By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group
But the one thing that all people who move share is the desire to make the house more like your home. Those blank walls and empty rooms can feel spooky at first, and most people need time to get used to a new house before it starts to feel like home. While it may take you a few weeks to get used to the new walls and building sounds, we can help you settle in fast after your move and feel great in your new home with a few cleverly comforting tricks.
Our sense of smell is the most strongly connected to instincts and emotions. Memory is influenced by smell, which is why you can suddenly remember a childhood experience in response to a smell on the breeze. The same rule applies to feeling at home. One of the reasons you feel so strange after moving into a new house is because it doesn't smell like you and your stuff yet.
So, a great way to make the house feel more like home is to make it smell more like home. And we don't just mean bringing your dog…. although, the family pets definitely do help. Try baking something delicious and familiar in your new kitchen. Not only is this a great excuse to strategically unpack your kitchen gear. It will also fill the house with a tasty aroma that will make the whole place feel more like home.
Empty walls are another major trigger for feeling like a place is not quite home yet after you move. You're used to seeing your own pictures, statues, and curtains around the room and a lack of them reminds you that this place isn't really 'yours' yet. So, make it yours. Put up your favorite decorations as you unpack them. Use this opportunity to visualize how you want your new place to be decorated and make it even better than your last place.
This can become a fun scavenger-hunt activity, as you find decorations during unpacking. Allow yourself to get up, stretch, and decorate each time you find something that would be nice on the wall or should be displayed on a shelf.
There's no place more personal than your very own bed. Many people have trouble sleeping the first few nights in a new place because it's so unfamiliar. But part of that problem might be the sleeping bag, air mattress, or mattress on the floor that most of us wind up with on the first night in a new house.
So instead of putting it off, take the time to construct your bed. If you have hired professional movers, they will likely assembly your bed for you. Make your bed with your favorite sheets and your regular blanket and pillows, washed in the machine you used to have before moving. This will make your entire sleeping environment much more familiar. The sheets will feel and smell right. You'll be the right height off the floor. And you'll have a much easier time sleeping in the new house, despite the new building sounds and smells.
Some people are most bothered by the sense of emptiness in a new house. And not just the lack of wall decorations and constructed furniture. They need the comforting murmur and company of people to feel right in a new place. If you are one of these social butterflies, then don't deny your nature. To feel more at home in the first week, consider throwing yourself a little housewarming party. All you need is party music and a few pizzas.
As soon as you have a few chairs and cups available, go out and meet your neighbors. Invite them to come spend a few hours in your home and get to know you. Make it a potluck and you don't even have to worry about having your house fully set up. This is your best chance to start up new friendships with people nearby and brush away the 'cobweb' feel of an empty house in a new city.
Finally, don't forget your smart home stuff! Many people have at least a few lights or smart speakers around the house as useful gadgets. And if you do, these can be surprisingly fun to bring with you. Remind yourself to keep these packed on top and set your smart stuff up soon after arriving. Just being able to do the same things by talking to 'your house' will make you feel like you're in control and more at home in your new place.
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Here at A-1 Freeman Moving Group, we know all about the ups and downs of the moving experience. Some people get excited, some people get stressed, but everyone wants to feel at home at the end of a move. With these fun tips, you can feel at home faster by claiming the space and making the house truly yours. For more moving tips or to discuss your upcoming move, contact us today!
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