What makes a house a home?

Sounds like a rhetorical question – are they not the same?

In my mind a house is a structure, and a home is all the feelings and experiences that go with that house. When house shopping one must make sure that they are evaluating the bones of house to make sure it can support the home dreams that you have. Now let’s translate how this could take place.

To best illustrate this, I am going to dig into my bucket of personal experiences and share some thoughts that occurred during my house search. Although it was years ago, it is still very pertinent information.

Who lives there? 

The number one focus of how my house turned into a home was who was in it. My home shelters not only my husband, son, and I but also our fur babies. Three dogs and one cat to be exact. It was important that the house we purchased would have a yard and plenty of space for them to stretch their legs. We also evaluated floor coverings and floor plan to ensure that our entire family had comfortable place to call home. Our home is warmed by the pitter pater of dog feet, the welcoming bark to the neighbors and the perfect cuddle buddy on the couch. It would not be our home without these family members.

What’s your passion? 

Another focus while house shopping was our passion for cooking. Our family loves to cook. Both inside and outside. We were looking for a house that would allow us to embrace our passion and host parties that featured our culinary adventures. When we purchased the house, it may have been strictly a kitchen with an open design, but it has become a home where holiday meals are prepared for hours with extended family gathering around the center island. It has become the outdoor barbecue area that hosts family and friends as we enjoy smoked meats, frosty beverages, and heartfelt laughter.

Special details? 

Finally, my husband and I knew that the house that we purchased would feel more like the homes we loved as children if it had a fireplace with a raised hearth. Both of us had warm memories of Christmas morning with stockings hung by the fire.  We indeed did build a home with a stone fireplace and our mantel has been the backdrop for a ton of family photos, the hanging point for lots of Christmas stockings and the focal point of our family room. Both of us reverted to childhood memories and what made our houses homes over the years.

While searching for a house may involve room count, architectural style, yard size and other cut and dry features, making the house into a home involved vivid experiences that create memories for a lifetime. Make sure your house can evolve into the home of your dreams.