The first thing that catches your eye in this home is the view. From the large windows on the eighth floor, you can see far in every direction. From the living room window, you can peek at the bustling city street.

"I once said that in our next home, I want to see the sunsets. Here, we see both the sunrises and the sunsets," Tiina Arponen says.

In this Lumo home in Helsinki's Alppiharju, Tiina's blended family lives with her partner and a total of five children, who stay with them roughly every other week. Initially, Tiina and her partner didn't even plan to move in together, but when they saw this apartment, its brightness, and the views, they wanted to make it their home.

Tiina's home has a colorful, playful style filled with small, delightful details. Every item seems to have a story: some have been with her since childhood, some were bought at art exhibitions, and the dearest ones were made by the children. Tiina constantly collects beautiful things for her home.

"My principle is that I don't want white and gray in my home, but moving in with my partner, I've had to make a few compromises," Tiina says, laughing.

According to Tiina, her partner also has a colorful style, and their shared home is cheerful and abundant despite a few white pieces of furniture. Tiina finds it amusing how guests notice different details in the home. However, almost everyone notices the colorfulness.

"Even the maintenance man said during his last visit that the decor here is wonderfully colorful."

A unique detail is the beautiful branch decorated with bows and glittering fans hanging above the kitchen table. Originally intended as a Christmas branch, it has become a permanent part of the decor.

"It was supposed to be just a Christmas branch, but it's so lovely that it became a birthday branch, a spring branch, and probably a Midsummer branch too," Tiina says.

For Tiina, home is the most important place in the world, at least if you don't count the cottage. She feels strongly attached to all her homes.

"Home has always been where I and my belongings are. It's my sanctuary, the most important and dearest."

The feeling of home comes from being able to beautifully display your own belongings. That way, your own and your family's story is constantly visible.

Tiina's subconscious is always brewing new decorating projects. She embroiders, knits, sews, does woodworking, and paints. Recently, she made an organically shaped shelf from wood for the corner of two windowsills and a small shelf above the bed. Decorating projects happen quickly, by collecting beautiful items that then find their place together at home. Usually by intuition, not by precise planning.

"Even if I made a detailed plan, I wouldn't follow it anyway."

The most important decorating lesson Tiina has learned is that not everything has to be so serious. And who says adults can only like adult things?

"I want to let my inner little girl run free in decorating. There are many things here that I would have loved as a child. Some time ago, I bought tiny ceramic dishes at a fair, and they make me very happy."

Sometimes the children's friends are amazed and ask, "Are these really your mom's things?" Tiina finds it very sweet.

An enchanting home, to Tiina, means a home that reflects its inhabitants – one that works and expresses its residents. In this home, it's clear that it was made for living, and guests are always welcome. Home should be comfortable and warm, which is why there's a basket of wool socks in the hallway for guests.

"I hope this is a place where my friends and family can visit just by ringing the doorbell," Tiina says.