How to Make Your New House Feel Like Home
So, the last box is finally unpacked, and you’re officially all moved in! While you’re probably brimming over with excitement, it can still take a little while for your new house to feel like home.
Luckily, there are a few clever design tricks you can use to speed up the process of making your new house feel more homely – and most of them are inexpensive and take no time at all.
Personalise your new home and make it more inviting by putting cherished pieces on display, such as family photos, collectibles, souvenirs from your travels, and your favourite, snuggly soft furnishings.
Add personal touches
If you’re scratching your head and asking yourself What makes a house a home? Simple answer – you.
Surrounding yourself with things that have special meaning to you, whether it’s your favourite family photos, a quirky hat collection, that snuggly throw you love curling up in on the sofa after dinner, will instantly make your home feel more personal and homely.
Display smaller décor pieces on side tables, shelves, built-in joinery or your mantelpiece, and hang photos and art on walls.
Art is a no-fail way to add colour and vibrancy to your new home, and you don’t have to spend a fortune – frame a poster or print, or scour op shops for eye-catching bargains.
Hang art
However beautiful your home may be, acres of bare walls are bound to make it feel stark. The solution? Adorn your walls with art sooner rather than later in order to bring colour, vibrancy and personality into your new abode.
Concerned about how to make a house a home on a budget? Don’t be. Art doesn’t have to be expensive to make an impact. Scour thrift shops for second-hand bargains, frame a funky poster or print, or even give the kids’ school creations a glow-up by mounting them in decent frames and hanging them in an eye-catching spot.
Tip: Not sure where you want to hang your art collection just yet? Don’t rush it. Simply prop pieces on shelves, cabinets and sideboards for now, so you can enjoy their beauty until you decide what should go where.
Feature walls are where it’s at in 2024 – here are five ideas to try.
Warm lighting will turn your new house into a cosy haven, enveloping every corner with a comforting glow. Install lights at different heights for a gentle, layered effect.
Light it right
When considering how to make a house feel like home, never underestimate the power of good lighting.
A layered scheme that includes lights at different heights – think floor and table lamps, wall lights, and a statement pendant or two over your kitchen island or dining table – will transform your communal spaces, making them feel cosy and relaxing.
Colour temperature matters here too. Bulbs that emit a warm, yellow tone will create a homelier feel than cool white bulbs.
Interested to know about the latest pendant light trends of 2024? Don’t miss this blog.
From snuggly throws and sheer linen curtains to thick pile rugs you can sink your toes into, there’s no shortage of ways you can use texture to soften your living spaces.
Introduce softness
Adding a few textural soft furnishings to your living spaces will dial up the cosiness factor in a flash. Spruce up your sofas with comfortable throws, add a woven cushion to an accent chair, or lay a soft rug under your coffee table for instant warmth. And remember – these pieces don’t have to be expensive. You’ll find plenty of on-trend options at great prices at chain stores like Kmart and Target.
And don’t forget your windows. Soften their hard lines by adding sheer linen curtains that gently filter the light and add another layer of texture to the space.
Surrounding yourself with lush greenery in the form of indoor plants helps draw nature inside, making your new home feel relaxed and inviting. You’ll find plenty of varieties at your local nursery or hardware store.
Bring in nature
Indoor plants not only add life and energy to your abode, but provide that all-important connection to nature, which is known to make us feel happier and more relaxed – a big win if your new home still feels a little unfamiliar!
Pop into your local nursery or hardware store and pick up a few potted plants in various sizes that you can arrange in different ways throughout your new home, such as a string of pearls cascading down shelves, a trio of little succulents on the coffee table, and a large statement plant, like an umbrella tree, to jazz up a dull corner.
Not blessed with a green thumb? Check out our blog on 10 of the easiest plants to care for.
Turn your new bedroom into an inviting sanctuary by dressing your bed with beautiful bedlinen, and topping it with some pretty scatter cushions and a cosy blanket or throw.
Dress your bed
Splashing out on a new set of bedlinen is a luxury that won’t blow the budget, and it’s guaranteed to make your new bedroom feel more special.
When you move in, treat yourself to some beautiful-quality bedding in colours and patterns you love. Make your bed even more inviting by topping it with some lovely scatter cushions, and laying an extra blanket or throw for the end of the bed.
Tip: If you have young children, it’s a good idea to prioritise setting up their bedrooms, including making their beds, when you first move in. It will help them maintain their usual evening routine and, with a bit of luck, will mean that everyone gets a good night’s sleep!
Need a little decorating inspo? A visit to our beautifully designed display homes will fire up your design thinking. They’re located right across Melbourne and open all weekend long, so make a time to pop in.