What makes a house a home?  

Your interior styling choices can create a mood and look that feels like you.  

And with remote working on the rise, we are spending more time than ever at home. 

Making a house a home will look a bit different for everyone. But there are some basic principles you can follow to help you achieve the homely look and feel you desire.  

This article explores the top 5 ways to make your house feel like home, including: 

• Prioritising comfort 
• Incorporating meaningful designs 
• Opting for form and function over aesthetics 
• Considering lifestyle 
• Including natural elements. 

At the end of this article, you will find more helpful interior design resources and advice to help you on your styling journey.  

The Jasper Sofa’s modular components are easily arranged into endless configurations, including a luxurious guest bed.

1. Prioritise comfort

As humans, we crave comfort. We are all sensitive to the feel of a fabric and how plush or firm a seat is. It's no wonder the Danish concept of Hygge, which is all about comfort, cosiness, and well-being, has become so popular¹. Though it applies to more than furniture, Hygge helps to remind us to create a sanctuary, and that's exactly what a home is.  

When you choose designs for your home, comfort should be a high priority, especially for items you will be using regularly, like sofas, armchairs, beds, mattresses, and dining furniture. Comfort is about how the design supports you and how it feels and functions. 

The Quay Dining Table is paired with the Amara Dining Chairs, creating a relaxed contemporary dining space.

2. Opt for designs meaningful to you

Part of making a house a home is incorporating items that are meaningful to you. Heirloom furniture, framed photos of loved ones, or travel photos can bring a sense of who you are into the space.   

If you've just moved to an entirely new part of the world and couldn’t bring many items that hold meaning, you can explore second-hand markets and heritage pieces. Furniture carries stories with it from other homes and times. Mixing old with new is a great way to make your home carry more meaning and personality. 

Jasper is all about form and function, offering a modular design and generous hidden storage.

3. Choose form and function before aesthetics

You need to love the look of the items you fill your home with. But functionality is still more important. There will be some smaller accessories that don’t need to have any other function than being visually appealing. When it comes to all the bigger ticket items that you will be using regularly, the way they work will matter.   

Designs that are easy to move, simple to open and close or that intuitively work and customise to your needs will make your home more comfortable. Some of the ways KING adds this extra functionality to our designs is through sofa accessories and bedroom accessories, like smart LED lights, tables with wireless charging and built-in storage. These extra features go a long way to bringing comfort. 

Cassia Counter Stool’s create a casual, welcoming seating option.

4. Think about your lifestyle

Do you work from home? Do you need a reading nook, or maybe a modular sofa that can be rearranged for guests? Incorporating elements that reflect your passions, lifestyle and needs will help your space feel more like you.   

If you work from home, your workspace should be inviting and encourage productivity as much as possible. Setting up your space to function for your lifestyle helps you feel comfortable and simply live how you want.  

Modular sofas can help with lifestyle flexibility. At KING, we offer modular sofas that can transform from one sofa into two, the chaise can be moved from left to right, and designs like Delta and Jasper can even be turned into a guest bed. These features help you create a home that works for you.   

The Zaza Outdoor Sofa, Luna Outdoor Chair and Oasis Outdoor Coffee table work together to create an outdoor sanctuary.

5. Incorporate natural elements

Natural elements can make you feel at ease and help make your house a home. This may be furniture and furnishings made from natural materials, indoor plants, or water features. Encouraging airflow and allowing for natural light also helps. By building your home around the movement of natural light, you can create a relationship with nature's daily changes.   

Choosing a neutral colour palette or natural tones like sky blues, forest greens, and earthy browns can help create feelings of peace and calm. If bright colours feel more like home to you and better reflect the type of space you want, you should follow that desire and create a space that you love that feels right to you.   

Design elements coming together to make a home. Pictured with Quay Indoor Dining Chairs. 

Now, it's time to make your house a home

Every home tells its own unique story. To make a house into a home, you need to tell your story through the colours, objects, furniture, and design elements you choose. Any rules aside, the most important thing is to follow what feels right to you.  

You can begin making your house a home by prioritising comfort, incorporating meaningful designs, opting for form and function over aesthetics, considering your lifestyle needs, and including natural elements.  

For more interior styling advice, try our article on how to anchor your room and create cohesive interior design or how to furnish and style a healthy home.  

You may also be interested in exploring the King Living 2023 collection, or reading Neale Whitaker’s guide to living with colour.   

Photography: Shannon McGrath  
Styling: Swee Design