So, you’ve moved into a new property and can breathe a welcome sigh of relief now that the stress of moving is out of the way. The next thing to tackle however is how to settle yourself and possibly your family into new surroundings. Read on for lots of tips that will help your house feel like a home in no time.
1. Unpack swiftly
This sounds like a no-brainer but the longer you have unopened or half-unpacked boxes lying around, the harder it will be to feel settled. Your moving boxes will provide a constant reminder of the state of flux you’re in, so unpacking room by room should be a priority.
2. Start with priority rooms
For many, priority rooms in the home will be those commonly most used like the living room and main bedroom. Once you have a bedroom that feels like a calm sanctuary or a living room that the whole family can enjoy you’ll start to feel more relaxed.
3. Get social
Join your local Facebook groups to find out what’s going on. As well as all the local gossip (which can be a good or a bad thing!), you’ll be able to get a better feel for what’s happening in your new home town. Once you start integrating into the community, you’ll find that you feel more settled.
4. Adorn the walls
Nothing makes a property feel quite as anonymous and unlived in as bare walls. Don’t delay in getting those family photos and much-loved pieces of artwork up on the walls. Even if you plan to decorate or renovate, some familiar frames adorning the walls will immediately make things feel more homely.
5. Make memories
A happy home is usually one that’s filled with happy memories. From deep conversations to sill drunken laughs, whatever makes you happy and matters to you is all that counts.
Why not invite friends and family over for a barbecue or having a house warming party?
6. Know your neighbours
In years gone by there was often a much greater sense of community than is typical now, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make an effort to get to know your neighbours!
Neighbours can be great allies and often make fantastic friends too, so don’t be shy. Knock on your neighbours door and introduce yourself or better still, invite them over to yours for a brew!
7. Family fun
There’s no better way to get to know where you live than by heading out on foot and exploring! There are bound to be parks and other green spaces not too far away. You might also have hills to climb, monuments to visit and farm shops, all of which can be lovely places to spend a bit of time getting to know.
8. Get into a routine
Moving often means that your entire life is thrown out of whack and getting used to a new way of living can take some time. Routine is a great way to help you settle and is especially important for kids, so work to establish and stick to a new routine as soon as possible.
9. Personalise it
You’re probably going to want to stamp your mark on your new property as soon as possible. If you have a lot to do, like a major refurbishment of one or more rooms, now is a great time to start planning and prioritising.
If you’ve moved into a new build or a property that feels bland and neutral, start stamping your mark right away. It’s best to do this working methodically room by room, or just do whatever you feel like at the time!
From new rugs and soft furnishings to a feature wall and changing simple fixtures and fittings, when you’ve got the property feeling more like yours, it’ll soon feel more like home!
10. Increase the ambiance
Fresh flowers, candles, soft furnishings and other decorative pieces will help to make your new property feel more like home. Don’t underestimate the power of mood and task lighting or the simply cosy joy of a beautifully scented candle and a vase of flowers!
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