When you think of homemaking and the type of home you wish to create, what comes to mind? When you ponder the sort of atmosphere you wish your home to have, what is it? When you close your eyes, what does your dream home look like? Not in terms of decorating style or size or ideal location, but practically, in terms of the feel of the home and the type of life you wish for it to hold.
Homemaking is a big part of the gentle, cozy life. In it, we are journeying on the ever-exciting adventure of homemaking and seeking beauty in ordinariness, purpose in the hidden places and value in small things. I like to call it a "taste and see" kind of homemaking. I shared a bit about this earlier this year and you can read my post HERE is you wish. But, in a nutshell, it's homemaking done in such a way that love and goodness can be tasted and seen in the home, including the ordinary tasks and days.
This perspective helps remind us that we are always treading on sacred ground, everywhere we turn is a holy place. As the above quote says, homemaking must be more than just a domestic task, it must be seen as part of the most important work. Therefore, it has tremendous value and purpose and eternal worth. And that right there has the power to change how one views the work done at home. It is sacred work.
My response to the questions I asked at the beginning of this post would include the following:
I dream of a home that is welcoming from the moment you walk through the door. The type of home where you feel comfortable from the start...where you just want to settle in on the couch or gather around in the kitchen and have hours of conversation and laughter. I want a home that is peace-filled and warm with love and compassion. A place where you are surrounded by the ones you love most. A calm, gentle atmosphere, where loads of fun is had and where you laugh so hard your stomach hurts. I want a home that feels cozy and inviting and just feels like home in a way that words can't really describe.
For the most part, that is the type of home I've known all my life. I've never been a person who hated being with my family and as a child, I always brought friends over to my house. It was the place we wanted to be and even where my friends felt comfortable, sometimes even more than their own homes. My mom has always placed her highest priority on her home and family and it has shown in both great and small ways.
Cultivating a haven of peace and comfort is one of the many ways to express the "taste and see" kind of homemaking. Everyone's own unique creative ideas and personal tastes will make their homes as special as they are, but I want to offer some ideas and encouragement here to get you thinking.
Homecooked meals and candles lit at dinner time. Music playing in the background or while doing daily tasks. Windows with curtains drawn back so the sunshine can be welcomed in. Bread baking in the oven, mugs of hot chocolate being poured and popcorn popping on the stovetop. Books piled high on shelves and tables along with blankets and pillows on the furniture. Flowers in a vase on the table or mantle. A fire lit in the hearth. Laundry drying on the line. Beautiful pictures hanging on the walls, both of loved ones and places you love and art you admire. Carefully chosen decorations and treasures displayed throughout the house. Inviting colors on the walls. Rooms full of things that tell the stories of the ones who live there. Pets running around the house and curled up on rocking chairs. The soft glow of warmly lit lamps on end tables.
The art of creating a beautiful home doesn't depend on the size of your home, or whether or not it's in your ideal location, or if you have tons of money to go shopping all the time to buy new things, or if your home is filled with second-hand treasures. It doesn't matter if you live in a one-bedroom apartment in the city or a farmhouse with a huge porch in the countryside or a two-story Cape Cod in a neighborhood in the suburbs. It doesn't matter if you have children or not, whether you're single or married. The art of creating a beautiful home is possible wherever you are. And you have the power to do just that. With a heart bent towards home, a hearty dose of creativity, courage and passion and excitement, and lots of laughter, gentleness, and imagination.
Any home is completely capable of becoming a haven. Any person is capable of creating it to be just the way they dream. You don't need to wait until you're finally in your dream home or until you have the perfect furniture or just the right size home. It's not wrong or bad to dream of those things and even to work towards them...I think it's good and beautiful to dream of making your special place in the world. But until you get there, you don't need to stop living or put your homemaking on hold. These days right now are important too. They're part of your story and journey and are steps along the way that will lead you to where you are going.
So, my friend, what is your dream for homemaking?
Invest in your home and create the place you want to be. Close your eyes and envision how you want to feel when you walk through your front door. Even if your home is already lovely, there are always small things we can do to add bits of beauty here and there. Your home should be welcoming and inviting and full of warmth for those you invite in, but it should also be that way for your family and you...really, even more so.
May God bless you as you seek to cultivate beautiful, peace-filled, comfortable havens out of your homes!
♥