When you want to raise the emotional value of your home, the way to go about it is to mine your core memories for those super special and extra colorful nuggets that make you feel warm and cozy and downright nostalgic, as you yearn for the days that brought you so much happiness and contentment. It could be something memorable like a high school graduation, or something so habitual as coming into a home that is filled with the aroma of your mom’s cooking.
A strong core memory for me, as an island girl, are those times spent at the beach with my nearest and dearest. Hence, I’ve chosen a beach house as the feature image in this post to serve as my companion while writing this article.
When I say go sentimental with your home, I mean it in a positive sense, that of creating a place where feelings of tenderness are awakened. Not sadness please. The outside world seems to be already full of that. Home should be a place where we feel comfort and safety and belonging.
There are ways that you can do to go sentimental with your home. You know when you’re on the right track when you feel like you are enfolded in a warm embrace the moment you enter the door.
1. Display sentimental objects
Scatter sentimental objects around your house. Create intentional clutter by curating your choice objects well. Make sure these evoke your feel-good emotions. It can be an interesting shell picked up during a lovely trip to the beach, tickets to a concert where you braved the crush of the crowd just so that you and your barkada could enjoy the live music together, or even opting NOT to take down the fairy lights that you put up several Christmases ago just because they give you such a joyful feeling as they twinkle during the evenings.
Sentimental objects can also be heirloom pieces that aren’t necessarily expensive but are very dear to you because of the memories you associate with them.
The intentional curation of beloved things around your house will definitely give it a unique vibe and a homey feel. For others visiting your home, these could add fascinating layers to the person whom they think they know.
Here’s a DIY video that shows one way to display sentimental objects—Make Your Own Ticket Memory Box.
2. Create a photo wall
A photo wall gets you directly to the memory that triggers your happiness hormones. Surrounded by these reminders are going to make you feel good, feel happy, and elevate your mood.
Making a photo well is not your cup of tea? Click on this DIY video link that will teach you how to make your own photo breakfast tray. An additional advantage is that you will be reminded every time you use it during meals.
3. Infuse homey smells
If 1 and 2 appeal to your sense of sight, this one appeals to your sense of smell. Whether it’s the smell of scrumptious meals wafting from the kitchen, or aromatherapy diffusers that infuse your home with the perfume of special things, places, experiences, or even people, use these to bring you back to happy times. Just remember to use organic and natural materials for your candles or home scents.
Read about creating a home that appeals to the 5 senses.
4. Use textures
Use your sense of touch to make happy memories bubble up. What materials and furnishings could do that? Perhaps the smoothness of clean sheets, the warm and organic feel of a wooden table, the roughness of a sisal rug under your feet, or the coolness and sense of permanence of stone walls.
Use whatever gets you to that feeling of love and peace.
I do love our traditional local materials like our weaves, which I wrote about in 2020 but which I find still as relevant today. Read about weaving colorful dreams this summer.
5. Start family rituals
You don’t have to rely on reveries of days past. Start your own rituals, if you haven’t yet, that will make for a more meaningful life. Choose activities that strengthen your connection with your loved ones.
I was happy to hear that my nephew’s family have their stay-at-home movie nights every Friday, something their young son looks forward to very much. He does demand a lot of snacks, mostly unhealthy. I heard that he has memorized some dialogues of his favorite movie.
Whatever it is you want to do, be inclusive and ask everyone for suggestions.
How To Make A Sentimental Home
To recap, here are the five ways to make a sentimental home:
- display sentimental objects
- create a photo wall
- infuse homey smells
- use textures
- start family rituals
You don’t have to do all five at the same time. Start with what resonates with you the most, then go on from there.
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