Buying your first property can be an exciting time. For many, it is the first time they have been able to put their stamp on a property and be in complete control of the décor and renovations. There’s nothing quite like picking up your property’s keys and stepping into your new home ready to be filled and decorated exactly as you want it.
It can take some time before a house can feel like your home, even after you’ve unpacked and put everything away. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways that you can make your house feel more like home. Here are some of our favourite ways!
Bring In Some Greenery
Plants add a splash of colour and instant cosiness to any room, as well as improving air quality. You could invest in some easy to grow herbs for the kitchen, such as basil, sage or mint. Not only will these fill your kitchen with a gorgeous, homely scent, but you can also use them in your cooking!
For the rest of the home, you can’t go wrong with ferns, succulents or evergreens. Typically, the more plants, the better – they go with any décor and generate a relaxing, stress-free environment. You can start small if you wish and add to your indoor plant collection over time.
Layer Up With Cushions And Throws
Pillows and throw blankets are excellent for adding layers to your home and giving it a comfortable, cosy look. You could invest in soft, warm throws for your sofa, particularly if it is made of leather. You could look for neutral colours and mix and match block colour throw blankets with patterned ones to create a unique mix. For the bedroom, you could invest in a fluffy throw for the end of the bed. Look for colours that complement your bedroom’s décor and go nicely with your bed sheets and linens.
You could invest in soft, cosy cushions of all sizes to put where they will give the most comfort. For instance, place a number of pillows on your sofa, chairs and bed. Look for cushions and cushion cases of varying sizes and styles to give your home character.
Give The Front Door A Fresh Coat Of Paint
The front door is the first thing people see of your home, so you could put your stamp on it to make it feel more like home. Consider choosing a unique or vibrant colour and update the hardware at the same time. It is good to be cautious if choosing a particularly bright colour to ensure that you don’t annoy the neighbours!
Find Unique Rugs
Rugs can bring the house’s décor together and provide a warm and comfortable place to put your feet if you have hardwood flooring. Area rugs give you plenty of space to relax and designate different parts of the house. In addition, floor runners are a great and stylish way of keeping your carpet and hardwood floors protected from everyday wear and tear.
Start Building An Art Collection
Building up an art collection can be a fantastic way to make your house feel like a home. You could start by getting to know local artists’ work by visiting art galleries. Take sometime to enjoy the paintings on offer and learn what kind of art speaks to you.
You could also use Etsy to find handmade artwork and prints, and there are plenty of online shops dedicated to selling art. Building an art collection can also be a great way to start a tradition of family heirlooms to pass down to your children.
Create Your Dream Bathroom
No home is complete without the perfect bathroom. Many people tear out the previous bathroom when moving to a new home to be replaced with something more suited to their tastes. You could consider going one step further and creating the bathroom of your dreams.
You will need a trustworthy, reliable plumber for any work that impacts your home’s water system. You could do some research and find an accredited plumber that offers real value for money. Check out these plumbers for new homeowners for an idea of the quality and service you should look for. GK Plumbers are plumbers in Milton Keynes who specialise in fitting and maintaining all your bathroom plumbing needs.
Make Memories
An excellent way to make your home feel more like your own is to live in it. You should consider having friends and family over to show them your new place and start making memories. For instance, you could throw a dinner party, host a barbeque or invite people for a movie night.
A housewarming party is a great way to kick things off when moving house. You could consider having a number of close friends and family over to show off your new place.
Get Creative In The Kitchen
Scent can have a significant impact on our mood. It can also trigger strong memories and help you settle in quickly to new environments. One of the easiest ways to fill a house with familiar scents is by cooking some of your favourite dishes. You should consider getting the ingredients for fragrant foods like roast chicken with sage and garlic.
You could also put your baking skills to work and bake up some fresh cookies, cakes and biscuits to create the perfect homely atmosphere.
Keep Your Fridge Full
As soon as you set up your fridge-freezer in your new home, you could start filling it with the staples, so you have plenty to eat in the first weeks in your new home. This will also help you with opportunities to explore your new local area and community by checking out the local shops.
You should pick up all the things you will need for the first week in your home ASAP. Having milk on hand for tea, bread and butter for toast, and a few of your favourite snacks can go a long way to making you feel at home in your new property.
Invest In A Big TV
Now that you’re on the property ladder, you should invest in the right things to fill your house with. Getting a new widescreen TV can be the perfect way to treat yourself when you move in. You can also use this to watch some of your favourite films and TV shows to help you start to feel genuinely at home.
Display Photos Of You And Your Loved Ones
Filling your home with pictures of you and your loved ones is a great way to make it feel more familiar and homier. You could go through your old Facebook pictures and pick out a selection that includes different major life events, holidays and selfies with your close friends and family. Once you have had these printed, you could frame them and dot them around your house, so there is always a smiling, familiar face wherever you go.
You could also splurge a little more and get canvas prints of some of your favourite photos. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the pictures will need to be of good enough resolution for larger canvases; otherwise, they will end up looking pixilated.
Use Cosy Lighting
Lighting can make a massive difference to the feel of a room. You could look into getting warmer bulbs to give your home a cosy glow. Avoid cool, bright lighting for the bedroom and living room as these will make the space feel clinical and impersonal. Highlight bookcases or artwork with novelty lights or neon lights from Neon Filter.
You could invest in dimmer light switches that will make the perfect ambience for movie nights, date nights and cosy winter evenings.
Consider A Pet
Pets can make all the difference in turning a house into a home. Unfortunately, many renters find it difficult to find a landlord who will agree to let them have a pet, so you could take advantage of being a homeowner and finally get a pet. Cats, dogs and rabbits are all excellent pets for domestic homes and will go a long way to making your home feel lived in.
You should always put careful consideration in before adopting a pet. You should be sure you are getting a pet for the right reasons and that you have the time and money to dedicate to caring for an animal for the long term.
Light Candles
Candles are excellent for creating a cosy environment. It would be best to put candles in places where children and pets can’t reach them to prevent potential fire hazards. You could find some new scented candles or choose old favourite scents that will fill your home with a beautiful, comforting aroma. Lavender, sage and chamomile are all excellent for promoting calm and relaxation.
Get To Know Your Neighbours
When moving to a new area, it can be intimidating to try and meet new people. You could consider knocking on your neighbours’ doors to introduce yourself – and maybe even bring some of your fresh-baked cookies along!
You could also get involved with local community activities like volunteering for a local charity or wildlife reserve. Becoming an active part of the community can be an excellent way to feel truly at home in your new property.
Make A Space For Your Hobbies
As a homeowner, you have complete control of how you use each room. If you have a hobby that takes up a lot of space or requires specialist equipment, you could consider converting one of the rooms of your house into a hobby room. For instance, you could turn a box room into the perfect reading nook by investing in some inbuilt bookcases to display your books and an oversized comfy chair by the window to read from.
Keep It Clean
Taking pride in your home’s appearance is essential for any homeowner. A house is the largest purchase most of us will ever make, so keeping it in good condition is crucial for creating a peaceful home environment and protecting your investment.
It would help if you took time every week to go throughout the house and do a quick clean – dusting, vacuuming and tackling any stains or damage. You could also do more infrequent deep cleans to keep your home looking and smelling amazing.
Part of what can make a home truly a house is the feeling of being lived in, so try not to sweat the little things too much. It may help to aim to keep the place looking good without making it look sterile and unlived-in.
Prepare Your Garden For Summer
If your house has a garden, you should consider ways to make it the perfect hangout spot for summer. It may help to install a patio or deck where you can sit out on warm summers days. Take a look at different options for garden furniture based on what you will get the most use out of. For instance, consider a table and chairs set if you plan to eat meals outdoors or sun loungers for sunbathing.
You could also invest in your own barbeque to bring the smells of summer to your back garden. You should put a barbeque close to the house for convenience but away from the walls of your home for safety.
Create A Home Bar
You could invest in your own drinks cabinet and stock it up to create the perfect home minibar. Consider investing in some of your favourite drinks and mixers so you can delight your guests with your at-home bar. You could even go one step further and buy a wine cooler or beer fridge to keep your favourite beverages chilled.
Final Thoughts
Homeownership is an exciting rite of passage for many younger people. It is also a significant adjustment to your lives, so it is essential to give yourself time to settle in. You can do plenty of things to make your house feel more like a home, so you should try out a few of the methods above, as well as doing what feels good for you specifically.
If the idea of transforming your entire house at once is daunting, then you could instead go room by room and assess what you need to do to make it feel more like home.
