Every parent dreams of their own home with a white picket fence; however, rarely is such a dream a financial reality given the climate of today’s economy.
For many families, it flat-out makes sense to rent and that’s nothing to be ashamed of. This is especially true in Canada given the average annual salary required to afford a home.
However, this doesn’t stop parents from feeling a bit down in the dumps. After all, how can we give our children the experience of having a place they can truly call their own?
The old saying “home is where the heart is” might be corny, but it does ring true for families looking to give their children all the comforts of a traditional “home” without breaking the bank. Creating a “homey” vibe has less to do with physical location and more about your apartment’s personality; likewise, it’s the rather smaller touches that can ultimately make your current living situation more comfortable.
If you’re looking to make your apartment feel more like a home, keep the following tips in mind as you rethink what your space means to you.
Image Source: Flickr
Remove Any Remnants of Former Tenants
From the moment that you move into a new apartment, you should do everything in your power to remove any traces of those who lived there previously. Doing so gives you a sense of ownership over your space and constantly having to think about the previous renter will only make your apartment feel more foreign.
Whether this means removing nails from the wall or giving your apartment a fresh coat of paint, take the steps to signal that your space is yours and not someone else.
Go for a Porch Garden
Many apartments lack the luxury of a traditional back or front yard; however, that doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream of having a garden to call your own. While starting a small garden on the porch may not seem like much, kids absolutely love watching plants progress and mature (especially colorful ones). Likewise, you can encourage your children to help with maintenance which is a great way to get them working with their hands.
Make Each Room Unique
Image Source: Flickr
When you step out of one room and into another, you should be able to note the distinct sense of personality in each space. From your bedroom to the bathroom and beyond, make sure that each room is given its own unique vibe by…
- Filling the walls with prints, paintings and other decor
- Differing accents and color schemes from room to room
- Playing with the lighting fixtures in each room (think: natural light in one room versus lots of lamps in another)
This is especially important for your child’s bedroom: give them a say on what they want on the walls, for example, to let their personality shine.
Keep It Clean
Finally, there’s perhaps nothing more important than taking pride in your space by keeping your apartment clean. By keeping up with cleaning and maintenance, your not only reinforce positive behavior for your children but signal that your space is something to be proud of. The cleaner your apartment, the more comfortable everyone will be.
Turning your apartment into more of a home doesn’t happen overnight, yet it doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, either. Subtle steps and changes over time will help your child feel more cozy and comfortable, perhaps even to the point where your apartment indeed does feel like “home.”
