You’ve bought a new house and you’re ready to move in – but this empty, echoing space that you’ve purchased feels nothing like the home you were imagining, and you spent most of your budget on the property itself. How can you make it feel like it’s truly your home?
Get a clean slate
Preferably before you start moving your belongings and furniture in, make sure that your new home is spotlessly clean. There’s nothing worse than stained grout in the bathroom, lime scale stains on the kitchen sink, or fingerprints on the windows to remind you that this used to be someone else’s home. If you can’t afford to get the cleaning done by a professional company, get up a group of family and friends who are willing to help you go over the place with a fine toothed comb in one day – you can make the day fun and start creating good memories in your new place. Prolonging the cleaning process by doing it yourself over days and weeks can really cast a pall over the positivity of the move.
Add small touches
On your first night in your new house, before you’ve finished unpacking, place some vases of cut flowers, some scented candles, and some key pieces that remind you that this is your place, like family photos or key ornaments. Try and cook a quick, tasty-smelling meal in the kitchen rather than getting takeaway, as this will help the place feel lived in.
Make it cosy
Especially if you’re upsizing into a new home, you may find that the place feels slightly empty and stark in the first few weeks after unpacking, when you haven’t expanded to fill the space. Layer up cosy rugs on the floors, add some lamps with red/yellow light for a warm glow, and place some snuggly throws on sofa backs and armchairs to make the place feel comfortable and welcoming.
Personalise key spaces
When it comes to decorating your new place, don’t try and do everything at once unless you have the time to finish it before you move in. Instead, focus on one room at a time, starting with the most important, to make it feel like it’s truly yours. If you can’t afford to fully redecorate straight away, or don’t want to, consider making a feature out of an accent wall in each key space to add your personal style.
