The pantry was full, the beds were made, the laundry was already starting to pile up, but it still didn’t feel quite like home. We had spent the entire summer and fall in the home-building process, picking out flooring, carpet, appliances, even the layout of outlets. We packed up our old house over the holidays and moved in just before the new year. The house was everything we had dreamed of, but the homey feeling was missing. I found it in some of the last boxes we unpacked.

I am not a decorator, but I do know my family, so it was up to me to make this brand new house our home. While the place and the spaces were new, I called upon the tried and true methods that had worked in our old home to make us all feel loved, safe, and welcome.

In making your new house a home, think about highlighting three things: your family, your interests, and your faith.

Family

Whether they are candid or professional, photos of my family around the house always cause me to smile when I walk past them. Putting pictures of you and your spouse, your children, and the whole family around the house celebrates your relationships. The photos make a statement about your home as a place made just for your family and all you invite into it. Once our family photos started going up in the house, I felt the sense of home start to creep into my heart.

View Inspirational Photo Frames>>

Interests

We like to run. Yep, all five of us. If we didn’t have things about running in our house, it just wouldn’t feel quite right. I love using the Letterpress Blocks with the phrase “Run Wild” to declare our love for running, while also having the double meaning of running wild after the heart of God! Find the things your family loves and incorporate them into your home through art, words, pictures, or mementos.

View Letterpress Block Sets>>

Faith

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. - Deuteronomy 6:5-9 ESV

That last verse is the very reason we have Scripture all throughout our home. Seeing God’s Word on our walls is a constant reminder of His faithfulness, love, and hope. DaySpring is my favorite place for finding these items for the home that celebrate our faith and our God.

Unwrapping the serving trays I received as presents from my husband and my sister in our new home was such a blessing. As they sit on the table and shelf, the trays display God’s Word in a beautiful and meaningful way.

The candles in the candle sleeves that celebrate God’s brightest hope and purest love flicker from the counter after all the other lights have dimmed. His love and light are all around us and these candles are the perfect reminder.

Faith, family, love - this is what home feels like and we have found it in our new house

 

More of Erin’s favorites from DaySpring:

Hospitality Wooden Tray

We Still Do throw pillow

Give Thanks Wooden Caddy

Pray Without Ceasing jumbo mug

For more information on (in)courage, read “What is (in)courage?” and for more favorites from the (in)courage community, view these related articles:

The Power of Beautiful Truth on Display by Becky Keife

How to Satisfy Your Craving for Connection by Kate Motaung

The Things We Do For Love by Renee Swope