighbours and don’t even know them by name. In an era where everyone lives indoors and uses online services, it can be tricky to build relationships with your neighbours. However, getting to know the place around you can be a life-changer. You can create new connections, find friends to rely on when you need a helping hand, and make your home safer in the community.
Make happy memories
A happy home is a place that cherishes joyful memories. But making memories when a typical evening is Netflix and chill can be challenging. Why not try to invite your friends over for a casual dinner? You can throw an easy meal – a pasta dish is a great and quick solution for a group of friends – and enjoy an evening of chatting and laughing. The rooms that seemed dull will baste in the glory of your dinner parties forever!
Your home is the sanctuary of peacefulness and comfort you create for yourself. But as time passes, the sanctuary shows signs of wear and tear and doesn’t meet your expectations anymore. If you want to keep on loving your home, you need to invest time and care in maintaining your connection to it.
See you in my next post.
Clara
