The Objects That Make a House a Home
It’s not the couch. It’s not the backsplash. It’s not even the perfect light fixture that took three weeks to arrive. What really makes a house feel like home?
Ester White Gherea
By Ester White Gherea | WBN News | June 17, 2025
It’s not the couch.
It’s not the backsplash.
It’s not even the perfect light fixture that took three weeks to arrive.
What really makes a house feel like home?
It’s that chipped mug you drink tea from every morning.
It’s the small piece of art you bought when you first moved out on your own.
It’s the chair your grandmother used to sit in when she told you stories.
Those little things—the ones with memories attached—are the true heart of a home.
More Than Just Pretty Spaces
As an interior designer, I spend my days picking colors, planning layouts, and helping people create beautiful rooms. But the spaces I love the most—the ones that feel warm and alive—are the ones filled with stories.
I remember visiting a client who had a living room that looked straight out of a magazine. Everything matched. Everything was brand new. But it felt… empty. Like a fancy hotel, not a home.
Then I asked her, “Where are your favorite things?”
She looked around and said, “Honestly? They’re all in boxes.”
We opened those boxes together. Inside were old travel photos, a hand-painted vase from her mom, and a handmade quilt from her aunt. We made space for those things—front and center—and the whole room changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t just designed. It was hers.
My Own Favorite Thing
One of my favorite pieces in our home is a small yellow model of a Beetle car. At first glance, it looks like just a playful decoration. But for my husband and me, it means so much more.
Back when we first started dating, we had this silly inside joke involving a yellow Beetle. It always made us laugh—one of those little things that only makes sense between two people. Fast forward a few years, when we had just moved to Canada and were wandering through a local shop, there it was: a tiny yellow Beetle on a shelf. We looked at each other and just knew. That little car had to come with us.
Now, every time I see it, it makes me smile. It’s not just cute—it’s a reminder of where we started, the humor we share, and the life we’ve built together.
Meaning Brings Magic
You don’t need a big budget or fancy furniture to make your space special. You just need you. The things that hold memories, bring comfort, or make you smile when you walk by them—those are the treasures.
A home isn’t built from catalogs or Pinterest boards. It’s built from love, life, and layers of moments.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
I’d love to know:
What’s the most meaningful object in your home?
Maybe it’s something tiny. Maybe it’s something unexpected. But I bet there’s a beautiful story behind it.
Send me a message or comment below. Let’s celebrate the pieces that turn four walls into something much more.
Because home isn’t a place—it’s a feeling.
And it starts with the things you love.
Ester White Gherea is an Interior Designer and the founder of Gherea Studios.
She can be reached at 236-339-6644 or estergherea@gmail.com. Connect with Ester on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ester-white-gherea-6b339a2b5/. Connect with Ester at https://www.ghereastudio.com/.
TAGS: #InteriorDesign #TimelessStyle #DesignTrends #HomeDecor #ModernLiving #StylishSpaces #GhereaStudio #WBN News Langley #WBN News Abbotsford #Ester White Gherea
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