If you’ve recently moved into a property, your new environment may still feel somewhat cheerless and uninviting. While many of us relish decorating a new home, creating a warm and welcoming space for the whole family to enjoy, others may feel a little lost – particularly if home decor isn’t your forte. Despite how many home interior magazines you read or how many Pinterest boards you pour over, making your house feel like a home can still be challenging. 

If you’re struggling to bond with your property, consider the following tips for making it feel cosy and lived-in. 

Declutter And Spring Clean

The quickest and easiest way to give your home an instant makeover is to declutter and give it a good old-fashioned spring cleaning. If you’ve just completed the long, arduous moving process, chances are your house is littered with boxes, bags and surplus clutter. Clutter and mess are notorious for exacerbating stress, anxiety and even depression, so do your mental well-being a favour by selling and donating unwanted items. The relief you will feel once your home is clean and clutter-free is unmatched. 

Add Personal Touches

Home decor is an excellent way to express your creativity and individuality. Adding personal touches gives you a sense of belonging and connection with your home by creating a space that reflects you as an individual. Consider displaying family photographs, children’s artwork and other sentimental items like completed craft projects. Furthermore, your home provides an opportunity to display items relating to things you are passionate about, such as framed band posters and houseplants. 

Hang Pictures

You can display artwork, photographs and wall hangings in multiple ways to match your desired aesthetic. For example, if you’ve embraced minimalism, multiple pictures on every wall would have the opposite effect. Instead, you could create a gallery wall or choose a small selection of favourite pieces to act as focal points. Display your favourite photos and works of art at eye level in main rooms or transition areas, such as above your living room mantlepiece or over your staircase.

Get A Pet

It may seem drastic, but many people don’t consider a house a home until there is a furry resident. Of course, getting a pet for the sole purpose of making your house more homely would be a peculiar thing to do; however, if you’ve been looking for an excuse to throw caution to the wind and adopt a cat or dog, here it is. Pets provide companionship and unconditional love, and several studies have shown that interacting and bonding with animals decreases the body’s cortisol levels and lowers blood pressure. 

Include Natural Textures

Natural textures around the home are excellent for adding what designers call “visual weight” while maintaining a cosy, pleasant environment. Create a rustic yet elegant living space with elements such as wood, stone, wool and wicker – all enduringly popular materials that will never become outmoded. Furthermore, many natural textures are environmentally sustainable. Items like oak kitchen tables and hardwood desks sourced from sustainably managed forests are more durable and considerably kinder to the planet when compared to cheap particle-board furniture.

Reconsider Your Lighting

If there is one factor notorious for making your home feel clinical and overwhelming, it’s harsh overhead lighting. The difference in ambience when you switch off or dim the “big light” is astonishing. Consider the Danish concept of Hygge – according to Hygge, the best way to create a warm and cosy atmosphere is with soft, overlapping pools of light from floor, table and wall lamps, and of course, plenty of candles. That said, ensure you practise fire safety – never leave candles unattended, and always place them on stable, heat-resistant surfaces. 

Rearrange The Furniture

It’s surprising how different a room can look once you rearrange the furniture. You may have placed your furniture in a hurry when moving in; however, once you get a chance, it could be worth reconsidering the placement of your sofas, coffee tables and armchairs. Avoid placing seating flush against the wall, as this creates an awkward open space and, surprisingly, does not make a room appear larger. Instead, pull your furniture away from the wall to make your living areas appear more intimate and inviting.