A house doesn’t exactly feel like a home right off the bat. Maybe you don’t like the popcorn ceiling or the outdated paneling on the walls. The great news is: all of these types of things can be changed, updated or altered. Even if you don’t feel like removing that dreaded popcorn ceiling or swapping out the current paneling, there are other ways to make the space flow nicely and become more ‘you.’
Show Off What You Love Most
A great place to start is by sitting down and thinking about what you enjoy most in life. What colors stand out to you? What style are you going for? Do you have particular items, photos or furniture that you are most proud of? Maybe you purchased a new, leather couch and have been dying to show it off for some time. That time may be now. 
Look through things you have that maybe you, for whatever reason, have kept stored away. There might just be old keepsakes that were handed down to you that would go perfect with your new place. It’s very easy to forget what we have, so looking through everything at least once a year (spring cleaning, anyone?) is a wonderful idea. Not only are you likely to find hidden treasures along the way, but you may also discover that you have many items you no longer need or want, which can be donated, recycled or tossed; giving you much more space to work with. –>
Enjoying Your Space with Others
If you’re looking to make your house feel more homey, decorating for yourself is great, but don’t forget about your guests. There is nothing more exciting than creating a space that your family and friends can enjoy, as well. As we touched on a bit in the previous section, color matters. Colors such as green, blue and purple are going to help to relax your visitors. Green specializes in an overall calming vibe that is best felt when used in a neutral way (meaning, the softer the shade, the better); while blues and purples are going to be best for soothing and creating a sophisticated-feeling room, respectively. Of course, personal preferences vary. If you love a certain shade and it makes you feel great then don’t shy away from it if it makes you happy. Color popularity and trends change as quickly as the seasons, so don’t feel too pressured to keep up. While it’s nice to make regular changes, it’s no always within a budget. 
Lighting is also very crucial. Too much light and you can drown out the beautiful look of your walls. This doesn’t only relate to artificial light, but natural light. Take note where things such as your couch, bed, television and computer are located. Are there times during the day where these objects are going to be hard to use or see? Too little light and you may be straining your eyes to do things such as read or watch television. You may want to consider investing in dimming lights so you can always have the perfect amount of light, for all times of day and a wide range of activities.
Future Potential and Changes
While you may feel you will never move out of your current residence, life has a way of changing on us. Maybe you are going to decide to have more children than you once anticipated or your job may transfer you to a new location, giving you more opportunities for growth. If there ever comes a time where you wind up looking to sell your home, a thing to consider (before you get too deep in home improvement-related changes) is what others are going to like. While you may like a deep purple exterior, selling such a home in a neighborhood where most other houses are colors such as: white, peach, gray or brown could prove to be quite difficult. If you aren’t sure whether or not you plan to stay, limit the number of updates to your home that may require some work on your part to reverse later on. 
Remember, the changes you make do not necessarily need to be dramatic ones. Plan according to your budget and don’t feel discouraged if you cannot afford everything all at once. Taking on a project one baby step at a time is a great way to reach the end result you are looking for and it causes much more stress over the long term.
You can thank Todd Benson for this lovely post. He needs his daily dose of caffeine early in the morning to feel energetic and alive. He writes articles related to home improvement, business and blogging. He thinks installing picture frame mats is a good way to jazz up your home decor.