When does a house become a home?

As more and more of my friends leave the "nest" and move in to their own place, it got me thinking how important a home is. It is a safe place to retreat back to after a long day, a place that you can wear what you want and truly let your hair down. It is a place of comfort and a reflection of who you are.

So when does a house become a home? I think when you deciding what couch you like and what vases compliment the curtains…your house is still a house. Whether you have the latest designs or appliances…this still does not make it a home.

I think a house becomes a home when you experience great joys – and sorrows, when you experience unforgettable memories and the walls speak of great times, when you see photographs of loved ones displayed all around, when you hear laughter and the occasional angry scream in the passage. You experience life with all the ups and downs in those four walls…when your house is filled with all of this and the people you love…this makes it a home.

Home is where the heart is...