Here’s How to Make Your New House Feel Like Home

When moving to a new home, it can be hard to feel truly relaxed and comfortable. It’s a new place with new surroundings, minus your familiar creature comforts. However, there are some early steps you can take to help make your house feel like home. These include adding your own décor touches, inviting loved ones to enjoy it with you, and filling your new living space with sights and smells from your previous home.

Get Organized!

The step to making your new house feel homier is to get organized. Don’t worry too much about ideal placement—you can move things around later. It’s more important to have a clean palette so you can start developing ideas and create a vision for your new home. Start with the stuff in carboard boxes so you’ll have more room to move around: 

1. Unpack dishes, pots, pans etc. and set up the kitchen to be functional 

2. Put all hanging clothes away in closets 

3. Unpack toiletries and personal care items and put them in the bathroom 

4. Set up bedroom furniture and put away the rest of the family’s clothes 

5. Put jackets, hats etc. in the hall closet 

6. Fill the utility closet with linens and related items 

7. Move couches, chairs, tables etc. into place (this can be temporary) 

8. Set up your entertainment centre 

9. Sit back, relax, and let design and décor ideas come to you

Display Your Favourite Things

Having some of your favourite artwork, photos, and other décor items is one way to immediately give your new home a cozy and familiar feel. Here are some ideas: 

• Place favourite paintings around your home to enjoy until you decide where and how to hang them 

• Put family photos and other special mementos where you can see them 

• Use fridge magnets to display your kids’ artwork from school 

• Place pillows, throws, and other cozy favourites around your new living spaces

Make it Smell Beautiful

It’s hard to not feel at home when your house is filled with familiar scents: 

• Light some candles or set up an aromatherapy diffuser with one of your favourite scents 

• Cook up your favourite dinner to fill your house with the smells of delicious food 

• Use an air freshener to add scents to your rooms 

• Stock your bathroom with your favourite hand soaps and lotions

Make & Bake Homemade Meals

Nothing says “cozy home” like a hot, homemade meal. A few ways to make it easier: 

• Unpack a few cooking essentials right away such as pots, utensils, and dinnerware 

• Plan what you want to cook on your first night in your new home 

• Choose one your favourite meals that will make you feel comfortable and relaxed 

• If possible, enjoy the meal in your new home with a loved one

Add Some Houseplants

Adding greenery and house plants will improve the air quality and help turn your new house into a comfy home: 

• Place small plant pots on windowsills in the kitchen for herbs 

• Add a large planter to anchor the décor of a room 

• Use plant hangers to display flowers along the porch or patio 

• Place flowers in vases on various tables around your home

Host a Casual Dinner

Opening your new house to friends and family is a great way to establish a cozy home. You don’t have to wait for the first holiday to host a dinner party: 

• Invite a few friends or family members 

• Add candles and other décor accents to enhance the ambience 

• Make a simple dinner comprised of comfort foods 

• Relax and make new memories in your new home

Set Up Your Entertainment Centre

Having a relaxed and beautiful place to watch TV and listen to music is a great way to make your home feel cozier: 

• Make sure your cords and cables are the right gauge and length for your new setup 

• Use cord concealers to make everything look neat and tidy 

• Install a dimmer switch to set different moods 

• Add an area rug to warm up the room

Paint it Pretty

Many homes are painted neutral colours before being sold. Add some colour to infuse it with your own personality: 

• Choose paint colours that match the tone you want set for each room 

• Consider what different rooms will be used for and pick your colours accordingly 

• Go for colours that reflect your style or make you feel good vs. what’s trendy 

• Make sure you have all the painting supplies you’ll need in advance

Change the Window Treatments

Upgrade your window treatments for a comfy home that reflects your style: 

• Remove dated or generic windows treatments 

• Hang drapes or curtains to coordinate the theme of your décor 

• Update your blinds to energy saving models or more fashionable options Replace window treatment hardware for more attractive features

Add Personal Décor Touches

Adding a few home décor touches will give your new home a dose of personality in a quick and cost-effective way: 

• Place décor items on mantles, tables, and shelves Add comfy throw pillows, blankets, and other soft features 

• Choose lighting that adds ambience to different rooms 

• Use functional décor items such as coasters, table linens, mirrors, and wall clocks to make your home more livable

Upgrade the Hardware

One area many people ignore when trying to create a cozy home is the hardware. Changing it up can add an instant update:

• Update the handles and locksets on your doors 

• Update the knobs and drawer pulls on your kitchen and bathroom cabinets 

• Swap out old faucets and shower heads with new and more luxurious options

Clean from Top to Bottom

Having a home that is clean and tidy is crucial for making it feel more relaxing and comfortable! 

• Give surfaces a once over by wiping them down with soap and water 

• Clean your floors to remove dirt while adding a fresh scent 

• Clean your carpets and upholstery to get rid of any musty moving odours 

• Replace the furnace filters because you won’t know how old they are

Moving into a new house is exciting, but also a bit daunting. Adding some familiar elements and personal touches will soon make your new house feel like a home.