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By Alicia Williams
Is your home a place where people desire to linger and spend quality time together? Romans 12:13 says, “Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” One practical way to follow this directive is to create an atmosphere where your family and others feel comfortable and cared for.
People Over Perfection
When it comes to establishing an environment that communicates light, love and life, it’s important to value people over perfection. Many people view their home as their castle with a moat around it or a “no trespassing” sign posted. But your home is not a shrine—it’s a place where life is lived. Here are a few guidelines for curating an atmosphere where your family and guests feel at home.
Consider Others’ Tastes
Women are typically the ones who do the decorating, but remember, ladies: You should be curating spaces where men, women and children can happily cohabitate and feel comfortable. Sites like Pinterest have stirred up a sense of competition among homemakers, but it is important to examine more than just the latest trends when choosing home decor. Be sure to consider your spouse’s tastes and make compromises.
The “Happy House Trifecta”
Everything in your home should fall into one of three categories: beautiful, functional, or meaningful. Sit in a room and look around. If you own an object that does not fit into one of those groups, you probably shouldn’t have it in your home. Ideally, you should have a variety of items from all three categories. If everything in your home is beautiful, you will feel like you are living in a museum. If everything is functional, it may not bring you joy. If everything is sentimental, the house will feel out of balance. Aim for the happy house trifecta.
Foster Conversation
Set up spaces in your home that encourage gathering and interaction (kitchen tables, islands, coffee tables, etc.). If every seat in your living room is pointed at the TV, that may indicate that you are prioritizing the entertainment of a screen over the people gathered in your home. Instead, create a game table or a sitting area with family photos. Depending on your family’s interests, you might curate a space devoted to Lego, train sets, sewing, crafts, music, baking … the options are endless!
How to Get Started
- Take some time to examine your situation. If people generally don’t gravitate toward your home or don’t tend to stay very long, review the guidelines above and consider what changes could be made.
- Make sure your home has ample lighting. People will linger longer in spaces that are beautifully lit versus places that are functionally lit. Choose warm light over cool light; soft light over fluorescent.
If you are a follower of Jesus and you want to be a light to the world, let your house shine. Keep your porch light on. A dark house doesn’t reflect that life is being lived there. Warm light emanating from your windows says a lot about what’s happening inside, and it makes the lonely want to enter.
- Provide comfortable seating where people can easily have a conversation.
- Turn on some music! This is one of the quickest ways to establish an atmosphere.
- Don’t neglect organization. Everyone living in the home should be able to confidently contribute to its peace and beauty. When it’s time to clean up, everything should have a place, and even the youngest kids should be familiar with the system. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend for help or find a step-by-step plan online.
If you have longed for your home to be a place where connection is made, beauty is created, family thrives and life is lived, seize the day and make your space what you want it to be!
Listen to Alicia share more about curating a home of light, love and life on the Life is Relationships podcast. If you have been blessed by the podcast, please subscribe, like and share. You can also make a donation to help us finish our podcast room by clicking the button below!
