Whenever I visit my best friend back home, she is constantly improving her house. I see her roughly every six months and with each visit more and more projects have been completed and there is always at least one project in process. This time, as far as I remember, she was talking about incorporating antique silver cutlery and candles into her dining and living room. She’s been searching in places like this Professional silver antique shop so that she can find something unique to match her taste, and whilst I struggle to envision her projects, I can really see how a touch of silver could really complete the rooms she has in mind.

Even though we are in different stages of our lives – her owning a house and me still renting – we’re not that much different! Since I moved to my new place, I’ve been noticing that I’ve loved spending time at home more than anywhere else I’ve lived. Decorating was the first part of the process after moving in. These days, I’m spending more time cleaning, looking at different plants, purchasing candles, and discovering new ways to bring more of my own personality into my home with decor.

My friends make fun of me because I’m always telling them how much I LOVE my home. It’s my sanctuary. It gives me a place to escape when I want to get away from work. It sparks my creativity when I want to focus on my blog or side project. It brings me peace when I need a quiet moment. I don’t think there will ever be a time when I’m not continuously working on my home and making it better, but I don’t mind that it’s my personal ongoing project.

Whilst I do love a good home improvement project, these things can admittedly be expensive. The best thing to do if you’re on a tight budget is to look for quick and easy ways to make something look or work better. For example, if you have an old, stained carpet that you can’t bear to look at anymore, pull up a corner and have a look at the floorboards underneath. You might be surprised to find that your floorboards are in good condition, so all you need to do is rip the carpet up, give the wood a good clean and polish and you’ll instantly have improved the room. If the floorboards are looking a little worse for wear, you could simply paint them instead with an old can of wood paint you have lying around. It’s quick, easy and cheap!

What are your favorite things about your home and how do you make it your own?