When I first moved to Los Angeles, I was 18 years old, fresh out of high school. I kinda skipped the college thing... so I moved into a small apartment in Toluca Lake with my sister. I will never forget those first couple months, I felt so lost. I went from a life of structure and routine to the complete opposite. The only thing I really craved at that time was the feeling of home. I think mastering the art of making a home feel homier is something you learn with age. Everyone grew up differently, so this may not apply to you, but for me, I have three things I must have in a new home to make it feel like a house.
When I was an 18-year-old kid in LA, on my own, I had no clue how to make my small apartment feel like a home, so instead, I spent a lot of time cleaning and organizing. But nothing made it feel like home.
It took me a few years to really get the hang of this "house making" thing. But now, when I move, I feel like I have the few key essentials that will automatically help make whatever living situation I'm in feel like a home. A bunch of candles, a rug, and photos of family. Those are my three must-haves to warm up the place.
Now I know this is probably a little different for everyone, but for me, this works like a charm!
My favorite candles, when I'm feeling a little homesick, are the Homesick candles. I grew up in Denver, so I get the Colorado candle and it really does smell like the Rocky Mountains! Now, when I say I get a lot of candles they aren't all nice scented ones. I like them, because I feel like they warm up my house, so I'll get a bunch of big unscented ones for around the house and make one or two of the Homesick scented ones for the aroma.
A rug can be expensive and I know it's not a necessary purchase but for me, it makes all the difference in making my house feel homier. A rug will automatically warm up your house. Heres a few websites that will have cheap rugs;
And The last thing... photos of family! This is something I like that just brings out a personal touch and reminds you that there are people out there that love and care about you. I love sitting at my desk in the morning and seeing the happy faces of my Mom and Dad. Photos of friends work in this situation as well.
So if you just moved out of your childhood home, or if you're moving into your first apartment, or even your first house...Try out these tips. I promise they will make your house feel like a home overnight!
xx
S