Tips for Making Your New House Feel Like Home

 

Let’s be honest: moving is an ordeal. There’s the struggle of saving the money, selling your old house, and fighting to get your bid chosen. Then there’s possible downsizing and moving all your belongings into the new place.

So, it can be a little demoralizing when you go through all of that, only to find it’s tough to feel settled into your new house. But just like it took time to arrive at the new place, it can take time to feel settled there. These tips for making your new house feel like home will help that process along.

Find a Place for the Essentials

Getting fully unpacked can take as long as six months, depending on how much stuff you have. And having to do your daily routine out of cardboard boxes can really drive home an image of feeling like a nomad. Tiring as moving in is, take a little time to do some essential unpacking right away. For example:

• Set up your toiletries in the bathroom.
• Find spots for your pots, pans, plates, and cooking tools.
• Put your clothes in the closets and dressers.
• If you have a hobby, unpack the things you use for it.
• Pull out your favorite bedding and make the beds.

This isn’t to say you have to have every box unpacked. Remember, the goal is to get the necessities out so you can build your new routine.

Make the Décor Your Own

A new house is like a blank canvas, and the more you paint your own style on it, the more you’ll make your new house feel like home. Start with the art and accessories you already have, but don’t be afraid to experiment with new styles. Look up pictures of popular interior design themes, or peruse local thrift stores or yard sales for new decorative pieces.

Play to the Senses

The senses play a powerful role in our emotions, so use them to your advantage when you’re settling in. You’re already playing with sight by establishing your own decorating style, but you can utilize the other four senses too.

• Sound: Play your favorite old records or playlist. Or, have an old favorite movie playing in the background while you’re working.
• Touch: Pull out your favorite blankets and bedding. Also, be sure the floor is clean, so it’s not unpleasant to walk on with bare feet.
• Smell: Light a few candles or diffuse your favorite essential oils.
• Taste: Take the time to cook a good meal and eat it with your family, even if you’re picnicking on the living room floor.

One record or living room picnic may not be enough to make your house feel like a home, and that’s ok. The goal is to build positive emotional connections to your new space. The more you live there, the more it will feel like home.