When I moved here, I had the task of making our house our home. It wasn't easy at first. My husband and I had just gotten married, so I felt like I was taking over his space. The other hurdle I faced was the cultural differences when it came to making our home.
Some friends of ours gave us the book, Dwelling: Living Fully from the Space You Call Home as a wedding gift. I found it helpful to read through the book as someone who was living cross-culturally because it gave me a new perspective on what "home" connotes.
Here are some things I've found helpful in making our house feel like home in England.
Don't change; adapt. For a long while, the cultural differences between England and the US are what held me back from really making our house a home. It's taken me awhile recognise that yes, there are cultural differences, but I don't necessarily have to follow the cultural norm in my own home. Instead, I've taken my own approach and put an American spin on the way I run my home. That way, I'm adapting to the culture and keeping some of my own American culture.
Our home is a refuge. My home is my own space... my own refuge from the rest of the world. When I've had a busy day, I look forward to coming home because I know I'll be safe there. I even have my own corner of the house where I can (sometimes) escape and be alone with the Lord. I know my husband feels comfortable in our home. I hope someday that my son will feel the same way when he comes home after a rough day.
Add a few things from the US. Don't get me wrong, I want to adapt to the English culture as much as possible. There are, however, a few things that I love to bring from the US that help our house feel more like home. Just about every time we have family come to visit, I ask them to bring me a big bag of cornmeal. I loooooove corn bread, and it makes me feel at home when I can have it with a big bowl of soup! The other things I loved bringing from the US are quilts. My mother has made us a few quilts, including ones I had from childhood. Having them in our house in England makes it feel more like home for some reason.
We painted our boys' room the same color as their room back in the states... to help with the transition. It really helped them feel at home. And for me some scented candles help. Even just baking in my home makes it feel like home :) Pictures of people we love hanging around the walls. And our own artwork- puts our fingerprints all over the house :)
ReplyDeleteThe last time we moved, I decided that what makes me feel at home is knowing the neighbors. I just went back and found where we discussed that on the other missionary moms blog. That's not quite the same as the kind of nesting that you're talking about, but close... maybe. :-)
ReplyDeletelinens! They are my thing, and in Costa Rica, they are one of those things that you really do want to bring with you from the States! Also, cooking some of the foods we eat in the states, and having something from our childhood homes, even if it's little.
ReplyDeleteThe things that make my house feel most like a home to me are the sentimental things, primarily being gifts from other people or pictures of people that I love. My husband framed his wedding vows to me for one of our anniversaries, and that is in our bedroom; I have various special hand-made decor items in my kitchen that were given to me by a dear and very creative friend; we have pictures of our family and closest friends in our living room and on the refrigerator... Also, I had fun creating a color scheme for my kitchen and have loved not only buying practical things but pretty things as well. Liking the things that I spend the most time looking at also makes my house feel homey to me. =) Fun post, Chrysti!
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