So you might have just bought a house—you got your finances in order, looked at all those different home mortgage loans, got approved and finally chose a home to buy. Maybe you did this before the wedding, or right after, but regardless buying your first home is a major milestone in most people’s lives. It marks a transition in life. However, when you walk into your new house, it may not yet feel quite like home. Here are some tips for helping you make it so:
Personalize Your Walls
The walls in your home need to reflect the people living inside its walls. Personalize your home’s walls with things you love. Family and friends are a good place to start with decorating. Pick out several of your favorite pictures and have them framed. You can even forgo framing and use other creative methods if you wish to shake it up. If you want something a bit more modern and trendy, consider a custom name sign for you and your spouse.
Thematic decorations are other options for personalizing your walls. If you love to spend time at the beach, consider adding seaside themed items on one of your walls. A sun-bleached piece of driftwood or shells set in shadow boxes is a good place to start. Don’t forget practical considerations like hooks for coats or keys. None of this has to be too extravagant, hitting up some thrift shops and consignment stores can help get you a start, and can help foster some creativity and experimentation with decor. Make sure to check out your local small businesses; you’ll be able to find truly unique pieces at truly amazing prices.
Decorate with His and Hers
Your home needs to reflect everyone in your home. Decorating for his and her is one way to make this happen. Wherever there is a feminine accent add a masculine one.
Start out with a limited color palette. Fewer colors make it easier to mix and match accessories. A neutral base filled with different textures is another option. If the man in the house prefers leather furniture, it is easy to add an upholstered chair in a feminine fabric to coordinate with a leather couch. Balance floral prints with clean dark frames for a masculine touch. Each room should have a balance of both people in the relationship.
Go Furniture Shopping
If this is your first house, chances are that your last home was an apartment or condo. And if your last living space was an apartment or condo, chances are that you’re a little low on furnishings. Bare rooms can get in the way of making a house feel like home, so set aside some time to go furniture shopping. You don’t have to spend a ton of money. In fact, it’s better to buy strategically. What are the most important pieces for each room? What interior design theme do you want for your home? This isn’t supposed to be stressful, so relax and have fun with it.
Customize Your Kitchen Appliances
Now that you finally have the freedom to swap out appliances whenever you want, look into getting the ones that fit your particular style. Do you prefer an electric stove over a gas burning one? Want a french door style refrigerator instead of that old 2 door from the 1980s? The choices are yours to do with as you see fit. Whether your goal is ease and comfort, or becoming the next master chef, a house becomes a home once it is tailored to your needs.
Sometimes something to do is check your neighbors homes and what they have done. If you ever choose to sell, at least now you know what you have put into it and can sell it by yourself rather than pay realtor’s fees that can take away from your profit. These tips will help you to make that first house into a home you can enjoy for years to come. Make sure to check out our recipes to celebrate your new home in style!
