Dear easyStorage
I’ve moved into my first flat over the last year (yay) and although I’m loving it, I can’t quite seem to fully feel comfortable. I haven’t had the chance to order all the furniture and décor I want yet so the place still looks unfinished. I am still trying to save money to buy items to last, but, in the meantime, I don’t know how to feel less like I’m living in someone else’s place. I need to make it feel like my home, but I just don’t know how!
Best wishes
Andy
Your own place – how exciting!
In all honesty, this is quite an unusual problem to have – for many, having too much stuff is an issue, and we’d like to bet that this will be the case within the next year or two.
We hope you’ll find some of our ten tips useful as you turn your flat into your home.
Despite your home feeling unfinished/empty, the best place to start is always with a good declutter. Start taking a look at what you have, and whether you’ve brought it along because you had it and the place feels empty, or whether you’ve brought it along because you like it and/or it’s useful. If it’s neither, why not use one of the many second-hand sales apps that abound? The money you make can go towards getting those things you’re saving up for.
Looking at what you have left after a good clear out, you can probably see more clearly a style emerging. All the magazines will tell you that certain colour schemes or styles are fashionable. This is your home. You have it the way YOU want it. If you’re unsure, try starting with a neutral colour scheme – white, beiges, grey – and add colour touches slowly.
If you have a lot of wooden African style ornaments, art deco style glass, hippy style throws…whatever you love… these are a good place to draw your inspiration.
Before you do anything else, clean!
A good deep clean can make you feel very different about your space. Walls may look brighter. Wood may come up bolder. And any trace smalls of previous occupants will be banished.
You’ll also be able to see any areas that need repairs.
Make sure it’s a deep clean, including skirting boars and light fittings, as once the lace starts to fill, they won’t be as accessible, and it will be more of a chore to get to them. Of course, you’ll still need to deep clan again from time to time, but starting from a good base will make that job easier.
It’s worth getting in a carpet cleaner, either a professional firm, or a hired machine and do it yourself. What looks like a manky old carpet may suddenly get a new life once cleaned, meaning you can put your hard-earned money to use on something else.
And dry clean (or wash and iron if they’ll stand it) any curtains. Follow cleaning instructions carefully – there’s nothing more guaranteed to look a mess than wavy hemmed, unevenly shrunken curtains. Again, you may find they have a new lease of life, and if you still don’t like them, they’ll be easier to sell on.
So now you have a nice clean space, is there anywhere you want to paint or paper? While you still space is a great time to do it. A word to the wise though – if you’ve never papered before, get someone who knows what they’re doing to help you to avoid expensive mistakes.
Remember too that paint is easier to change than wallpaper, so you may want to buy yourself time by painting in the interim, with a view to papering later.
If there are picture hangers or hooks in the wrong places for you, take them out and repair the walls before decorating. (Personally, I’d take them all out and start from scratch, but that’s a personal preference.)
Once the walls are done, the quickest way to make the place yours is with your own photos, pictures, wall hangings. These things are so personal that even if you’re picnicking on the floor until your table arrives, it still feels personalised. Don’t forget that you can always upcycle picture frames with paint, and second hand/charity shops will often have a selection.
Strategically placed mirrors are great for throwing back light into a room and making it look more spacious.
If you’re making do with an old sofa, a throw can hide it until you have what you want. Cushions add layers and add personality. Chair seat covers can create a fresh look.
The average town centre will generally have cheap options to keep you going more than adequately until you can afford the bits you want.
Large floor cushions are often a great, cheap, option until you can get the sofa/suite that you want. (Second hand sofas are often a false economy – people rarely get rid of good ones.)
Rugs are great for covering unattractive floors or carpets, and add warmth and colour to a room.
Plants are great for filling spaces, making a place feel homely, and are also good for your air quality.
We recently blogged, which may hold some useful ideas: Bringing the Outdoors in with Plants.
Nothing makes a house feel more unloved than bare bulbs. Even a cheap paper lampshade will take away that abandoned feeling.
When it comes to spend, lighting is one of the areas that it’s worth spending more to get it right.
And don’t forget your lightbulbs: blue-tint or bright white lights create a sharp light, whilst others add a softer, more relaxing glow.
Maybe even tealights, candles, or fairy lights could cheaply create the atmosphere that you want.
Whilst you may feel a bit empty now, this is unlikely to last. Even the act of painting is going to create things that need homes – paints, brushes, rollers etc.
When you’re buying furniture, think about things with extra storage space – under bed storage, for example, is great for linen. Some coffee tables have built-in storage underneath. Look for ways to make the best of space with added, maybe even hidden, storage.
However exciting a move is, it can be tiring and sometimes stressful. Make sure your bed is a priority buy, and that your sleeping space is one of the first rooms to be finished. Being able to get a good night’s sleep will help you through the inevitable stresses of a house move, like sorting bills, making sure mail is redirected etc.
And make sure you have a space to deal with that mail, maybe a desk away from your living area so you have a chance to switch off when you’re not addressing these things. Moreover, if you work from home, try and create yourself a space to do that rather than balancing on the kitchen table.
You may find this blog useful: Setting up a Home Office
If there’s something you really need but can’t yet afford, think about buying second hand and upcycling. You may surprise yourself with the results.
Your home, your music.
If you want to dance like no-one’s looking, now’s your chance. You want to chill to a fabulous piece of opera or classical music, lose yourself at leisure. You want to ball out love ballads, sing at the top of your voice. And if you want to blast out Euro-pop, well….no judgements here!
(Just don’t forget that you have neighbours, and it smooths the way to peaceful living if you’re considerate about volumes and times of day.)
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