Make Your House a Unique, Cozy Home

Have you ever noticed that when you walk into certain homes, you get an immediate feel for what the family is all about? It's those unique, individual elements that distinguish a house from a home. Whether your family is full of avid nature lovers or full-blown beach bums, bringing your passions to life will give your house that hint of hominess. If you want to give your surroundings a more tailor-made feel, try one of our personalization projects to turn your humble abode into a cozier home.

Sense of Style
If you need help trying to figure out what décor style suits you, look no further than your closet. Clothes reveal your personality, so if you like to dress formal or casual, solid colors or tie-dyed, let your wardrobe help you decorate your space.

Photo Frenzy
If you want to showcase photos of your family without an overwhelming display, try a more discreet method of parading your pictures. Instead of dozens of single-picture frames, purchase a large, multi-slot frame and encapsulate all your loved ones into one big family collage. In the end, you'll not only save space, but you'll end up with a priceless family keepsake that also doubles as an interesting conversation piece.

For something truly unique, use items like an old window, shadowbox or table with glass on top to display your favorite photos.

Hobby Display
What better way to convey your family's favorites than by decorating your home with items that bring your hobbies to life? If your family loves to sail, transform the bathroom into a seaside cabana. Go a step further by hanging photos of your family's sailing trip.

If you or someone in your family is especially talented at a sport or pastime and has medals, trophies or ribbons to show off you can create a simple display or shadowbox to exhibit these accomplishments as a work of art.

If you or someone in your family is gifted with words, use them to inspire others by featuring their writing around the room or even on the walls. Not only will guests get a glimpse into your preferred pastimes, but they'll get to see your family actually taking part in the pursuit—further reinforcing the favored activity.

Mosaic Shadowbox
Creating mosaics using stained glass and tile is a great example of putting a hobby on display. Use these simple instructions for creating a mosaic shadowbox and personalize it to match your home and décor.

MATERIALS
Sturdy shadowbox
Sheets of stained glass or tile
Brown paper bag
Hammer
Adhesive

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start with a shadow box purchased at a craft store. If the backing board is sturdy enough, you can use it as the foundation for the mosaic.
2. Put your sheets of stained glass in a brown paper bag and tap firmly with a hammer to break into small pieces. The brown paper bag keeps all the glass shards intact and makes clean up a breeze.
3. Finally, lay out your stained glass pieces, tiles, etc. in the pattern you desire. Glue each piece down to the shadowbox backing with adhesive. After it has dried, cover with grout and wipe clean. Place in frame and you have beautiful original art.

Hang Up Your Hobbies
When it comes to your favorite hobbies and interests, there are endless ways to incorporate their spirit into your home décor. Try putting your hobby materials to work by using them to accentuate a simple storage piece. If baseball is your forte, gather your bats, caps and balls, then mount them along a basic bookshelf with eyehooks. If you’re a dancer, try the same method to hang old pairs of dance shoes, costume pieces, even sheet music from your favorite routines. For an artist, mounting brushes and palettes is the perfect way to bring the theme to life. Once you’ve adorned your storage piece, keep the motif going by displaying trophies, photographs and artwork that coincide with your hobby.

Potted Pizzazz
If you're a plant lover, you probably have vases and pots strewn about the house. (If you don't, here's a perfect opportunity for bringing one of your passions to life in your home!) Give these accent pieces some pizzazz by adorning the pots with family mementos. From the seashells you found on your last vacation to a ticket stub from the family's favorite movie, these precious keepsakes will add a touch of character to everyday objects.

Scrapbook of Sentiments
You're proud of your children's many masterpieces, but the fridge is a typical, and often cluttered, place for these homemade creations. If you have a sliding glass door in your home, use it as your new display case. Another alternative is to create a scrapbook for each child that can house all of his handiwork. (A photo album would also work.) Every time a new piece of artwork is brought home, place it in the scrapbook and record the date. You can store the scrapbooks in your magazine rack in the living room, so guests can browse through the displays.