3 Ways To Make Your New House Feel Like a Home

This month JAM Organizing presents another informative article from a guest blogger. Enjoy!

---

​Life change of any kind can cause stress, and moving is no exception. It can take over a year to adjust to new surroundings, which may sound daunting when you're only on week one in your unknown environment. Experts provide tips such as unpacking ASAP, exploring your new abode, and spending as much time there as possible, but there are also other ways to settle into your new home that require little effort — help lies ahead. 

1. ​Tackle Home Maintenance Tasks to Save Cash

If you moved into a home that's in tip-top shape, congratulations —  but in reality,  it's not uncommon to find some issues in your new home that are robbing you of cash. When making a to-do list, consider the following tasks: 

• Ensure the insulation in your attic is adequate.
• Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Install ceiling fans where you can to save on cooling and heating costs.
• Wrap exposed pipes with insulation.
• Install a programmable thermostat.
• Replace your air filters.
• Hang an outdoor clothesline — or get a rack.
• Check toilets and under-sink plumbing for leaks.
• Install LED or CFL light bulbs.
• Consider energy efficient appliances if your budget allows. 

2.​Repurpose Old Items

​If you're like most people, you don't have a budget to invest in new furniture for each room. With that in mind, repurpose old items in a creative way so that they fit into your new surroundings without looking out of place. For example, turn an old twin bed into a chic daybed, use attractive dishes and platters as wall decor, turn an old desk into a mail-sorting table or bar cart, or reuse architectural elements (think shutters and windows) as decorative displays for photographs. If you’re having difficulty thinking outside the box, there are plenty of DIY projects available online to give you some inspiration and get you started.

3.​Decorate on the Cheap 

It's likely that some of your old decor won't fit into your new abode, yet it can be costly to spruce up each room at once. Before investing a lot of cash into new items, see if you can work with what you've got, whether that means repainting picture frames or stripping a piece of furniture to improve its appearance. Houseplants are another easy and relatively inexpensive way to bring life into a room while bettering air quality.
 
If you absolutely must make some purchases, there are additional ways to save money, such as scouring sales at stores like Target, opting for Crate and Barrel coupons or even checking out discount sites like Overstock.com. The money you save on these purchases can stay in your bank account or go toward your next home maintenance project — genius! Also, remember that one man's trash is another man's treasure, so scour Craigslist and second-hand shops regularly to see if there's something that can fit into your home without breaking the bank.

​While it's easy to get caught up with the stress of the move and checking off everything on your to-do list, don't forget to take time to celebrate this new chapter in your life. Since the kitchen is often the center of the home, put some effort into getting that space in shape first. This way, you can gather everyone around for a good home-cooked meal while pausing to reconnect with one another. Some other easy ideas include hosting an open house (when you're ready) to get to know your neighbors), having a housewarming party with family and existing friends, and simply taking time to unwind in your new surroundings. 

---

Thanks to Natalie Jones from HomeOwnerBliss for this month's guest article!

Happy Organizing!

Would you like to live a more organized life? Contact us today to get started!