Your home is supposed to be your sanctuary, but if the first thing you do when you walk in the front door is cringe, it likely isn't providing you with the peace you need to deal with the stress of day-to-day living.

Luckily, you don't have to buy a new house to find that peace you're missing. Turning your house into a cozy, comfortable home could be as simple as hanging a new picture or lighting a scented candle. Here are some other ways to take control of your home and create an environment where you'll finally feel that serenity you've been seeking.

Pick out a decorative floor rug

Maybe what you're missing is a pop of color that ties your room's color themes together. A floor rug adds color and comfort with very little effort.

Declutter

When there's room to walk around the living room without knocking over boxes, banging your shin on the coffee table or tripping over toys, you might finally be able to breathe again.

Hang family pictures

Who lives in this generic home anyway? Pictures are cheap to print and easy to frame. (Hint: you can get frames for a buck a piece at the dollar store.)

Light scented candles

There's nothing like the scent of cinnamon apples to make a house feel homey. Or make you crave apple pie.

Rearrange your layout

Is your feng shui out of whack? Rearrange the furniture and see if you can't use your space more efficiently.

Touch up paint scuffs

Nicks in wall corners, scuffed door paint and nail holes in your sheetrock all contribute to a sense of discomfort in your home. Fix those little annoyances and notice how that on-edge feeling ebbs.

Keep cool (or warm)

The temperature of your home can drastically affect your personal comfort. Floor coverings, window treatments, insulation, air conditioning and heating influence how warm or cold you feel. Could you improve any of these aspects of your home and finally achieve your dream comfort level?

Buy accent pillows

When your couch starts to look drab or old, new pillows can add visual interest and stave off your new furniture craving a little while longer.

Add some trim

Could your floorboards use some trim? What if you painted the trim an accent color?

Hang curtains

There's nothing homier than a new set of curtains or a valance for your kitchen window. An added bonus: the right curtains can improve insulation, which might mean a lower electricity bill.

Deal with mold

Sure, it's in a corner of the closet you don't usually see, but it can cause bigger problems in the long run for your health and your home's structure. Give yourself peace of mind by finally dealing with it.

Vacuum furniture

Empty your bag before you vacuum and then check it after vacuuming your furniture. You'll be surprised how much dirt you pick up when you use corner tools to get down in between your couch cushions. You might find a few buried treasures as well.

Scrub countertop grout

Grout looks dingy after a while, so use some soft scrub and a toothbrush to give it back its original shine.

Paint your front door

What does your front door's color say about your family? If all you can think is "boring" or "dirty", try splashing on a coat of a new color.

Add an accent wall

You don't have to paint your walls hot pink or lilac but trying a new tan color or a light gray on one wall can improve visual interest and set your home apart from other houses in the neighborhood.

Improve the lighting

A new and improved source of light might illuminate the reason you've been feeling less than cozy in your home.

Deodorize

Carpets and furniture absorb body odors and other smell over time. Research some ways to deodorize and see if you can't finally rid your home of that strange smell bothering you so.

Choose new kitchen colors

No painting or refinishing required. Just change up your dry ingredient canisters, add a rug in front of your kitchen sink and get a new set of hand towels. You'll instantly notice a different feeling when your kitchen colors change.

Change out old pictures

Have you had the same pictures on your walls since you bought your home? Update your family pictures and hang a new landscape picture or mirror in a prominent place.

Keep toys in bedrooms

If you've decluttered the best you can, the next step is to organize. If you have kids at home, try to choose one room of the house to keep toy-free, for your sanity.

Install new carpet

It might not seem like a cheap way to make your home cozier, but if your allergies are acting up, your floor is covered in stains, you're embarrassed when people come to visit and your home has a perpetual foul odor you can't seem to get rid of, new carpet will pay you back in dividends far more valuable than currency.

To get started replacing your carpet today, contact Giant Carpet One Floor & Home.

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