In general the tone of these articles is about buying and selling real estate. We touch on remodeling, staging, updates and most anything else loosely related to real estate transactions. One of the most amazing feelings I have ever experienced was spending that first night in my newly built home over in Lincoln. For a brief moment (because I knew I was destined to sell the place) I felt like the master of my domain. The room sizes, floor layout, wall color, basement size and even the direction the home faced (towards Franconia Ridge) were all decisions I had made. There really is no greater feeling for a first-time homeowner.

So, this week I want to explore that feeling a bit more. We are going to run under the assumption that your home is yours and there is no intention of selling. We're not worried about the potential buyers. We're not worried about the agent's perspective. This week let's explore our homes and let our proverbial freak flag fly! You do you.

One area that is important on this journey is also one that I know little to nothing about whatsoever. And that is art. My sister-in-law is a graphic designer and she not only produces amazing art, but also has a very keen eye for it. The one thing I DO know about art is that the pieces you select need to be something that YOU love. With that in mind, we are all art experts. Some of us like Dali and his funky perspective while others prefer Monet or Picasso. At the end of the day, if you come home and that piece of art makes you smile or (better yet) gives you cause for pause, you have chosen wisely. Fill your home with items that bring you joy or that you simply love to admire and appreciate. Regardless of where you choose to call home, you can always take these with you.

The next personalization piece is the furniture. I'm equally in the dark on this one since I've not had the budget to purchase "nice" furniture in the past. That said, I do know what I find comfortable. For all the couch manufacturers out there - you guys are simply horrible. I'm not sure when the meeting was, but clearly they all got together and decided we should not be allowed to have couches that actually support our head and neck. For some unknown reason, it is near impossible to purchase a couch that has a back that comes up beyond one's shoulder blades. I guess they all assume we are 4 feet tall? But I digress.

The furniture in your home should not only reflect your personality and taste, but should be comfortable. I encourage folks to shy away from buying furniture "sets" especially if this is the home you are living in and not just a vacation or rental property. While it is admittedly challenging to get disparate pieces of furniture to "blend" together in a room, it is most certainly possible. Once again, people like my sister-in-law are worth their weight in gold in this regard. This allows you to be creative in your selections and still maintain a room that doesn't look like it was (entirely) put together from the thrift store (not that there's anything wrong with that!).

Another fun way to personalize your space is to latch on to your passions (or at least one of them). If, like me, mountains are your go-to, make sure you work that theme (strongly) into your home. This could be as simple as a dominant painting or picture of your favorite range. You could point your entire house towards a particular ridge (see above). Or you could remove your stairs to the second floor and put in a climbing wall. Go nuts!

"Incorporating one's passions into home décor is the best way to make the space feel more like home in a short amount of time," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty agent (formerly Badger Realty), Karla Badger. "Although the home decorating feels more permanent, it is similar to moving into that first apartment or dorm room. The freedom of expression is liberating and comforting at the same time," she continued.

Lastly is the use of color to express yourself and make this house your home. Painting the walls is one of the more simple things you can do to add personality to your home. As real estate professionals interested in the sale of your home, we're always encouraging you to stay neutral. But in today's theme we are letting it all hang out. Paint a single "accent wall" in the kitchen or living room. Paint the walls in two colors (top half and bottom half). You could even paint all the walls in a room a different color or shade just to be funky. This is one of the easiest projects we can all do to personalize a space and it is also one of the easiest to un-do when you're ready for a change.

If you are not in the market to sell your home or if you are just moving in with the intention of sticking around for a year or two, I encourage you to break out of the standard, boring, conservative mode of decorating and get a little wild. At the end of the day this is your home and it should reflect your personality. Go for it!