When you first move into your new house, you will likely think that there is something missing. Sure, it’s the shell of what you want from your new home, but it’s not yet the home you’ve dreamt of.
Of course, when you really think about it, no house will feel warm and homely from the off. So what could you do to make this house into your home?
Add plants & flowers
It is amazing the difference that flowers & plants can make to a house. If you have never been interested in such things before, now is a great time to think about them and if you are lucky enough to have a garden then you might want to start there. Planting flowers and other plants in your garden is a wonderful way to make it look presentable and fresh.
Inside your property, you could buy some house plants and put flowers in vases. When you are at work all day it can make a big difference to come back and find a home full of life, which will also help purify the air in your house.
Make it as comfortable as possible
The more comfortable your house is, the more likely you are to be happy there and see it as a real home. If your furnishing budget isn’t that big just try to concentrate on one room at a time. If you end up biting off more than you can chew then you could end up with low quality furnishings which don’t make you feel completely at home. A better move is to make each room exactly how you want it before moving on to the next. It will take longer, but you should be a lot happier with the finished look.
Naturally, start with the rooms where you spend the largest amount of time – the lounge, kitchen and master bedroom are always good places to begin.
Use the outdoor space
If you do have an outdoor space then it could play a big part in helping you feel right at home. The first step would be to think about what you would like to use it for. Would you get more out of a lovely seating area or a barbeque area?
By making good use of this space it will give you a great feeling come summer time and become an attractive place to spend time enjoying the sun. You could even convert your garden shed and turn it into a unique living space. Personalising your garden will be a worthwhile step to turning your house into a home.
Make it warm and cosy
You will feel far more at home in a warm house than in a cold one. For this very reason, one of the first steps you should take is to make it as cosy as possible.
Do you need to fit thicker curtains? Should you spend a bit extra to secure a beautiful fireplace and make this a living room feature?
Consider also the Government’s Green Deal and ECO schemes, both could secure you cavity and / or loft insulation either by offsetting against your reduced energy bills or at no cost at all. Initial assessments are completely free, so it is an option well worth exploring.
Consider also some cost-effective solutions you can implement immediately; storage heaters, for example, are a great way to create that cosy feeling without breaking the bank.
Create special memories
Finally, the most important point of all is that you need to make as many good memories as possible. This obviously means different things to each of us. Maybe this is the property which you are going to start your family in and see your children grow up. Perhaps you want to fill your house with laughter by holding dinner parties with your friends on a regular basis. Or you might just want to make it a home where you curl up next to the fire with a good book.
By making it suitable for your needs and enjoying it to the full, you can be sure to make special memories. When you can look round and remember happy times, then it is truly a home.