The average individual will move at least 11 times in their life. Each time you pick up your belongings and transition to a new place to live, you leave home behind and have to make the new house feel just as comfortable.
While much of settling in involves time spent at the new address, a few simple things may help your new house feel much more like your home quicker.
1. Display Family Photos
Psychology tells us that the mind uses human faces for more than just recognition. We are comforted by familiar faces, so the quicker you get your new place filled with family photos, the quicker you feel that home comfort is settling in. Make a point to display your family photos in the areas of the house where you spend the most time, but also where the familiar faces will be visible soon after you wake in the morning.
2. Cook a Meal
Just like familiar faces, food also provides comfort. Consider how you feel the very first time you eat at a friend’s house, but then think about how you feel if that friend serves a dish or drink that tastes like what you would have at home. The familiar flavors and aromatics can instantly give you a sense of comfort, and the same thing can apply to your new place. Within the first few days, try your best to prepare a meal—make it a family favorite or something you have cooked often.
3. Invite Your Extended Family and Friends Over
Sometimes, it can be challenging to look at a place like home when no one you know has ever visited. If possible, call a few friends or a few extended family members and invite them over. “House-warming” gatherings fill your new home with the people you love and can infuse love and positive feelings, more like home.
4. Make a Memory
When you consider what it is about an old home you miss, you will likely recall the memories that happened there. For example, maybe you loved the house because that is where you lived when your child was born, where you had so many family holidays, or where you had the best summer barbecues with friends. A study by IKEA found that memories are vital in making a place feel like home, so make an effort to create a few memories right away in your new place. Host a cookout or have a water balloon fight with the kids in the backyard. Perhaps even just plan a special movie night with your significant other.
5. Inject Familiarity with Focal Points
Every home has focal points, even if those focal points in the house are as simple as a window or a large wall. These points naturally attract your line of sight when you walk into a room. To make the place feel more comfortable, do something to make those focal points look more familiar. For example, if you have a large wall in your family room, try arranging wall decor similar to an arrangement you had at the old place.
Work with Professional Movers to Make the Transition as Painless as Possible
Moving is not always easy. Leaving a house you call home for another can bring along some stress for sure. To make the transition a little less burdensome, reach out to professional movers to help you through the process. Contact us for a quote today.