How to Make Your House Feel Like a Home

Question: why do real estate agents stage homes for sale with paintings and other pieces of artwork? 🤔

Because art breathes life into a space.

It gives the room a spirit. Art transforms the mood of a space, which transforms your mood and state of being. And these benefits of art extend beyond your home or office. 

It's also true for spaces meant for healing, such a hospitals and hospices. Art has been shown to help soothe patients and employees in these high stress, high stakes environments. In fact, studies have shown that certain pieces of art can reduce a patient’s length of stay, blood pressure, heart rate and even intake of pain medication. 

Just imagine enjoying these benefits in the comfort of your own home.

Before artwork

After artwork (Canvas print of Cabana's Red Rock)

Change your environment, change your life

So, the first step towards making your house feel like a home is to find art that speaks to you - artwork that transports you to another time and place. Like a portal into other people’s worlds, lives and minds, find a piece of art that affords you a unique opportunity to step outside of your surroundings and into a new world. Find art that is a window into your dreams.

Good options for new artwork in the home are pieces of art that remind you of positive childhood memories, or that epic vacation with your spouse. 

Once you’ve determined the artwork that resonates with you, find the empty spots in your home - places with large, blank walls yearning for life.

How do you know the best spots for art?

Usually, the spots where you dwell the most are the best places. These would be spaces such as bedrooms, living rooms (aka family rooms) or even kitchens.

Or, find the spots that are open statements for guests to see - entryways, above the mantle, above a couch, or at the end of hallway. Pick a place where the viewing perspective is not limited to just one small spot.

The next step towards making your house feel a home is to decide on the size of the art and the type of framing.

How do you decide how large your print needs to be?

You could break out the old tape measure, and measure your space to see what you’re working with. Then you could purchase artwork, wait 5 weeks for it to be framed, bring it home awkwardly in your car, and finally bring it home, only to find out that it doesn't even look good in your space! What a waste of time and energy.

Before and After (Canvas print of Behold)

Instead, you could simply take a photo with your smartphone, and use software to digitally render the artwork in your space. This way, you know exactly what the artwork would look like in your home before you even invest time, energy, and money.

Using renderings, you can find the perfect piece at the right size and frame before the work even arrives at your home.

Take the leap

We’re all familiar with the experience of walking into a stunning room and instantly feeling the effects of its atmosphere. Don't you want to own one or more of these rooms!? 

The mood you create in your home or office has a powerful influence on the way you and others think, communicate and behave. Art reinforces positive feelings of relaxation, curiosity, sensuality, and confidence. The ball is now in your court, but if you're not yet convinced, maybe these articles will offer more help:

1. 10 Good Reasons to Buy Art
2. Your Art Buying Guide
3. 5 Tips for Buying Your First Piece of Art