It's Valentine’s Day and love is in the air, but are you in love with your rental home? When you don’t own a house, it can be difficult to make where you live feel like a home. But it can be done! A home is more than just a place to hang your hat—it should be a comforting sanctuary, a happy place, an abode to enjoy with your family and loved ones. Follow these great tips to make your rental into a home you can love until you are ready to buy a house of your own.
Make It Uniquely Yours
With the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, decorating your rental home may feel more like a chore than anything else. Taking the time to decorate your residence allows you to not only spend time getting to know where you live, but allows you to inject a piece of yourself into your surroundings. Choose color themes that reflect your personality or mood, select furniture that suits your quirks and add sensory items like scented candles, music or natural light for an extra dimension of homeliness. Invite your family, friends and loved ones to help you decorate in ways that are meaningful to you. Painting party anyone?
Showcase Your Memories
Showcase your memories to make your space feel like your own through photos, shadow boxes, artwork and more. A simple collage of your favorite photos of family, friends and even pets can go a long way toward making your place of residence feel like a home.
Create a Sanctuary
Your home should be your safe space where you can not only invite the world in, but escape from it at times as well. Dedicate a portion of your home, however small, as your personal sanctuary where you can enjoy some peace and quiet. Whether you choose to dedicate an entire room, or even just a comfy corner chair, having your happy place will let you love your space that much more.
Make New Memories
Maybe one of the reasons you don’t quite love your new home is because it doesn’t hold any memories for you. That is an easy fix! Put in the effort to make memories in your new home with those that you love. Host a pot-luck dinner party, have your family over for a movie night, or even work on some solo hobbies like gardening, crafts or sports. The more memories you make, the more at home you will feel.
Are You Looking for a New Home to Love?
These tips should help you make your rental feel like a home until you are ready to move on. And remember that when that time comes, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency offers many products to help you afford a home that you can fall in love with. Learn more about the NC Home Advantage Mortgage™ and how it can help you make the transition from renter to homeowner sooner than you ever thought possible!
