In honor of our centennial celebration at Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty, we present to you 100 Ways to Make a House a Home. Filled with visual inspiration and warm sentiments, we hope this heartfelt memento fuels your creativity and motivates you to tell the story of the place you call home.
Hanging pictures of friends, family, and places you’ve visited throughout your home creates a feeling of belonging and is a great way to relive happy memories with the people you love the most.
Add some personality and dimension into your home whether it’s bright and bold or subtle and understated.
The added color and sweet smell of fresh flowers can help brighten a room and your mood.
Pottery seems to be all the rage right now and understandably so. This decorative clayware can really shake up your décor as it comes in multiple shapes, sizes, colors, and designs.
Not only are they comfortable, but throw pillows are the perfect way to add a pop of color or bring a room together.
Whether you’re trying to keep warm or just snuggling up to watch a movie, a throw blanket adds the perfect cozy touch.
Create an inviting atmosphere with seasonal plants and flowers.
Calm your mind and transform your space through the relaxing ambiance and scent created by your favorite candles.
Not only do curtains provide privacy and the ability to block light, but they add color, texture, and a bit of drama to any room.
Investing in great bedding is the best way to ensure a good night’s sleep and the ultimate comfort and relaxation.
Add drama and personality into any room with these vibrant, saturated shades reminiscent of gemstones.
Who says you need to book a vacation every time you want to sunbathe in the lap of luxury? Adding outdoor furniture to create a resort style ambiance is the perfect way to achieve complete relaxation.
Step up your food presentation and let your guests know you care about them. They’ll be excited before the food is even on the plate.
Demanding attention in whichever room they’re in, a mantle should not be ignored. It’s the perfect place to display decorative pieces and can be changed seasonally.
In the warmer weather months, backyards are the perfect backdrop for a get-together. Create a cozy space for entertaining guests or spending time with family.
Add a bit of elegance into your dining room or foyer with a chandelier. With so many styles to choose from, you can pick the perfect one to compliment your style.
Not only is bike riding a great form of exercise and a great way to enjoy a beautiful day, but it’s perfect for getting out and exploring the neighborhood or town you live in.
Gold accents add the perfect finishing touch! Whether it’s a picture frame, hardware, or a light fixture, a touch of gold can transform a room.
Whether it’s a comfy chair with a lamp that gives off the perfect amount of light for reading or a draft table where you sketch out designs, it’s important to have a place to comfortably do the things you love.
This practical item with an upscale look gives a fancy place to display wine and liquor bottles, decanters, stemware, and bar accessories all in one place.
Color coding your closet can save time and makes choosing an outfit a little easier and more organized.
Tickle your sense of taste, smell, and sight with a glass of your favorite wine.
Pair your wine of choice with specific flavors for an elevated dining experience.
Send guests a special message or tell them a little about yourself without saying a word.
Bohemian, eclectic, contemporary, industrial—with so many different styles to choose from, show off your personality with a style that reflects it.
Get that good energy flowing by baking some cookies, spraying your favorite perfume, buying fresh flowers, doing a load of laundry, or lighting some scented candles.
The ideal place for all your necessary items. Whether it’s a lamp, that juicy novel you haven’t been able to put down, a glass of water, or your cell phone, a bedside table keeps all your much needed items easily accessible.
The perfect spot to be surrounded by friends and family while enjoying a meal and having great conversation.
Cue the positive emotions and nostalgia that’s brought on by festive decorating.
Decking the halls is proven to be emotionally energizing, reminds us of happy childhood memories, and makes us appear friendlier to our neighbors.
Adding bronze throughout your house creates warmth and depth. It balances natural wood and creates a beautiful contrast with soft hues while pairing perfectly with deep blues, greens, purples, and black.
Over time walls can show signs of aging from chips, scratches, and holes. Adding a fresh coat can cover up all imperfections leaving your room as good as new. Want to change the look of a room? Go for a completely different color.
There are many reasons to befriend your neighbors—someone to look out for you, a feeling of community, mail pick up when you’re out of town.
Having a mutual respect with the people living next door makes for a more enjoyable living environment.
There’s a reason it’s called memorabilia—it brings back good memories. There’s no reason to hide such important keepsakes in a box. Display these items throughout your house with frames, shadow boxes, and shelving.
An area rug isn’t just the perfect finishing touch of a room; it provides a sense of comfort and warmth.
On top of being aesthetically pleasing, house plants have a slew of health benefits such as improving mood, lowering stress, and enhancing air quality.
A home is made for living. It’s the ideal place to take part in your favorite hobbies or to try something new. Build something, create art, or cook something delicious, but don’t worry about the mess. It’s part of the experience.
Each year offers new trends in furniture. Update your space with the pieces that speak to you. This year’s items making a name for themselves are investment pieces, cocooning furniture, and wavy wood.
Bring extra happiness into your home by saving a life and giving a pet a loving home. They will become part of your family.
Make a dinner menu, put up all the appropriate decorations, and revel in the fact that you’re bringing all your favorite people together.
Put a special touch on all the meals you love to cook with your own homegrown, fresh herbs. Not only will they add an explosion of flavor, but they’ll add a pop of color and an enjoyable scent to your kitchen or backyard.
Set the tone for the day with a simple act that will look and feel good. Plus, is there anything better than pulling back the covers and climbing into a smooth set of sheets at the end of a long day?
The best thing about decorating your space is that there simply aren’t any rules. It’s yours to do what you want. Your very own blank canvas that you can paint any color, decorate in any style, and place items wherever you choose.
You know all that stuff you can’t seem to get rid of? Let it go. Decluttering helps clear up space in your home and your mind. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to donate.
Adding a pop of color gives a neutral-colored room a “wow” factor. It will make your home feel a bit livelier.
Allowing children to have a say in what their room looks like gives them a sense of ownership and belonging. It’s important to feel happy in our own spaces.
Who says a hotel is the only way to enjoy breakfast in bed?
Get the fuel you need for the day in the comfort of your PJ’s.
Natural light will make your home look bigger and more open and will give you a natural boost in mood and productivity.
There’s a reason that fireplaces hold such symbolic meaning in some of our favorite movies. They signify comfort, warmth, and passion. It’s the perfect place to warm up and relax.
Whether you’re taking a day trip to get to know the areas where you live or traveling out of the state or country, travel provides the perfect opportunity to remember those moments at home. Through pictures, mementos, and stories, you can relive these special times for years to come.
Not just convenient for telling time, statement clocks come in so many styles and are the perfect accent for your walls.
Pick out a desk you love, a comfortable chair, and add anything that makes you feel happy to spend time in that space. It’s the ideal way to separate work from your personal life.
No need to buy new furniture to change up the look of your home.
Simply rearranging the placement of pieces can give each room a whole new look.
Whether it’s matches from restaurants you’ve eaten at or a vintage record collection, personalizing your house with things you love will make it feel a little bit homier.
Utilizing storage properly and designating specific spots for items keeps clutter from building up and ultimately makes for a more comfortable environment within your home.
It’s not uncommon for people to have favorite spots within their homes—at the table, on the couch. Having a spot that’s “yours” creates a feeling of belonging.
There’s a reason they call it comfort food. Sitting at home, in comfortable clothes, eating some delicious cuisine—sounds like the perfect night!
Create a consistent and cohesive design with matching appliances. Your kitchen will look aesthetically pleasing and is sure to inspire culinary excitement.
There are so many reasons people move—the need for more space, new job opportunities, a change of scenery—the list goes on. Whatever the reason, moving to a new area provides a fresh start and is the perfect way to make new friends, experience a new culture, and make new memories.
There is something so comforting about a cup of hot chocolate, coffee, or tea. They help us wake up, liven our workdays, provide pleasing flavors, and set us at ease.
A comfortable place to sit is a top priority. This extremely versatile piece of furniture is where you can relax, take a nap, hangout, or watch TV.
Our favorite foods bring us a sense of happiness.
Fill your kitchen with all the things you love to eat.
A simple and impactful way to update the look of your home. The addition of new fixtures can cast light in a more unique way throughout your rooms making areas brighter for daily activities.
There’s something special about stepping out of the shower and wrapping yourself in a big, fluffy towel. The soft texture against your skin will make all the difference.
Hanging things on your fridge is a personal touch to make any house feel like a home. From your kid’s artwork to party invites and inspirational quotes, fridge magnets provide a way to display meaningful items.
Getting together with our loved ones is the perfect way to catch up, share stories, make new memories, and show people you really care about them.
Mirrors don’t just add a bit of class to a room, they reflect light, making your room and your mood a bit brighter.
Hang a bird feeder near a window to connect with nature in its natural environment.
Connect to the past by adding some aged treasures.
Create your own humble museum by finding pieces that appeal to you.
Children grow so fast so it’s nice to keep track of the progress they make along the way. This sentimental act is a great way to take a walk down memory lane.
Spruce up the look of a room by revamping something you already own. Adding a coat of paint and new hardware can take a piece to a new level and transform a room.
Friday pizza nights, fall dinner with friends, fresh cut flowers in the spring, nostalgic movie Sundays with your favorite takeout— creating traditions gives us something to look forward to.
Confine your kids toys to one area of the house and give them a space of their own where they can really let loose.
We all need to make time for self-care. A warm, relaxing, shower or bath is the perfect place to start.
Loving the neighborhood you live in is so important. Get out and explore all the things that make it great.
Considering we spend about one-third of our lives in bed, it seems justified to get one that checks all the boxes.
Our home is our safe place. A relaxed and calm vibe makes for happiness in the home.
There’s nothing better than the smell of something freshly baked. It’s a fun experience on your own or shared with someone, but the best part is enjoying the finished product.
Music reduces stress, improves mood, and makes getting chores done a little easier.
Firepits are enjoyable all year long and serve as the perfect setting for sipping hot cocoa in the winter and making s’mores in the summer.
It’s all about the little things. Your favorite scented soap is one of them.
That piece of furniture that stops you in your tracks— a chair, table, desk, etc.—get it.
Honor your family with recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. They will make for a special meal.
Winter: build a snowman, drink hot chocolate, cuddle up and read a book, sit by a fire. Spring: fly a kite, plant a garden, have a picnic, pick strawberries. Summer: go swimming, attend local fairs, roast marshmallows, eat ice cream. Fall: go apple picking, drink hot apple cider, bake a pie, carve pumpkins.
Keeping a collection of different flavored teas on hand adds a bit of excitement each time you make a cup. Guests will also love picking out their favorite flavors.
For an impromptu gathering it’s great to have special treats to share like marinated olives, high quality chocolate, and artisan cheeses.
Whether it’s a vintage set of books that were your grandmother’s or a tie clip passed down from your grandfather, heirlooms hold a special meaning. Show them off and share their story.
A good cleaning session can reduce stress, help you feel good, and think more clearly.
It’s always nice to have that go-to dish that you love cooking, eating, and sharing with friends and family. A signature dish is something you could make from memory and will remind people of you when they eat it.
Show off your personality through a signature drink. This unique cocktail can be your go-to when hosting.
Take a break from the busyness of life by bringing your friends and family together for game night. It’s a break from electronics and the perfect time for bonding, laughing, and creating new memories.
Your home is the one place you can completely be yourself. You can do, say, eat, and wear whatever you want.
Picking art that speaks to you is a useful way to express yourself while aesthetically enhancing your space. These pieces can bring you happiness and make for great conversation starters.
Crisp, clean bedding is a sensory experience that will bring the ultimate in comfort and relaxation.
Barbecuing has a way of taking an average meal and turning it into a social gathering. Give yourself a reason to enjoy dining al fresco.
Give your feet the pampering they deserve with a cozy pair of slippers.
Create new memories by having friends and family over for a cocktail, a dinner party, or even Sunday brunch.
Trigger sentimental memories and satisfy cravings by taking the time to make a home cooked meal.
While you may be an avid reader, you don’t have to be a bookworm to enjoy collecting books. Books can further a theme of a room, add some personality, or simply be there for enjoyment.
Instruments to play music or gardening tools to plant your favorite flowers—whatever your hobby is—invest in the necessary items so you can fully enjoy doing the things you love.
Enjoy a cool breeze and feel a bit happier while you remove stuffiness and naturally circulate the air.
It’s the place you long for after a tiring day. The place you lay your head on your pillow each night. The place that holds a unique address that belongs solely to you. It’s where you’ll watch your kids grow up, invite friends and family over, host holidays, and play with your pets. The place to make new memories and reminisce about the old. A place where people know they can find you, a place to call your own. A physical expression of your personality. A place to relax and unwind. To be as loud as you want or sit in silence. The place where YOU make the rules. A place where you belong, where you can unapologetically be yourself. A place of total comfort, safety, and privacy. Your safe haven, your refuge, your sanctuary. It’s not just a house…It’s your home.
