We all know change is good. That’s why an average American redecorates their house every five years. About 70% of American households get their interiors redecorated, and 40% of people decide to redecorate the exterior, too. So knowing how to make an apartment feel like home will come quite in handy if you’re in the process of redecorating, and especially if you just moved in.
Whether you just moved to a new house and want to redecorate, or you’re simply tired of the same old living room or bedroom, getting everything renovated will pay off. Every once in a while, it’s good to introduce some changes – just how often depends on your lifestyle and needs. For example, you’ll have to find a home to rent or buy when moving to a new state. Not all places will have everything you want, but you still need a place to live, right? So here are some super easy ways to decorate your space and make it your own.
Since you don’t actually own the place, you probably don’t want to invest too much money in making bigger changes. That’s completely understandable – you have to pay rent every month. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love the house you’re living in.
No, it’s not all about the money, but if you just moved, that means you had to book a reliable USA moving and auto transport company, right? Having an efficient move isn’t the easiest thing to do, and having professional help is worth every penny. So, just like you made a relocation budget for all the services needed and managed to save money to move, you should create a decorating budget. That way, you’ll have a clearer picture of how to make an apartment homey and how much money you’ll need to do so.
Once you decide where to live and find the right spot, create a checklist of things you think it would be great to do with the condo. Of course, you should contact your landlord first and get their approval (in writing, if possible).
Most certainly, one of the first things to do after the move is cleaning. Before you dive into decorating your new house, ensure every little surface and corner is clean. Get some rags, and the scrubbing can begin. Not only will you feel like it’s an entirely different flat, but all that cleaning can help you beat the relocation depression (we all know how challenging and stressful organizing the move can be).
Having a stress-free move takes a lot of energy and planning. However, if you do everything to ease the anxiety about moving out on time, you shouldn’t worry about things that come after the move. You’ll be more than ready to do everything it takes to have a safe space for living.
Unpacking after the move can actually help you realize there is still some unnecessary stuff left, even if you downsized for the move. The best way to decide what to get rid of is to go box-by-box or room-by-room and discard everything that will just create clutter (the unwanted stuff that is in a good shape you can donate to Goodwill). Not only will it make the process easier, but the whole space will look much bigger. And if you need some guidance for decluttering, watch the video below for some super interesting ways to do it.
Another super cheap way of making your space warmer and getting the most out of it is the walls. If you’re living in a rented home, check your lease or discuss it with the landlord and if there’s a go-ahead, the only thing remaining is to choose the color for the walls.
Most landlords will give you the green light because they’ll get a free wall refreshment, and you can choose whatever color you love. Also, painting the walls will be a fun and interesting thing to do. If you’re relocating to another state alone, you can invite some friends to help you.
Coat the walls with your favorite color and let the fun begin. However, if you’re more comfortable having a white wall, know it’s totally OK. Not only will it freshen up the space, but you’ll always have more ways to combine other stuff. For example, you won’t have to worry about how a green sofa will blend in the whole place.
Incorporating wood means making the condo or house instantly warmer. Yes, wooden pieces can be bulky, and sometimes it’s hard to find a perfect corner for them, especially when moving from a house to a condo. But if you lost that much time on preparing that china cabinet for the move, it would be a pity not to put it somewhere in your new place.
You can feel cozy in your residence with many types of wooden elements, such as a hardwood floor, wooden dresser, or even smaller items – bowls, trays, or candle holders.
If you want to add some extra charm and warmth to your place, get some rugs. Luckily, nowadays there are so many options:
Buying new furniture could be a big shock for your budget. Instead of spending a bunch of money on furniture sets that you don’t even need, why not buy a single piece? Don’t worry about the colors too much – it will be fun matching and mixing styles and shades.
In fact, there’s no better way to give your apartment life than with antique or vintage pieces combined with all those modern and minimalist pieces. The old and the new will blend so nicely, and you’ll get a living space that you’ll love. These vintage pieces don’t necessarily have to be family heirlooms. You can check for second-hand and thrift ones on Craigslist.
If you need to add an instant cozy vibe to any room, the fastest, most effective way is with pillow covers and throw blankets. You’ll easily change the look and style by simply changing the covers. You can always store them in a nice vintage basket if you don’t like seeing them draped over the sofa all the time.
One of the biggest moving mistakes is not knowing who to notify and forgetting to transfer utilities before the move. It can happen because there are many tasks to be done, and you need to prepare for the movers, too. However, it’s essential to have the utilities turned on in your future residence and have them turned off in the old one. Don’t wait to understand the importance of this task once you arrive at your future destination and realize there’s no electricity nor water.
Once you avoid this unpleasant situation, you can plan how to give your condo a homey look. It’s often neglected, but the right lighting will add an instant ambiance to the rooms. Try using your favorite lamp more and think about the bulbs you’re using – the best solution would be bulbs with a lower wattage.
Scent is strongly connected with memory. So if you want to recall some of your favorite memories, you can use scented candles or sprays. They will have your rooms smelling and feeling like the memories you love and cherish.
There are many reasons why people move. Some of them are good, and some of them are not. But in both cases, there’s an adjustment period after the move that most of us go through. Luckily, you can do many things to ease it, and one of them is surely putting out all the sentimental items in your residence.
All those photographs of loved ones should be framed and pointed out. Or other sentimental items you got as heirloom – mirrors, blankets, and similar stuff. Find a spot for each one that will instantly draw attention to them.
Why hang pictures high up on the wall when they can be at eye level? Not only will it give an instant feeling of warmth, but all of your guests, including you, will have a chance to enjoy the pieces. Your eyes and mind will be thankful.
After these seven tips we mentioned above, you probably think there’s nothing more to do that will make your apartment homier. However, here’s a list of more stuff you should consider doing to have the perfect cozy nest:
Once you decide it’s time to move, the first thing to do is to find a reliable moving company that will take care of all services needed. From efficiently packing to open trailer auto transport or even an enclosed trailer. Don’t let anything stand in your way of making your life better. Bring your favorite stuff that you’ll love even more once it all blends in with your cozy new space. Answering the question How can I make my home feel like home has never been easier.
