The word ‘house’ has such a formality to it, don’t you think? But just how do you shave off the ‘u’ and the ‘s’ and add an ‘m’ to make a home? Hmmm, that doesn’t quite work on paper. Let’s start again…
In the wise words of American author Laura Ingalls Wilder, ‘’Home is the nicest word there is’’, and after our earlier aversion to the term ‘house’, we couldn’t agree more.
Your home is a place of safety, security and sanity, a place to retreat in search of comfort and calm. But if you’re still in the midst of that often drawn out moving in process, it can often take a frustratingly long time to turn your new place into somewhere you truly feel comfortable.
As the Canadian poet Margaret Atwood rather eloquently put it, ‘’A home filled with nothing but yourself. It’s heavy, that lightness. It’s crushing, that emptiness’’.
We’re here today to consider how to fill your new place with a sense of domesticity, welcome and warmth, and all in the fastest way possible. With that in mind, if you’ve just moved in, here are 5 quick ways to make your new house feel like home.
PRIORITISE CHILD OR PET PROOFING
If you have neither, then advance to the next subheading…
But as the Scottish proverb (man, we’re going to town on the quotes today) goes, ‘’A house without a dog, a cat, or a little child is a house without joy or laughter’’.
Let’s face it; homes that were previously uninhabited by babies, children, or pets are not usually optimised with their safety and security in mind. And why would they be? That would be a little strange.
As such, before you hang up any paintings or spray your favourite aroma around, it’s first essential that you child or pet proof your property. Because the very definition of home is a happy, safe family, right?
Take stock of your new place with a meticulous eye, and consider what baby-proofing changes are needed in the main living areas. Some of the key considerations include:
- Anchoring your TV to a wall and tying back all electrical chords
- Installing fireplace screens should you have a fireplace
- Put safety covers on all electrical sockets
- Install baby gates at the top and bottom of the stairs
- Remove all blinds with looped chords
- Remove any tall, wobbly lamps and any other precariously placed objects
When considering pet proofing, you might need gates fitted over open doorways. Or, if you prefer to keep an eye on a younger dog or puppy, then additional internal doorways will require additional dog fences to prevent them from wandering off. This will also be useful if some rooms are out-of-bounds due to home improvement work.
GIVE YOUR NEW PLACE A DEEP CLEAN
Giving your home a deep, comprehensive clean before you even start unpacking fully is a surefire way to help you settle in quickly and get acquainted with every nook and cranny of your new home. To freshen up the property and reset it for new occupation, there’s nothing quite like giving your new house a good scrub from top-to-bottom to make it feel like your own. And, ultimately, like home.
Washing off the aroma and residue of previous residents will probably require a fair amount of elbow grease, and let’s face it, that ‘end of tenancy’ clean that the previous landlord or homeowner arranged rarely feels all that comprehensive.
There’s something symbolic about washing away the memories of all occupants who have come before you with your own hands, allowing you to start fresh in your new space and create your own sense of home. Check out our 10 professional home cleaning hacks for some great pointers on doing just that.
You could, of course, arrange a professional house clean if you’re looking to truly ‘reset’ after the previous tenants. As the team at Maid Easy (geddit?) caution, not all cleaning companies were created equal – remember that less than comprehensive one from two paragraphs back? – so it’s best to scrutinise online reviews and ideally use a referral agency to ensure you’re getting the best service possible.
AROMATHERAPY
Speaking of lingering aromas, every house has its own distinctive smell; some inviting, some less so. You might be able to detect the previous occupant’s farewell meal, or the scent of chemical products used in the end-of-tenancy clean? And you don’t want that.
Well, to evoke a welcoming atmosphere in your new home and put your own personal stamp on the place, make sure you channel the energy of aromatherapy and take control of your new home’s distinctive scent at the earliest available opportunity.
Of course, this thing’s subjective, but many consider the aroma of lavender or chamomile to be particularly evocative of a peaceful space. Alternatively, the guys at Entrepreneur also suggest lemon, jasmine or rosemary to be particularly soothing in times of emotional stress. And what could be more stressful than unpacking loads of boxes, hey?
That said, it’s important you find an aroma which reflects your sense of individuality, whether that’s incense, the smell of freshly baked bread or even of freshly done laundry, which you can now buy in diffuser form. Over time, your home will develop its own unique scent, but before that happens naturally, amping up aromatherapy and optimising your olfactory sense can help you gain that inner calm.
SORT OUT THE PLASTER AHEAD OF PAINTING
The preferences of the previous homeowner where colour scheme is concerned may well not match your own, and that’s fine; we’d all ideally love to move in to a new property with a blank canvas to work with, wall-wise.
Before you repaint thoroughly, it’s essential that you consider the plastering in your new home. The plaster on interior walls should provide a flat, smooth surface for several layers of paint to be added, ensuring your chosen fresh coat is rich and durable.
As Ornadec, expert plasterers in Edinburgh, tell us, it’s not possible to paint directly over problems like bad plastering, and doing so may even accentuate the bumpy finish below. They say that a simple plastering job will ‘’get your ceiling and walls looking smooth and flat again, ready for painting’’ and this certainly shouldn’t be an overlooked part of the process.
So, before you rush in with rollers and brushes in hand, it’s vital you first sort out the plaster.
FOCUS ON THE BEDROOM FIRST
That first sleep in your new home is hugely symbolic, whatever the state of the property and your progress in unpacking. You don’t want to be tumbling into your bed surrounded by dusty boxes, that’s for sure. Instead, it pays to make a little effort in the bedroom, to set the tone for the happy domestic years to come (we’re still talking about moving in here, guys).
Read: 7 ways to feng shui your bedroom
Endeavour to create a calming atmosphere in the bedroom as a matter of priority, by setting up your bed with fresh sheets and pillows and minimising the clutter in here for your first night.
Bring in your bedside table and lamp, add your softest rug, and if you’re still up to it, you may want to do a little decorating. Nope, we’re not suggesting getting the walls painted, but perhaps hang a photo to make yourself feel at home. Light some candles, plug in a speaker, and picture life here in a favourable light. Then, the likelihood of a restful night’s sleep is improved.
THE BOTTOM LINE
No more proverbs, we promise. Rather, we’ll leave you with the words of Elvis Presley, that ‘home is where the heart is’. What a lovely sentiment that is.
Flipping the timeline on its head somewhat, if you haven’t actually moved quite yet and you’re trying to get all of your life admin in order, then here are 5 ways to prepare for moving house.