As with new relationships, there's always going to be a honeymoon period between homebuyers and their new home. Those feelings can soon fade, however, especially if certain things aren't maintained and taken care of as they should be.
It's Valentine's Day, so there's no better time to discuss how to fall back in love with your home! As with all good things, these projects can take time and be stressful during the process, but will pay off in the end. Your home should be a place that gives you joy, not something that becomes a burden over time.
If you want to fall for your home again and make your living space a little easier on the eyes, here are four steps you can take:
Spring Cleaning
Perhaps the most obvious direction you could go…giving your home a thorough cleaning can often be the most effective way to bring your house back to life. With the first day of spring barely a month away, clearing out the clutter in your living room or cleaning out your attic may be the way to go. Also, this is by far the most cost-effective way to liven up your home. If you already have cleaning supplies, a good spring cleaning will cost you next to nothing. It may take you several days and you may be grumbling through much of it, but just keep telling yourself how beautiful your home is going to look when you finish cleaning.
Related: 7 Steps for Stress-Free Spring Cleaning
Decorate for the Holidays
Sure…Valentine's Day is no Christmas or Halloween when it comes to decorating, but putting a heart-shaped wreath on your front door and standing up a bunch of Valentine's cards can completely change the vibe of your home without much work at all. Put out a couple scented candles around your home and you'll soon find yourself falling for your home (again on a budget)! Of course, this is directed towards those that don't have their homes on the market—having too many decorations out on display can easily hamper home sale.
Related: (Not So) Happy Holidays: How Seasonal Decorations Can Botch Your Sale
Interior Design
"Just like in a romantic relationship, compromise is key in making a great home purchase," says Dana Bull is a REALTOR ® in the Boston area. And the same could be said of designing shared spaces in your home. The term "interior design" sounds much more daunting than simply "decorating" your home. However, with a little bit of compromise you can find the right accents for your bedroom and other shared spaces that work for you and your significant other in a price range you can both agree on. Remember, this can be as simple as a trip to IKEA—you don’t have to hire a professional interior designer to bring your home together.
Related: 2018 Home Decor Trends: 6 Interior Design Ideas for Your Bedroom
Home Renovation
There's no hiding that this is the one topic on this list that is most likely to break the bank. However, renovating your home should be viewed more as an investment than something that'll simply be easier on your eyes. And if you do your research, you can choose a project that'll not only make your life at home more enjoyable, but one that'll increase the value of your home. Determining to move forward with a major home renovation is no easy decision, but if it's in your budget, it's one that can pay off much more than anything else on this list.
Related: Home Renovations That Can Hurt (and Help) Property Value
For much of this list, the name of the game is compromise. Living in a home for several years can really make your view of the property less rosy—however, if you and your significant other can decide on a solution together that's reasonable and within your budget, you'll soon find yourself falling for your home all over again.
