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Nobody’s perfect, and neither is your home. Some houses are almost the way you want them to be, but not quite, while others are definitely fixer-uppers! Whichever category your home falls into, there’s always room for improvement, and the short-term pain of making those improvements is far out-weighed by the long-term gain of a more comfortable and convenient living space!
Your home should be a haven from the outside world. It should reflect who you are and give you a safe, comfortable space to rest, recharge, and go out from to the wider world. Unless you are fortunate enough to have a custom-built new home designed with you and your family in mind, there are always upgrades that will make your home a place you long to return to.
A 2014 survey by the home remodeling site Houzz found that of the 6000 people surveyed, 87% reported that home design directly impacted their happiness,
and 74% of the people who had renovated or redecorated in the previous 2 years reported that they were happier as a result. 31% said they even entertained more frequently!
On the other hand, only 51% of those who said their home needed work were happier in their home than elsewhere. The bedroom was the favoured spot for them at 23%, probably because it’s a place to hide from an uncomfortable, untidy, unsatisfactory house in general. What’s the obvious conclusion? It’s worth the time, trouble, and money to make changes to your home that will make it a happier place to be!
Some specific items on a home renovation wish list are more popular than others. Topping the list at 74% are big windows to let in more light and air, thus lifting your spirits. Comfortable furniture comes in second at 70%. Clean and organized rooms are a happiness factor for 72%, while comfortable spaces are a priority for 68%.
When it comes to which rooms make people the most happy in their home, living/family rooms come in first at 42%, making that space a logical first target for renovations. Kitchens are the favoured spaces of a mere 15% of those surveyed!
Not too surprisingly, there are distinct differences between the happiness factors for men and women. Is it a shock that 40% of men can find happiness in a big-screen tv, as compared to only 17% of women? Probably not. Even just the sound of a big-screen tv makes 15% of men happy, as opposed to a mere 5% of women! In other words, to keep the men in the family content, it’s probably a good idea to put a media room with a big tv on the renovation wish list!
In general, the home sound preferred by men is music, while women reported that the sound of family in their home made them happiest. Men and women also had some differences in what time of the day was the best in their home: 57% of the men opted for evening, while women were evenly divided between morning and evening, with afternoon coming a distant third for both genders.
In general, the home sound preferred by men is music, while women reported that the sound of family in their home made them happiest. Men and women also had some differences in what time of the day was the best in their home: 57% of the men opted for evening, while women were evenly divided between morning and evening, with afternoon coming a distant third for both genders.
Only you and your family can truly determine what you need to do to make your home a haven of happiness in this chaotic world. First of all, you need to live there for awhile before you can really know what works for you and what doesn’t.
That’s not to say that you can’t make some quick changes that will definitely improve the vibe in your home! For instance, if there’s a stained or worn carpet in the living room or bedroom, it doesn’t take a period of time living with it to know it has to go. Even before you move in, take that old rug out and replace it with hardwood flooring to instantly lift your spirits! Or if the bathroom is in dire need of changes, you could replace aging floor and wall surfaces with new ceramic or porcelain tiles. On the other hand, a major kitchen renovation is best left until you’ve lived in the house for a year or so and know what will work best for your family.
Keep a running list of what you can do to increase the happiness quotient in your home! You deserve to have a home that makes you feel welcome and comfortable, and mindful renovations can bring you closer to that goal.
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Surely we’re all familiar with what can happen if you don’t have flooring that can withstand water. No matter how fast you can wipe it up, the liquid will quickly seep down into the floor, leading to staining, warping, mold and even damaging the ceilings below in extreme circumstances. If you’re looking at installing new flooring, consider the options available to you in both traditional and newly developed surfaces! You may end up waterproofing your whole house!
