by Jami & Bob Zimmerman
Cheap Thrills Design & Remodel
We just moved. I’ve lived in the same house for the last eleven years. I had finally figured out the light switches, pool settings, and air conditioner zones when we set our sites on new digs. This is the house I brought my daughter home from the hospital and where I started my fabulous Cheap Thrills parties. The me I am today started in this house. Although I was nervous to move on....I was equally as excited to start fresh.
I’m sure most people who move feel the same way. Getting used to a new space takes time and putting your stamp on your new home is both exciting and overwhelming. Our new house is an awesome blank palatte. Now that the boxes have started clearing out, my mind is racing with new ideas....maybe too many. Although I believe in living in a space for a while before jumping off the cliff in new design directions, there are several things you can do to make the space feel personalized while you’re figuring it all out.
How do you take a new house and make it feel like home? Here are five easy ways to infuse your new space with your style and that “there’s no place like home” vibe.
1. A few of your favorite things- The easiest way to put your stamp on a new space is having pictures of family and friends surrounding you. The things that you typically pack up when you are trying to sell your home are the very things that will bring your new home to life. Set up the picture frame with your parents in it, the family on the beach, and of you and your best friend at your wedding. Seeing the people you love in your new space will instantly warm things up.
Hang your child’s artwork up and place that ceramic vase they made in kindergarten on the shelves. Dig out your favorite books and start placing your favorite finds. Having these items out will make you feel like you're truly at home.
2. Get fresh throw pillows and throws- Throw pillows take a beating, and if you live with pets, kids or a boy, they are sure to show some wear and tear. These are quick and easy to change while you’re deciding which sofa works best in your new living room. It’s also a great way to play around with new colors.
3. Furniture- A new house will never feel like home if you don't have enough furniture to fill the rooms. A room that doesn't have enough furniture doesn't feel cozy and warm. If moving expenses put a damper on the new furnishings budget, consider shopping resale shops. You will be amazed at the level of quality that resale shops have these days. Also, start small by adding a few small items like side tables and lamps.
4. Hang Something- Bare walls can be a buzz kill. When we first moved in, I loved the blank slate. After a few days, they were bugging me big time. My favorite “art” is a 1950‘s refrigerator door that I use to hang my children’s artwork. Bob got so tired of me asking him where that door would hang while we looked at new houses.
Nail holes can be patched so hanging artwork can be a great way to plant your flag in the new home. Add some color to those beige walls and admire your finds from over the years. I have fallen back in love with some wall decor that I absolutely despised in my old house (I have strong feelings about decor). They feel new on new walls.
5. Smells like Home- I think the best way to make a house feel like a home is to cook dinner. We’ve been eating take-out and meals graciously brought by friends (I could get used to this) for the last week while we searched for forks and pans. We finally sat down for our first family dinner last night and smell of Bob’s world famous fried chicken filled the air. I instantly felt like home. You could also light a candle of vanilla, sugared oranges, lemons, limes, exotic mountain greens or whatever reminds you of home. Let the house fill with the intoxicating scent of familiarity!
Making the change from boxes to House Beautiful is a process and taking the time to get to know your new house is a good idea. No one likes to feel like they are living in a stranger’s house. There is such satisfaction in finding just the right piece of artwork for over the fireplace or the perfect new chair but sometimes you just have to get started making a new house a home and figuring out the light switches.
Jami & Bob Zimmerman are the owners of Cheap Thrills Design & Remodel. Jami's interior design and Bob's custom carpentry have been rocking Southlake's design world since 2001. For more information, visit Cheap Thrills Design & Remodel.
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