Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. 

The modern family moves around a lot, with the average American moving approximately twelve times within their lifetime. Jumping from place to place can certainly be jarring; meanwhile, it’s difficult to make a “house” feel like a home when we don’t plan on sticking around for too long.

But what happens when we find somewhere that we do want to call home? New homeowners or those feeling “stuck” in their current living space should consider the benefits of investing in their houses, including:

• Peace of mind and a sense of security: that is, your living space belongs to you
• Giving your house a sense of personality that both you and guests will notice
• Potentially increasing you home value over time while also avoiding wear and tear

Where you’re considering a move or perhaps want to make your house feel more like a “home,” consider the following five ways you can invest in your living space.

Elegant Furniture

When we think about “investments,” our furniture may not be the first thing to come to mind. However, high-quality furniture can instantly transform the vibe of your space and potentially save you money down the road.

Elegant wooden furniture, for example, is sturdy, easy to clean and will stand the test of time versus cheaper, low-quality options. Such pieces are ideal versus furniture made from cheap materials such as plywood which won’t last more than a few years (if that). Likewise, wooden furniture allows you to diversify your decorating (think: stained wood versus stripped wood) and truly get creative.

Hardwood and Tile vs. Carpet

More and more homeowners are opting for hardwood or tile flooring versus traditional carpet. The benefits of new flooring are three-fold, considering that hardwood and tile are:

• Much, much easier to clean and keep tidy
• Resistant to odors versus carpet, which tends to hold on to pet odors and heavy-duty stains
• Likely to save you money in the long-run on professional carpet cleaning costs

Considering that most new tenants rip out carpet anyway, why not start clean and fresh versus compromising?

Windows, Curtains and Fixtures

Lighting can have a subtle yet significant impact on the mood of our homes. For example, consider how less natural light can establish a potentially somber vibe within a room versus a well-lit space, flushed with natural light. Again, you have plenty of options ranging from new curtains, lighting fixtures and lamps that you can experiment with to create a new mood for your living space.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Much like lighting, color also has a subconscious impact on the mood of your home. If you come into a new house with bold or flashy colors that don’t match your personality, perhaps a purple or neon green, you should naturally consider a fresh coat that matches your own style. For example, you may opt for muted colors like beige or off-white to create a calming effect.

Quality in the Kitchen

If there’s one place to emphasize quality in the home, it’s probably going to be the kitchen. A modern kitchen is likely to improve the value of your home over time, more so than spaces such as the bathroom or living room. Therefore, consider replacing your appliances, counters and cabinets to keep up with modern design trends. If you’re going to take a “room by room” approach to redecorating, consider starting in the kitchen.

Make your house feel more like a home can be daunting if you don’t know where to start. It may take a few months to take the aforementioned steps; however, bringing sense of personality into your home represents an incredibly rewarding process.