Home & Gardens

Dealing With New Home Blues: 5 Strategies To Feel Better

people looking at a house

Moving into a new home is always a challenging experience. It never quite feels like yours, especially when you first arrive. Instead, it often seems like you’re in an alien place and it just doesn’t feel right. So, what can you do about it? Fortunately, quite a lot. In this post, we look at some strategies you can deploy to deal with new home blues and recover some of the happiness you felt at your old house. 

Invest More in Comforting Items

Start by putting more money into comforting items; things that make you feel better all by themselves. For example, add plush bedding, soft rugs or more pillows to your spaces. These little luxuries give your home what the Scandinavians call a “hygge” vibe. The home feels less harsh, encouraging you to enjoy it more. 

Be Patient

Another approach is to simply be patient. The longer you give yourself to familiarize your surroundings, the more homely they will feel. Unfortunately, this process takes time. It often requires several months to fully relax and feel like your home is a part of who you are. 

Accept this process and don’t judge it. Even if your property feels awkward when you first move in, understand that this process is normal and that it takes time to acclimatize to a new situation. 

Clean Up The Place

You can also try being more proactive by cleaning up the place and making it your own. The tidier and better-presented it is, the more likely it will feel like somewhere you want to stay. Start with the basics like pest control. Get rid of any insects or infestations in the home, and definitely make sure you can’t hear the pitter-patter of mice running under the floorboards. 

Then look at the high-impact, low-cost things you can do to improve the environment, such as painting the walls fresh or improving the exterior landscaping. These interventions are inexpensive but can have a profound impact on the overall appearance and feel of your property. 

Target One Room At A Time

Shifting your new property to a home that offers everything you want can take time. Therefore, many new movers tackle rooms in sequence, one at a time. The usual place to start is with the kitchen. Then, you can move onto more minor rooms, like the dining room and living space. 

When you tackle one room at a time, it stops the process from feeling overwhelming. Milestones feel more achievable. 

women having a conversation
Photo by Thirdman

Gradually Personalize Your Space

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you can focus on gradually personalizing your space. Making it your own over several weeks and months can stop it feeling so alien and make it more welcoming, as if it was the place you were supposed to live. For example, many people like to start by hanging up familiar artwork on the walls. This cheap and simple intervention is one of the easiest. You can also do things like add diffusers and nice scents. These warm your home and mask any unfamiliar smells.

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