From House to Home

by Rebecca Schaffer 03/18/2019

You stroll through the door of the house that you just selected to be your family's new residence. It appears to be an empty shell at the moment, but you can already picture your friends and family gathered for holiday festivities, your kids doing homework at the dinner table, or the uproar of laughter from family game night. Your new home will be a monumental place for new memories, but how can this empty shell of a house become the place that your loved ones call home?

Making it your own

Before you can truly enjoy your new place, you must make this place personalized for you and your family. The homeowners before you had their vision for what this house would be. It's your turn to do the same. Come up with a plan for each room and what it requires to make it feel like it's yours. Your plan may include things such as ripping out old carpet, tearing off wallpaper, or applying a fresh coat of paint. Little remodels like these can go a long way in helping you feel like you're truly home.

Fill the walls 

Moving can be such a daunting task in and of itself. Due to this most people delay decorating or personalizing their home until it's time to move on. The first thing you can do to create a comfortable place for your family is to fill your walls with decor as soon as possible. Once you finish sprucing up your walls, plan to complement them with stylish decor and pictures of your family. You'll love the difference it makes in the process of making your house feel more like home.

Add some greenery

Having a few plants in your living space can truly refresh a room. Plants can provide vivid colors that compliment your style, or add the presence of another living being. If you're not one to care for plants, add some low maintenance plants like succulents that will still survive if unattended for a few weeks. Even if you don't have a green thumb, a few fake plants will go undetected by guests.

Have people over

Having friends over is probably the last thing on your mind after moving into your new house. You don't want others to see your unpacked boxes shoved in the corner or your bare rooms still in need of furniture, but having people over will make your house feel more like home to you. Being in your new house can feel a bit like a vacation. To change this mindset, you should do life in your home as much as possible. Having friends and family over for dinner will help you feel like this space is truly your own.

Breaking in your new house doesn't have to be a year-long process. By setting aside a few weekends, you can feel at home in no time! If you're in need of ideas of how to spruce up your new place, talk to your realtor about finding an interior decorator to help with the process.

About the Author
Author

Rebecca Schaffer

I fell in love with Northeast Florida after a visit 10 years ago. My husband and I decided this was where we would move from the hectic pace of South Florida. As our son was about to transition to High School we made the move and haven't looked back. We quickly settled into the Saint Augustine area. It always amazes me how friendly and caring the people are in northeast Florida and it was a very quick process to make friends and get plugged in. As a real estate investor myself, I understand the experience and the needs one has when buying, selling and renting a home. It is one of life's biggest decisions. It is so helpful to have a realtor with knowledge and patience to provide the guidance one needs through the process. This is where I focus to provide my customers the best possible experience.