Rachael Zarda

I love being a home owner 97% of the time. There are so many benefits to owning your own place, and there are also times that it just really sucks. But the good outweighs the bad. I’ve found, mostly through trial and error (lots of error), that there are certain things you can do to help make your home your happy place.

DON’T BUY AND DECORATE EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE
When I first moved in, I wanted to fill and complete each space as soon as humanly possible. Budget and renovation realities squashed that dream, but I’m so glad it happened that way. I’d rented for a few years before, but it had been a much smaller place so I didn’t move in with a ton of furniture. I’ve loved being able to take my sweet time searching for the right pieces and collect things that are special and unique to my home.

IT’S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR STYLE
I’m going through a phase right now where I can feel my style and tastes shifting. It’s not a big shift, but I started buying mostly modern and am now feeling a little more California eclectic. This is going to happen, you change and evolve and your style is allowed to do the same. The good news is, you don’t have to start over! If you’re not sure you want to commit to one specific style, don’t go crazy with the large pieces like you sofa and your kitchen table. Pick something more conservative with clean lines in a neutral color palette. Then add the special touches in the accessories – the art, pillows, throws, rugs etc. These things can easily be changed with the season or your mood and aren’t super expensive to replace.

SET ASIDE A PORTION OF YOUR SALARY FOR THE UNEXPECTEDS
AKA when your heater decides to go caput mid-January mid-slumber and you have to call the repair man at 11 pm. Or for when you accidentally stick an avocado pit down your sink and learn the hard truth, that garbage disposals cannot dispose of everything. These expenses are never the fun kind, but having a little just-in-case money set aside softens the blow.

MAKE FRIENDS WITH YOUR NEIGHBORS
It never hurts to bake a few dozen muffins and make a friend or two in your hood. I’m extremely forgetful with my mail, so when I have a package at the front door, my next-door neighbor always brings it to me. It’s the sweetest. It also gives me peace of mind knowing that I have someone watching out for me and my home if anything seems wrong or if I leave town.

DO LITTLE THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR HOME A HAPPY PLACE
For me, this means keeping my sink free of dirty dishes. If I come home from work and my kitchen is a mess, I’m instantly stressed. I’ve also learned that I love keeping fresh flowers in the house, so once every other week I’ll bring home a bundle of them from Trader Joe’s or the farmers market. Candles are great, too. I keep a few in each room and light them at night when I’m Netflixing and blogging (this one is my fave).