Ask most people to describe their dream home, and you’ll probably hear a lot of the same things: a large kitchen, high ceilings, granite countertops, a fireplace, walk-in closets, a three-car garage, maybe a view of the water or the countryside.
It’s the type of dream home we’ve been sold by movies, magazines, HGTV, home builders, realtors, listings, and billboards down the street. And many of us spend a lot of money and mental energy chasing it.
But a bigger house is not a happier home. And the features that matter most to a family are rarely found on Zillow.
In fact, if you were to sit down and write out a list of the truly most important things you want in a home, my guess is a kitchen island would fall further and further down the list the more you thought about it.
These are the types of features included in a dream home:
1. Peace and calm. The world outside is loud, demanding, and difficult. Having a home that is peaceful and calm allows us to refill our energy so we can bring our best into the world each day.
2. Laughter and fun. Very few people need convincing on the importance of fun. But if you do, here’s a short list of the benefits of laughter: reduced stress, improved mood, stronger immune systems, better heart health, and deeper connections with the people we love.
3. Patience and grace. Nobody is perfect and everyone makes mistakes—including members of a family. So for all of us, a home filled with honest and humble people who are slow to anger and quick to offer patience and grace is a dream come true.
4. Attention and listening ears. Among the greatest gifts we can ever give another is the gift of undivided attention. And because everyone has something to say and needs someone to talk to, we all want people who pay attention to fill our homes.
5. Greetings and goodbyes. A friend of mine calls this “doing take-offs and landings well.” Whenever someone arrives home, stand up to greet them, and when they leave, stand up to say goodbye. It’s a small action that can change the entire culture of your home and the people inside it.
6. Meals and conversation. Did you know that conversations around the family table may be some of the most impactful we have? Literally, studies show that teens who eat frequent family dinners are more likely to earn mostly A’s and B’s, less likely to experience depression, and less likely to use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs. And when teens were asked to name the best part of family dinners, 71% said talking, catching up, and spending time with family.
7. Hugs and kisses. Nobody ever outgrows the need for physical affection and hugging is good for your health.
8. Work and rest. A healthy home values both hard work and intentional rest. One without the other always negatively impacts our potential and opportunity. This applies to work outside the home and work inside the home. Work hard, rest well. And craft a culture where the housework is shared so nobody carries the load alone.
9. Hospitality and generosity. A gentleman once taught me, “I learned generosity from my parents first. They routinely hosted meals for their friends and whenever I had friends over, my buddies were able to eat anything they found. From a young age, within the walls of my home, I was taught to be generous with my stuff.” Make hospitality a feature of your home and generosity will be quick to follow.
10. Stability and belonging. Above everything else, every member of a family needs to know they are known and loved. That certainty becomes the foundation on which we build the rest of our lives. No feature in any home is more important.
Here’s the good news about this list: You don’t need a U-Haul or a large down payment to enjoy the features of this home. You don’t even have to wait a single day to begin creating them. They can become a reality right where you are—your current home can become a dream home.
Source: www.becomingminimalist.com…