It may be your first, second, or even third home, but you’ve finally found it. Unpacking, decorating, adjusting, mending, and rearranging take up a lot of time in the first few months of ownership. While you are in your new home, it doesn’t feel quite like home yet. Is it because you made a poor location choice or does it normally take some time for a place to feel like home?
Before your new place truly feels like home, it could take a few weeks or months. Your motives for moving will determine a lot. A new career, a growing family, a divorce, or the departure of children from the nest can all impact how you feel about a new home. Get cozy, cook a delicious dinner, and fill the air with familiar fragrances to help turn your place into a home.
You could still feel a little out of place in your new home, even when all the fixtures and fittings are in perfect working order. If you’re anxious about never fitting in at your new place, here are some words of encouragement and tips to help ease your mind.
What Makes A Place Feel Like Home?
No two people are likely to agree on the exact criteria that constitute a home. Everyone has their own unique idea of what “home” means. Having said that, most would agree that the physical building is less important than the people, places, and things that make a house a home.
Another factor that makes a place feel more like home is the presence of familiarity and comfort. When you enter a room, you have a perfect idea of what scents to anticipate. It’s that moment when you’ve mastered the layout of your home, down to the light switches and that stubborn kitchen drawer. Some people experience a sense of safety and security.
You may find it more challenging to settle into your new home if the neighborhood you’re relocating to is likewise unfamiliar. Not only are you getting to know your new home, but you’re also attempting to find the nearest grocery shop, make new friends, and understand your community better. In such a case, getting to know your neighborhood better may be the missing piece to making your new house a home.
How Long Does It Take To Feel At Home In A New House?
Feeling settled in to your new home could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, or even longer. A year or more later, some believe they still haven’t entirely settled in. Since everyone is unique and dealing with their own set of circumstances, it’s safe to say that the answer is subjective.
It may not take long for you to settle into your new house if you’re relocating within the same town and your family stays put. You will quickly become at home in your new location when you unpack, arrange some familiar possessions, and begin to understand its unique features.
But what if you’re relocating across state lines? Maybe you’re downsizing because you’re a couple and the kids are grown up. Losing a long-term relationship is a tough life change that you may be experiencing. Another possibility is that you’ve decided to expand your family and are in need of a larger home with more space.
Your new home isn’t the only thing you have to get used to; your new way of life is, too. The process of settling into your new home may take a few more months, if not longer, due to this extra novelty.
It can take more or less time for your new residence to feel like home depending on how you’re feeling about the relocation. If you were enthusiastic about the move and on board with it, you’ll probably feel at home faster than if you were resistant. It may take longer to settle into a new home if you had deep sentimental ties to your previous residence or if you loved your old house very much.
Tips To Make Your New House Feel Like Home
You probably aren’t feeling comfortable in your new place if you’re here reading this. There is no way to know for sure how long it might take, so you should focus on finding ways to make it happen faster. So, it’s time to learn some important steps that will help you feel like you’re at home, sweet home.
1. Prioritize Function And Personal Items
You might believe that everything would start to fall into place the moment you put everything away from the boxes. But many individuals begin in common spaces, such as the dining room, living room, or kitchen. They reason in this way because they want others to think they are well-organized if they pay them a visit.
You shouldn’t unpack all of the boxes right away, no matter how much you want to. Put your focus where it will do the most good: on the items that will simplify your life and ensure that your routine runs smoothly.
Take out your clothing and sort them into your closet. Gather your toiletries and cosmetics. Gather the primary cooking utensils. If you want to keep your life stress-free, you need your daily necessities to be easily accessible.
2. Bring Out Familiar Items First
Not only should you lay out the essentials for being functional, but also the things that bring you joy and familiarity. Maybe it’s a special vase or the warm throws you always have on hand. Adding some family photos can make a space feel more cozy.
Retrieve your cherished mug of coffee and your beloved children’s beloved playthings. Remove the soothing ticking sound from the mantle clock. When you see and hear these things you’re used to, it puts you at ease.
3. No need to decorate right away
You should put off decorating every inch of your new home until you’ve unpacked (putting function and familiarity first). When people move, they often start planning and decorating their new home according to their old one.
But your old home’s layout might not be a good fit for your new one. Perhaps your new digs won’t allow for some of your more extravagant decor ideas. Also, you might change your mind about the furniture you have or decide you want something new.
Consequently, take your time unpacking, settling in, and decorating. Once you have a better idea of what to retain and where to put it, then hang artwork and accessories.
4. Establish a Pattern You’re Used To
keeping to a schedule that suits you and makes your new place feel more like home. Finding your keys first thing in the morning or figuring out where you stashed the mail are the last things you need when you’re settling into a new place.
So, set up a command center where you can keep your keys, mail, and other essentials as soon as you move in. Maintaining order here should be as simple as it was at your previous residence, so bring your tried-and-true system with you.
5. Enhance Pleasant Aroma
There are a lot of unfamiliar scents in a new house. Paint, drywall, and similar aromas make it hard to forget this is a brand new facility, especially if it was renovated recently or is brand new. Open a bottle of wine, light some scented candles, use an oil diffuser, or, if you prefer, whip up a batch of handmade cookies.
6. Find Your Comfort Zone
Soft blankets, textured fabrics, and warm throw pillows make any room feel more inviting. Get everything out of storage, including the bed, the couch, and the cushions and rugs. With these items, your house becomes a home. A cozy rug is perfect for barefoot walking or snuggling up with a blanket for a night in front of the TV.
Pay close attention to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in your bedroom and family area. Choose your window coverings now so you can get them up as soon as possible. These plush materials soak up noise and reflections, which can leave a room feeling lifeless and frigid.
7. Make a Delicious Dinner
Everything is understood. You have recently purchased a home, which is among the most stressful things a person can do, and you are exhausted from unloading boxes all day long. It would be easy to just get pizza or takeout every night. Even if it means eating your handmade meal on the kitchen floor in a picnic manner, make an effort to do it.
Substitute a meal delivery service, such as Hello Fresh or Home Chef, for meal planning and cooking when you’re not in the mood. Planning, grocery shopping, and even most of the preparation are all taken care of by these companies. Make sure to choose the easy selections so that you can prepare any meals you get in around 20 minutes.
Final Thoughts On How Long Before A New House Feels Like Home
You shouldn’t give in to buyer’s remorse too soon if, after some time in your new home, you still don’t feel at home there. If you’re relocating because of a big life transition, it may take even longer for your new home to feel like home.
Keep to your regular schedule, unpack with a focus on functionality, and take your time with the decoration. Bring in comforting aromas, sights, and sounds, and cover yourself in cozy textiles and blankets to make your home more inviting.