No matter how excited you are to move into your new place, your first few weeks will probably feel foreign and probably a little weird. Celebrating a birthday, planting a garden, or decorating for the holidays will help that “new-house feeling” fade, but waiting for a milestone requires a little too much patience. Here’s how you can feel settled and happy — even while you’re living among boxes.
1. Start where your daily habits do
Make it easy to get into your daily habits and start living well from the day you move in. Most people start unpacking the common spaces first, but try to focus efforts on your closet and bathroom too. Monday’s are hard enough without having to search for your toothbrush or favourite shirt.
2. Continue your regular routine
Whether it’s putting things in the same places or containers, taking your morning walk, or tucking the kids in with a favourite bedtime story, try to keep as many things in (or back in) the same routine as possible. Your routine shouldn’t have to change just because your location does.
3. Let the kids help out
If you’re moving with kids, pack all their important belongings together and allow them to help unpack and organise their new room. They can spend the afternoon unpacking all their toys and organising their collections. This will both help them adjust to the new place, feel ownership and control over the move and most importantly, they’ll be happy. And even if the rest of the house is a mess, that’s all that matters.
4. Get out the art and photos
Art and wall decorations are often the last things to go up, and also the easiest way to make your new place feel like home. Of course it makes sense to wait until everything else is unpacked and your new place is organised as you want it. But start by unpacking pieces and frames and lean them against walls, sideboards, and nightstands so I you can still enjoy them until you’ve decided where to install everything.
5. Recreate familiar sounds and sights
Simple things like a familiar clock on the wall or a collection of frames in the same arrangement will create a subtle familiarity to help you feel at home.
6. Unpack all your favourites
For instant coziness, light your favourite candles and play the music you love. If you have a favourite TV show you watch or Netflix go-to’s, make sure to make some time to watch them, read a book or whatever you love to do at home. Pull out all your favourite bedding, including pillows, duvets, sheets, and throws. There is nothing more comforting than sleeping in your old, cozy bed.
7. Home is having a home-cooked meal
To many, home is a homemade meal. Unpack the kitchen so you can cook one of your favourite meals to enjoy, or break in the kitchen stovetop or BBQ with a quality steak and favorite bottle of wine. The heat and the smells will ‘season’ your new place and it’ll smell and feel like home. Even if you’re living among boxes, eating a simple recipe on the floor; it’s worth it.
