The Secret to Creating a Beautiful Home (Even If It Wasn’t Born That Way)

It’s often said that good genes can only take you so far in the beauty department. The rest is an effect created by good grooming. How people take care of themselves, dress themselves, and even carry themselves signals to us how we should perceive them. If a woman acts like she’s beautiful and worthy of being treated well, then we’re inclined to believe her.
I’ve been thinking about how the same principle applies to our living spaces. We can’t all be born with perfect bone structure, and we can’t all afford architecturally stunning houses, but most of us can master the art of good grooming. We can be grateful for what we have and make the most of it, right?
I’ve been in big, expensive houses that felt uncomfortably cold and empty because the homeowners didn’t put any of themselves into it. And I’ve been in small, modest houses that were clearly loved by their owners, and I felt right at home.
Within my own house, I have some rooms that are lavished with attention, while a couple of others are ignored and left to fend for themselves too much of the time. Guess which ones I’d rather spend time in?

How you treat your living space tells other people how they should view it. So groom the heck out of your house. Show it some love. It may never be a model home, but it can be one where people feel at home.

{Photos from At Home with Country and 7th House on the Left}