Moving into a new house can be exhausting, but it can also feel foreign for days to weeks afterwards. The walls are different, the floors are different, the arrangement of furniture is different—everything is different from what you’re used to, and it might take a bit of adjusting. However, there are things you can do to add a little bit of personality to your house and make it feel more like home.
Paint the Walls
One thing you can do is paint the walls of your home. The colors that we use in our daily lives influence our mood, and the colors we paint our walls with are no exception. Frequently, sellers will paint their homes in neutral colors to get rid of their personality from when they lived there, but now that the house is yours, you can add all the accent colors you desire. Think about the purpose behind each room as you paint it. How do you want the room to feel? For example, if you want your bedroom to feel relaxing, consider painting it a light shade of blue. Painting the walls makes the house feel more like a place where you live because the colors are your choice.
Put Up Pictures
One of the blandest things about moving to a new house is that there isn’t anything on the walls. No pictures, no artwork, no memories to make the house feel lived in. Now that the house is yours, dig out your family photos, or old artwork and hang them up on the walls. If you don’t want to use nails to hang them up, consider using command strips. Find picture frames that match the aesthetic you want for your home. Pictures are a unique way to personalize your home because they also bring memories with them of the events and places where you were when you took those photos.
Print Hands in the Pavement
One thing you can also do, especially if you have children, is print your hands in the pavement. This process takes a while, but it is worth it for that extra reminder of the time you spent in the house. When you’re mixing the concrete mixture, beware of the concrete being too thick or too thin. You need to make the concrete stronger if it’s too runny or else your prints might not come out as well. Adding printed hands can be a fun touch that makes the house feel more like home.
Hang a Monogrammed Wreath on the Front Door
Another thing you can do is add a monogrammed wreath to the front door. If your door doesn’t already have a door rack, you can buy one to hang on your door. Wreaths can add a bit of personality to an otherwise bland door, and if you buy many wreaths, you can change them for the seasons. Consider also getting a personalized door mat. It doesn’t have to be monogrammed, but it should be something that speaks to you. The house gives its first impression at the doorstep, so make the doorstep and the door your own.
Keep Your Home Clean
Do you enjoy the feel of freshly washed sheets? Do you enjoy the soothing rhythm of the dishwasher, or the smell of freshly laundered towels? Everyone has their own unique cleaning style, and home doesn’t feel like home unless it’s cleaned to the way you like it. Spend some time cleaning the shelves and surfaces of your new house before you move in and then afterwards, keep it clean. Let in light from the sun to illuminate the darker spaces of your home. Light brightens a room, and a clean room makes one feel better. Make your house your home by taking care of it.
Light Scented Candles
Another way you can make your house your home is by lighting scented candles. Scented candles can have a calming effect on the mind, and as you pick out flavors you like, your house starts to smell a little more comforting to you. Certain candles can be bad for air quality however, so look for US made candles and candles with 100% beeswax or soy. If candles or wax warmers aren’t your cup of tea, you can also use a diffuser to release essential oils into the air. Smells can be comforting and make you feel more at home, and there are many different options to adding a scent to your home.
Buy Accents for Your Home
Another way that you can make your house feel like home is by adding accents. This could include buying curtains that are calming, adding throw rugs and throw pillows into a room, adding bookshelves to display your books or collectables, and adding lamps that brighten a room. Even adding your own bathroom shower curtains can make a difference in helping your house feel like a home. Accent pieces also tend to be rather cheap and can be an excellent way to personalize your home.
Things from Your Childhood Home
This one may surprise you, but one of the best ways to make your house feel like home is to display old items from your childhood home in your new one. It may be as simple as a quilt your mother made for you that you spread on your bed, or a chest of drawers that you’ve had since you were a kid. Familiar things that we have fond memories of help us feel more comfortable in places that feel foreign or strange. Displaying old collectibles or books may seem like a small thing, but it can do a lot of good in helping you feel at home in your new house.
Moving into a new house can be an intimidating experience, but your house doesn’t have to feel like a stranger for long. Take the time to make your house feel like yours, because it is. You’ll be glad you did.
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