Settling into a new home takes time, but your first week can make a big difference in how comfortable and grounded you feel. With all the unpacking and trying to adjust to a new routine, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. With the following advice, you can use the first week in your new home to build comfort, foster a sense of belonging, and make your new house cozy.
How can I make my new house feel like home within the first seven days?
Set the tone for the week by starting with a clear plan. Focus on the essential areas of the home you use every day rather than spreading your energy across all the rooms. This makes your home feel functional quickly while helping build an emotional connection to the new space.
We recommend starting with the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen – core spaces where you spend most of your time. Getting these spaces set up first will go a long way toward helping you feel comfortable and providing stability in your everyday life.
Tip: Focus on your comfort zones first to create places to relax and unwind as you unpack.
What should I prioritize during the first week in a new home?
Start with an unpacking strategy that minimizes stress. Don’t tackle everything at once. Instead, open boxes in order of importance to avoid feeling overwhelmed during the first week and to help you organize your new space efficiently.
Giving the new space a good, deep clean before or while you unpack can also help you feel more comfortable. Many people find that cleaning boosts their mood and reinforces the emotional benefits of creating order. Refreshing surfaces and airing out rooms to remove odors in a new house support a cleaner, calmer environment.
Tip: Prepare a “first-week essentials” box with bedding, towels, basic cookware, toiletries, and chargers for easy access.
What are some quick decorating tips to make a new house feel cozy?
Adding personal touches is a quick and easy way to make your new home feel more like home. Family photo displays, a cozy color palette, and soft, layered rugs help create warmth in a new house and create an immediate sense of familiarity and comfort.
Use quick home styling tips such as placing throw blankets on seating, adding pillows for softness, or arranging a few favorite décor pieces in key rooms. You’d be surprised how even small touches, like new lamps, a few houseplants, or DIY home décor ideas, can make the space feel more inviting (without breaking your budget).
Tip: Choose a few simple décor items that carry personal meaning so the space feels more “you” right away.
How scents and lighting help a new house feel like home
Scents and lighting have a greater effect in a home than you might realize. A familiar scent from a candle or diffuser can have a real impact in making you feel comfortable in your new space. It’s important to remove any unwanted odors in the home before you bring in your favorite scents, so open the windows to air the place out first.
Lighting is just as important. Harsh overhead lighting can make the space feel cold and uninviting. Swap in soft bulbs and add table lamps and accent lighting to create warmth and depth, and make your new home cozy and welcoming to unwind in after long days of unpacking.
Tip: Pick a scent you already associate with home and use it in your main living area on the first night.
Should I unpack everything in the first week?
You don’t have to unpack everything right away. Taking all of that on in the first week can add to your stress and make the process much less manageable. Organize and group items by room and purpose, focusing on the things that make your daily life easier (kitchen basics, clothes, bathroom items). You can organize the most essential areas thoughtfully and make them usable right away, making your daily life easier as you move on to other items later. Storage, nonessential décor, and off-season items can stay in boxes while you take the time to live in your new space and decide exactly how you want things to be set up.
Tip: Don’t burn yourself out! Set achievable daily unpacking goals to maintain your momentum.
Can furniture placement make my new house feel more inviting?
Furniture arrangement definitely affects how inviting your home feels. First, start with the big pieces, like your couch, bed, or dining table. Set those items in place, then build around them, adding your accent pieces and other décor after considering how you will move through the room. Don’t forget to think about natural lighting and sight lines in the room; you’ll want your spaces to feel open and functional.
Also, think about ways to create designated relaxation, entertainment, or work zones in your new home. You can use lighting, area rugs, and other furniture pieces to strategically define those areas and transform them into inviting, personalized spaces.
Tip: Use painter’s tape to map out furniture layout before arranging heavy items.
Settling in with confidence
It will take time to make a new house feel like home, but taking the right steps during the first week can go a long way to making your transition smoother and more enjoyable. By focusing on comfort zones, lighting, scents, personal touches, and thoughtful furniture placement, you can make your new house feel warm, inviting, and uniquely yours.