We’ve moved into a new house, I know I’ve mentioned it a time or two, but I’ve been surprised at what it takes to make a house feel like home. Obviously a lot of it is time, those first few nights there you’re still waking up wondering where you are, but even after that passes and it starts to feel like home, you notice that certain things are missing. It’s a layering process, and it’s been interesting to learn. So here are somethings I’ve noticed help make a house feel more like a home:

• Rugs, blankets, and textiles galore: One of the big things I knew I wanted but couldn’t get for a few weeks was a rug for our living space. The room felt incomplete without it, because with an open floor plan, there was nothing defining the space. I didn’t think getting a rug would make it feel more like home, but it did. It did so because it made it feel finished, sure, but also because it added a layer of personality and comfort. There was something softer about the space that made you feel more relaxed once it dampened the echo and gave your bare feet a break. I also picked the rug, so it felt like me, and that helped it feel like my home. I think pillows and blankets can do the same thing. Things that bring us comfort help make a room feel cozy. They’re important.
• Bring personal items front and center: It’s easy to want to buy all new stuff for a space, most of us can’t afford that, so we like to decorate with the new stuff. Decorative items are cheaper than new furniture so it’s easy to replace them and change them out, but a lot of our decorative items from the past help make our place feel like our own. I’m not saying not to buy new, I’m just saying to put those personal items in the front and use the new stuff to fill in. The amount of people I see run off to Hobby Lobby and come back with all their house decorations is startling. There is nothing wrong with pieces from chain stores, but you need to make sure you have your memories mixed in.

• Personal Pictures: On the same note, you need to make sure you get some pictures printed. Both older and newer pictures are important. They make the house feel like it’s holding more than your stuff but also your memories.
• Clutter: I’m not telling you to keep a messy house. One of the exciting things about moving is you can find a place for all the things that were homeless before the move. Also new houses have all kind of space that your old one didn’t. One of the reasons we love the house we got is because of the storage! I don’t mean clutter in the bad sense, perhaps it’s even the wrong word, but having stuff, knick-knacks, an extra blanket folded at the end of the bed, dog toys that aren’t tucked away. Those kind of things shouldn’t be avoided. They shouldn’t be feared. They help make your house feel lived in, they make your house a home. Put all the things you can away, but don’t feel like you need to put every single thing out of sight. Empty tables hardly feel homey.
• Paint: Listen, I know that white walls are still in. I also know that every Instagram account seems to be doing an accent wall of wall paper or black. It’s fine if you want to follow trends. Trends are trendy for a reason, they’re fun! But picking out paint that matches your personality makes a house feel more like you, which makes it feel more like home. White might make your room look brighter, but it can also make your room cold and impersonal. Don’t be afraid to put your touch on the walls, it’ll keep you happy until you can get up artwork (it normally takes a little time to collect)