HOW TO MAKE YOUR NEW HOUSE A HOME.

It is possible to cultivate a sense of warmth and comfort in a new place you just moved into, whether you're a homeowner or tenant. Often that feeling of newness, much like living in someone else's place, lingers longer than what one desires. Here are a few tips to make your house a home.

• Unpack and discard the moving boxes as soon as possible. It's very hard to get that comfortable feeling of home whilst empty boxes linger in your new space.
• Making the beds using familiar linen and duvets should be first on the to-do list when moving day finally arrives. In a recent study, they found that 65% of the respondents rated having their own familiar sheets as the highest priority to feel at home in a new space.
• Share a meal. Stock up your fridge with everyone's most loved food. Cooking in a new kitchen for the first time could be daunting so choose something uncomplicated that appeals to all family members, or simply share a pizza with favourite toppings at your new kitchen nook.
• Display things that you hold dear, for most people their childhood house stands out as the epitome of what home really is. To replicate the feeling of love, cosiness, and safety, display items that remind you of your childhood home. Take out your child's favourite toys or blanket, as they exude warming energy and comfort upon sight - this will also help to put them at ease.
• Add a soft touch! Put a super soft throw blanket on the couch that will allow family members to snuggle up or just get comfy. A plush cushion on the old recliner chair will immediately make you feel calmer and increase relaxation.
• Hang some paintings or framed prints and display your children's drawings. Just looking at art reduces stress and makes one happy, at the same time hanging art in your new place will instill your individual personality and capture that feeling of home.
• Let the light shine in. Be sure to open the curtains during the day and let the sun fill the rooms with warmth. Few things are more depressing than a room with insufficient light. At night, the brightness of the day should be replaced by soft yellow light, fairy lights, lamps, and the soft glow of aromatic candles.
• Fresh is fabulous! What spells out home better than a bowl of fresh fruit on the table? Add fruit that is bright in colour: oranges, bananas, green and red apples, and don't forget that pineapple for great texture too.
• Flowers, plants and foliage everywhere! A pot with colourful seasonal flowers at the front door is welcoming and resonates Home. Add a pot plant or two on the patio for good measure. A big vase with freshly cut flowers on the dining room table is just what you need to lift your spirit! Oh yes! And don't forget to display an array of fresh herbs in pretty jars on the windowsill in the kitchen!
• Don't throw out the 'Old Stuff'. Bring along that favourite old sofa, that cock-eyed side-table that was your dad's first try at woodwork, and some family photos to add gentle familiarity and soothing comfort. Old memories will help to get you settled but be ready to start making new memories in this new place you now call "Home".

When it comes to seeking inspiration to make your house more homely simply trust your gut and forget about browsing websites. You know well enough what gives you that warm-belly feeling and also what your family members hold most dear. It is simply a combination of some favourite pieces along with your personal touches that will make your house a home.