Given that you spend a lot of time at home, it only makes sense that your home should reflect your unique personality. To be sure, things like pictures, mementos, and other personal touches go a long way toward this goal. However, if you really want to give your home that “extra special something,” you certainly have more than a few options. In order to find the best “extra” for your home, it’s important to understand the needs and interests of your family and unique desires. Here are a few unique extras that you might choose to set your home apart from the rest.

Chef’s Kitchen 
The kitchen is one of, if not the most important room in the home, even if you prefer to eat out. However, if someone in your family is passionate about cooking, that makes a nice kitchen in your home even more of a necessity. Upscale countertops such as marble, quartz, or granite; high-end appliances such as a six-burner stove, double oven, or smart refrigerator; as well as high-end finishes throughout will truly help to set your kitchen apart. In addition to these creature comforts for the food lover in your household, having large areas for others to congregate in the kitchen can truly help make it a welcoming meeting place, earning its title “the heart of the home.”

Pool or Spa 
If you enjoy getting outside to exercise or just to spend your downtime, there’s no better way to do these things than to put in a pool or spa. If you want every day to feel like a vacation, you can utilize elements such as a stone pool and a natural-looking waterfall, or a fun waterslide to truly give your pool that “resort” feel. Spas or hot tubs are also great options. The winter weather doesn’t have to keep you inside. A hot soak can encourage conversation as well as pain relief during the coldest seasons. These features will help your home be the place everyone wants to spend their time, no matter the temperature.

Home Theater 
There are few things more relaxing than enjoying a movie with family and friends. How much more relaxing, then, could your movie-watching experience be if you were able to enjoy it in a customized home theater? A dedicate room to your favorite pastime is a great way to reflect your family’s fun and laid-back personality while providing a true escape from the rest of the world. Add a popcorn machine, comfy chairs, and a small refrigerator, and it’s likely you’ll never want to leave. Another great thing about home theaters is that they can be installed in a wide variety of room sizes. If you’re looking at a new home, you can talk to your real estate agent or local contractor to get advice on specific rooms that would work well for this purpose before investing in the property.

What’s inherent in each of these home “extras” is that they’re best enjoyed with a group of people. These extras, enjoyed with the ones you care about, will truly help your house feel like a home and the place that you go to escape from the stress of your busy life.