There are many famous quotes about home – “home is where the heart is,” “there’s no place like home,” and “home is where your story begins,” to name a few. These are sentiments we can get behind now, more than ever. Let’s settle into our favorite spots and take a look at the importance of home.

A Place to Reflect

Home is a place where you feel most comfortable, which is why it feels so good to come home after time away. It’s a place where can you curl up with a good book and the place where your bed and pillow await after a long day. Now that many of us are spending more time in our homes than ever before, we may forget that special feeling of “coming home,” and how nice it is to walk through our own front door every day to a place of warmth and familiarity. Now is a perfect time to reflect on where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to go in the future – and yes, that can include a travel bucket list.

An Expression of Lifestyle

As many of us are spending more time at home, we’ve been able to better evaluate the everyday functionality, layout, and aesthetic of our households. Our time at home right now affords us the opportunity to experiment with our space and whether it is truly working to best fit our needs. Consider reorganizing drawers, pantries, and closets as an easy weekend project. For something new, consider rearranging the layout of a room, ordering some new accessories or a new patio set, and if you have the time, trying a new paint color. Making small updates to your surroundings helps your home continue to be a place of comfort and inspiration.

Memories and History

A favorite coffee mug from a special trip, a treasured family photo, memories of funny kitchen mishaps, and the first time you walked through the door and called this space home are all things to remember during a time like this – especially if you’re beginning to feel restless. Take a moment to look around your home and take stock of all it has provided over the years – let those memories bring a smile to your face. Remember, just because you’re home doesn’t mean you can’t make new memories; virtually visit a museum or take in a live performance to help pass the time.

A Home Means Hope

Having a place to call home sets you up for success and gives you a hope for a better future. New Story has provided thousands of homes to families in need and now, during this current health crisis, is helping families in the U.S. that are facing homelessness. Learn more about New Story and how you can make a difference and see how they’ve partnered with Icon to revolutionize how they’re building homes on the Apple TV+ series, “Home.”

Originally published in April 28, 2020 by Erik Weinbrecht