**This is a collaborative post
You want your family home to be a safe haven for you and your loved ones. You want it to have a great atmosphere. You want to be relaxed, happy, content – all of those good things when you’re all spending time in there together. Perhaps your family home doesn’t feel like that right now, or you just want to make some changes to ensure you’re all feeling as great in it as possible.
The ideas in this guide will help you to make your family home a better place to be. Take a look and see what you can use!
Make sure your family home is healthy
Having a healthy family home is imperative to making sure you keep your loved ones healthy and happy. How can you make your home healthier? Here are some pointers that will help you:
- Avoid candles, as many of them can be toxic. Instead, you can use incense or an aromatherapy diffuser to make your home smell nice. Essential oils are so much healthier and can be beneficial in different ways depending on the ones you choose.
- Himalayan salt lamps add an incredible cosy feel to a room and help to purify the environment, too.
- Make sure there are no hazards, especially if you have kids. For example, blind cords can be dangerous for young children.
- Add plants, as they look great and purify the air. They make us happier when we look at them according to science.
- Let in fresh air from time to time.
- Try out feng shui – even if you don’t believe in that kind of thing, it can help you to come up with a more effective lay out. You don’t want to be tripping over or bumping into things all the time!
Get A Dog (Or Another Type Of Pet)
Dogs make wonderful companions, and certain breeds are perfect for families. You know what they say; it isn’t a home without a dog. However, any kind of pet could make your home a better place to be, whether you look into getting a cat or a guinea pig. Just make sure your entire family is prepared to chip in and take care of the pet. We can’t have any pets with hair or fur because I’m allergic but you could even look at getting a reptile. It shouldn’t be a novelty that will eventually wear off. Studies have proven that when we spend time playing with pets and stroking them, we feel happier and less anxious. They very much become a member of the family!
Make sure you’re saving as much money as you can
If you’re saving as much money as you can around the house, you’re not going to feel resentful in any way. You can compare energy on Simply Switch to make sure you’re not wasting money when it comes to your utility bills, and don’t forget to be more eco friendly by switching out your light bulbs and ensuring you use less water. Make sure the whole family is on board. It’ll be good for both your wallet and the environment. Making repairs ASAP can also help you to save money. A home is one of the biggest drains on your finances, so don’t let it be an even bigger drain.
Ensure communication channels are always open
It’s natural to have disagreements as a family, but you must ensure that communication channels are always open. Never give one another the silent treatment; if you do this to your partner in front of your kids, or even to your kids, you’re teaching them bad habits about how to handle arguments. Here are some pointers:
- Don’t have disagreements in front of your children. You really need to put on a united front even if you don’t agree about something. Discussing it away from them and then talking to them about something you’ve compromised on will teach them communication is key – plus, they won’t think they can play you off against one another if they’ve asked you for something.
- Set good examples by teaching your kids how to communicate when they are upset or angry. Make sure they know it’s not about placing blame on the other person, but that it’s about telling them how certain things have made you feel. This will teach them to understand one another better.
- Never go to sleep on an argument.
Display sentimental items
Having sentimental items displayed around the house will give you a sense of pride, whether you’re showing off things your kids made at school or souvenirs from a great holiday. Displaying these items tends to make families happier – sentimental clutter is far better than clutter in general.