With all the stress of the move and the planning that goes into it, it can be hard to find the motivation to set up a new home the way you really want it. However, with some simple tasks and a bit of enthusiasm, it is possible to craft a living space that truly reflects who you are. From choosing a design aesthetic to adding some greenery, here are some stress-busting ideas.
Don’t Bring Clutter with You
A new home is a chance to leave your baggage behind and clutter from your past will get in the way of your vision for a redesign and literally be in the way of you physically. However, leaving it all behind will make it easier on the packing and moving service you use and potentially saves some money while freeing you up to focus on the next chapter in life. Of course, sentimental items will come with you, but do you really need those dust-catching knick-knacks?
Set Up a New Home with a Design Aesthetic
Studies into home-moving experiences have found that most people take around 2.5 years to fully personalise their homes. When moving in, you don’t need to get straight to every room, but the main living space is a great start, where you can settle on a design aesthetic for the house:
- Carefully consider the design styles that appeal to you, such as minimalist or rustic.
- Find inspiration from your own wardrobe or browse social media for design ideas.
- Visualise how your space will appear using mood boards and digital design apps.
Add the Things You Love
Of course, you will be bringing quite a bit of stuff with you, and hopefully, it is mostly the things you love with minimal clutter. One of the most powerful ways to instantly reflect your personality in a new home is with the items you adore and bring you joy. Being with items such as artwork, family heirlooms and hobby accessories such as your guitar, makes settling in all the more enjoyable, and can help set the tone for ensuring the space around you feels more authentic.
Don’t be Shy with Colours
One of the first things most people do when creating their perfect space is change the colour scheme. It is surprising how big a difference a fresh coat of paint or wallpaper can make to a space, including feeling like you own it. The idea with colour is to ensure you use contrasting colours that complement each other. Most designers use neutrals with the occasional splash of vibrance for accents that help features stand out and help express your feelings in the space.
Set Up a New Home with Meaning
A survey of recent home movers in the UK found that 43% experienced sadness and even grief during the transition. There are a few ways to make your new home feel like yours, such as bringing sentimental items that will help you get through the first few weeks with ease.
Display story items
Most people have story items that they collect over the years, such as souvenirs from holidays. Adding these to a space will add a personal touch that helps you feel settled in a new place.
Add personality with photos
It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t have photographs of friends, family and pets. These are a time-honoured way of adding much-needed personality and sentimentality to a new space.
Don’t forget your hobbies
Moving can be a stressful time, and you might need to unwind. Your favourite hobbies will help your cares melt away, and you can even designate a new space in the home for your pastimes.
Divide Functional Zones
Spaces with function are what make a house a home as they provide room to grow, relax and parent. However, rooms can be overly cluttered or unappealingly sparse, and either one will cause a negative response to the space. So what can you do? Dividing large spaces into zones (if you are open-plan) and designating rooms for specific things can help a home feel much more inviting and lived in, such as a reading nook under the stairs or gaming in the living room.
Layer Lighting and Space Texture
Layering is becoming a popular trend in modern interior design because it helps appeal to you on an emotional level through the senses. A layered approach to your home will provide it with an air of authenticity that you may not have felt before. Lighting plays a key role here, and layered lighting with lamps, LEDs and area spots can add a sense of depth to a space. Combined with candles, natural fabrics and aromas, you have a homely ambience to enjoy.
Grab Some Plants to Set Up a New Home
Plants are very popular as a traditional decoration in homes all over the world, with around 66% of homes adorned with greenery. Bringing the outside inside can breathe a bit of life into a space, especially if it hasn’t yet been decorated, with some added wellness benefits:
- Being around plants has been proven to reduce stress and lower anxiety.
- Plants such as spider plants act as natural indoor air filters for a fresher home.
- Some people also report a reduction in headaches and fatigue when around plants.
Take Your Time to Enjoy It
You might want to get everything done straight away, but it can take some time to settle after moving into a new house. When you want to start fresh in a new home, it helps to take your time and enjoy every detail of making the changes that help reflect your personality. For example, don’t panic and decorate every room right away. It will be better to live in the space for a while to get a feel for what design choices will fit the space the best, with intentional design choices.
Summary
It will help to leave items behind that are considered clutter when you want to set up a new home after moving. To help reflect your personality, by all means, bring story items such as photographs, and take your time to design each space with intentional design decisions.
