4 Ways to Make Your House Feel Like a Home

Whenever I move to a new place, it’s hard to settle in. I spend the first few days or weeks adjusting to the space, and in that time it’s hard not to feel like a stranger in my own home. It’s especially difficult to feel at home in a place that’s recently been lived in by someone else. Because of this, I’ve developed a few ways to make my house feel more like a home.

Of course, no one is the same, and “home” can mean different things for different people. What I think of when I say “home” is a sanctuary. Somewhere you want to be after a long day at work. Somewhere you feel like you can be yourself. Somewhere that feels safe, where you can retreat to for shelter from the literal and figurative storms of life.

So how can you make a place feel more like that? Here are a few tips that have worked for me.

1. Unpack Everything

And I do mean everything. It’s hard to feel settled when you’re still pulling tomorrow’s outfit out of a suitcase or rummaging through endless boxes for something you need. Getting things organized will help you settle in more quickly and reduce stress.

I prefer to start with the kitchen. Being able to find what you need to make a decent meal will help you feel energized and able to face the other tasks of moving in. Eating regular meals after a move is essential to reducing anxiety and exhaustion. Once you’ve got the kitchen in place, move on to unpacking the bedroom so you can get a good night’s sleep.

2. Decorate

I once moved into a college apartment halfway through the semester. There were already other tenants living there, and they’d decorated the living room with colorful lights, art, and plants on the windowsill. It was much easier for me to feel at home in that apartment because of how it was decorated. Blank walls can make a room feel empty or even prison-like, but a few simple decorations can make a space feel much more comfortable.

Hang up art that speaks to you, especially if it’s from your childhood or is associated with good memories. Studies show that art can affect our emotional wellbeing and can lift our spirits. Getting plants and flowers for your house can also improve your mood and give your house extra color and life.

3. Make it Smell Nice

Smell is a unique sense because our brains process scent through memory and emotions. Because it’s linked so closely to nostalgia, the right smell can remind you of home and thus make your house feel more like home. Lighting a candle or baking a fresh batch of cookies can get your house smelling like home in no time.

You can also use an aromatherapy diffuser to help your home smell fresh. Plus, as Young Living Essential Oils founder D. Gary Young learned in his lifetime of research, essential oils offer emotional and physical health benefits. So you can get your house smelling great while you also feel more relaxed and rejuvenated.

4. Host a Housewarming Party

After moving in to a new place, I like to have friends and family over to help me “break in” the new space. Hosting a get together at your house can give you a sense of ownership. Being together with people you love adds a sense of familiarity to a new place and helps you relax.

A housewarming party is also nice because it forces you to get things clean and organized. Just make sure you don’t take on too much work, you don’t want to add stress onto yourself after an already hectic move. You don’t have to invite a ton of people, just enough to help you celebrate your move and to help you adjust.

Hopefully one or more of these tips can help you make your new place a sanctuary. It might not be easy to organize, decorate, clean, or share your new house, but once you do, you’ll be able to feel more comfortable. Soon, your new house will feel like home.