It can take a while to get used to a new place when you move after a long time. Even after you’ve unpacked all your belongings and your kitchen is stocked with food, the feeling of comfort can still evade you for a long time.
Sometimes, this feeling of being in a place that’s not completely yours remains for months at a time, even when you have settled down and resumed your life. Sometimes, this feeling never really goes away.
The reason is that there is a significant difference between a place where you live and a place where you feel safe and comfortable. This feeling of aloofness from your surroundings typically persists in rental houses because it can get comfortable to get emotionally attached to a place where you know you’ll live temporarily.
If you asked us, we’d say that it is all your perception that determines a house from a home. Regardless of the environment, your neighborhood, or even your house’s style, there is a possibility of cultivating comfort and warmth in your home. For this reason, we will discuss how you can make your home feel more comfortable.
1. Clean, declutter, and organizeÂ
You must have been familiar with the saying that a clean house represents a clean mind. While it may sound absurd to you, especially if you’re not the most organized person on the planet, there is still some truth and logic behind the saying.
The logic is that clutter and mess in your house can build stress in your mind and body. If things are cluttering every nook and cranny of your home, you won’t have the place to add elements that can truly make you feel at home.
For this reason, we suggest you rent a self storage unit near your house or apartment and move everything you don’t need immediately there.
Declutter your house by sorting your things and decide what you want to donate, throw, or keep. Then move all the items you want to keep but don’t need immediately to a storage unit. This will give your home more breathing space and storage to organize the things you need.
2. Put up artworkÂ
If you hate feeling foreign in your home and want to warm up the place instantly, put up some artwork. Many interior designers testify that houses don’t feel homely because of walls that are bare of any artwork.
For this reason, you can put up your cherished artwork on the walls, and if there isn’t any, printed artwork in frames works just as well. However, keep in mind that your artwork should complement your interior and should be properly sized according to the space and size of the wall.
3. Display items that remind you of your childhoodÂ
One of the reasons why new places feel so alien is because everything is new, and there’s nothing present that can connect you to your memories. But for most of us, comfort is directly interlinked with memories of childhood and what it meant to live in a home full of family. Therefore, to recreate that sense of connection, place a few items of your childhood home in your new place.Â
Maybe it can be a few board games, a painting, some vase, or some piece of cutlery your grandma cherished. So whenever you see those things, they will exude a sense of comfort and warmth in you.
4. Add some throw blanketsÂ
Throw blankets have such a homely feeling that any place that includes them feels right at home. Therefore, ask your mother to knit you a throw blanket or find some quality throw blankets complimenting your furniture to keep them in your living room and bedroom.
A throw blanket at the back of your couch will add a nice decorative touch to your home and give you and others a sense of comfort when they visit your home.
5. Accentuate the fireplaceÂ
If your new house includes a fireplace, use it to your favor by making it the focal point of your room and decorating it with candles, vases, and other pieces. You don’t have to follow a decorative plan or style, as simply putting up a vase and a few family photos will do.
Apart from that, add a statement piece on top of the fireplace mantle by hanging a painting or mirror that compliments the size and shape of the fireplace. It will draw all the attention towards itself when you first walk in and give your home some personality.
6. Add fresh flowers or plantsÂ
Fresh flowers and plants not only add a touch of aesthetic to your home but also keep your home feeling fresh and homely. Hence, put up some flowers and indoor plants on the empty shelves and bare mantel to add an instant touch of greenery to your home.
The best part is that the plants you place in your homes will also purify the air and remove toxins.
You can keep large potted plants in the corners of the living room beside windows where they can get the sunlight and fresh air they need. And decorate the tabletops with an arrangement of fresh flowers or succulents.
7. Make the house smell goodÂ
Having fresh flowers in your home can spread pleasant smells around your house that feel homely. Coming home and inhaling good smells can give you an immediate sense of comfort that works wonders to ward off the negativity accumulated throughout the day.
Get scented candles or an essential oil diffuser to keep your home smelling good with your favorite smells to feel more comfortable and content in your home.
Conclusion
Your apartment or house deserves to be a place where you feel comfortable, safe, and loved. It deserves to be something more than a place where you come to sleep and shower. It should give you feelings of warmth and belonging. Therefore, no matter if you’re living in a dorm, a rental apartment, or a house, following the above tips can help you create a charismatic and homely atmosphere that can make you feel comfortable.
