Tips for Turning Your New House into a Home

Moving to a new house can be daunting. Even after the keys are yours and you’ve got your boxes inside, you might still feel like a stranger living in someone else’s place. It just doesn’t quite feel like yours.

Fortunately, you don’t have to live like this forever. With some time and effort, you can turn your house into a home.

Display Art and Photos

Rather than stare at bare walls, take some time to hang up your favorite art pieces and photographs. Simply looking at these items can help to boost happiness and reduce stress. If you have several pieces of art and don’t want to inundate your walls, choose a few pieces, and then switch them out every few months to keep things looking fresh.

Brighten the Space

When your house is dark, it can feel almost like a cave. You may feel engulfed in a small space. Open up your blinds and bring in as much daylight as possible. Studies have shown that natural light improves mood and boosts productivity. Not only that, but it makes your house feel more welcoming.

If you don’t have many windows (or you’re in an area that doesn’t get a lot of light), make sure that your existing light fixtures emit light reminiscent of natural sunlight. Not enough light fixtures? Add some table or floor lamps to brighten up each room. Consider dimmers to adjust the strength of the lighting depending upon the time or your mood.

Personalize Different Areas

If your house had a previous owner (or you didn’t have a say in the construction), certain elements might not match your tastes. For instance, you may love the kitchen setup, but the cabinet and pantry doors aren’t to your liking.

The house is yours now. As such, it should reflect your preferences, not those of the last owner. Add some of your own touches. Paint an accent wall, change some fixtures, or install glass pantry doors. Personalizing your house will help it to feel like it truly belongs to you.

Bring Some Green Indoors

Plants, like art, can boost your mood. Some even help to purify the air. They also add life to your house, making it feel cozier and more inviting. If you have a garden, collect some flowers and place them in different areas inside. Alternatively, you can pick up some houseplants from a local garden center.

Make it Comfy

While you brought your favorite furniture (or purchased new pieces), how much do you really feel like settling down on them and relaxing? To make these pieces feel more comfortable, add some throw pillows, and toss a warm blanket over the back of your sofa. The more comfortable your furniture, the more likely you are to want to snuggle up there.

Fill the Air with Pleasant Scents

Take some inspiration from a place designed to help people feel comfortable and relaxed: the spa. Purchase some candles or an essential oil diffuser and fill your house with pleasant smells. To help you unwind at the end of the day, consider using scents such as:

• Lavender
• Jasmine
• Lemon
• Vanilla
• Rose
• Sandalwood

Don’t forget about homey smells during the holidays. Pumpkin spice, cinnamon bun, sugar cookie, and gingerbread scented cookies can make your house feel like your back home with your family.

Adopt a Pet

If you’re looking to bring more love into your house, there’s no better way to do that than adopt a canine or feline (or another animal) companion. While taking on a new pet can be a lot of responsibility, the love and affection you get in return are worth every ounce of effort. If you have room in your house (and your heart), think about adopting an animal from your local shelter.

Your house should be more than a place where you rest your head at night. It should be somewhere that you enjoy being in and love coming back to every day. With these tips, you can transform your new residence into a comfortable, wonderful home.