Simple Ways to Make Your New House Feel Like Home

Moving into a new home for the first time can feel overwhelming, and it’s common for it to take a few weeks before your new surroundings truly feel like your own. However, with a few simple strategies, you can speed up the process and start feeling at home much sooner.

Add Texture for Instant Warmth 

A new home can sometimes feel sterile, especially in modern, unfurnished buildings designed with simplicity in mind. These spaces often feature clean lines and neutral tones, intentionally creating a blank canvas for new residents. While this minimalist backdrop offers great flexibility, it can also feel cold or impersonal without the right touches. New-build homes often feature clean, neutral finishes — providing the ideal blank canvas to begin layering in colour, texture, and personality.

The easiest way to add warmth and style to an empty space is through the right soft furnishings. Wool throws, linen curtains, and velvet cushions can all help create a sense of depth and cosiness, and the same goes for jute rugs.

Generally speaking, natural materials such as timber and stone tend to offer a greater sense of tactility than processed alternatives like plaster, plastic, and porcelain. These natural elements can help introduce a feeling of history and character, even into spaces that were only constructed a few months ago.

Personalise with Meaningful Décor 

Ideally, the décor you choose should evoke a sense of belonging each time you pass by. This is where paintings and personal photographs can be particularly powerful. Hang them on your walls, especially along staircases, to create visual interest. You can also fill your shelves with the keepsakes you’ve brought back from holidays or that you’ve been gifted by your loved ones. Over time, these items can build a sense of nostalgia and help you associate your home with happy memories. Of course, this benefit needs to be balanced against the risk of cluttering the space.

Incorporate Ambient Lighting 

The right artificial lighting can make a space feel warmer, cosier, and more atmospheric. By contrast, poor lighting can leave it feeling cold, sterile, and unwelcoming. Layer light from multiple sources, positioned at different heights, to fill up the space. Use dimmable bulbs to adapt the lighting and set different moods for different times of day. For example, if you know you’ll be working in your office for a few hours each afternoon, you can programme a series of smart bulbs to brighten the space during those hours, before dimming them when you're winding down for the evening.

Embrace Colour to Set the Tone 

In many new-build homes, the standard wall colour is magnolia or another shade of off-white. While this provides a versatile starting point, you can add plenty of personality by painting the walls to suit your own tastes. An accent wall in a bold colour, or a striking wallpaper design, can also serve as an eye-catching focal point.

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