How to feel at home fast

Moving into a new home is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming at first. From unpacking boxes to figuring out your daily routines, it’s easy for the space to feel unfamiliar. The good news is, there are simple steps you can take to make your house feel like yours from day one - creating comfort, calm, and a sense of belonging for everyone in the family.

Safety comes first

Before you start the fun stuff like decorating, make sure your new house feels secure. Peace of mind is key in helping you feel truly settled in.

Simple steps you can take straight away include:

- Installing new locks or upgrading old ones

- Setting up a doorbell camera/CCTV system

- Testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

- Checking window locks and outdoor lighting

These aren’t just practical tasks - they help establish that sense of ownership and peace of mind that’s essential for making a house feel like your home.

Prioritise the bedrooms

Having a place to unwind at the end of the day is essential when you’re moving home. With boxes everywhere and furniture still to build, it’s important to prioritise the bedrooms so you have somewhere familiar and comfortable to retreat to after a long day. Simply making the beds properly, adding your usual bedding and setting up bedside essentials can create an immediate sense of calm, even if the rest of the house is still a work in progress.

If you have children, this should be your top priority. Moving can feel unfamiliar and unsettling for them, so setting up their bedrooms first helps provide reassurance and stability. Unpacking favourite toys, books or nightlights straight away can make the new space feel safe and recognisable from the very first night (and give them somewhere to stay put while you get the rest of the house sorted).

Gather the important information

While your boxes of belongings may be all over the place, the important bits don’t have to be. But to save yourself further chaos and stress, start gathering the below information about your new home and keep it in one place that you can easily refer back to if there are any issues:

- Emergency contacts

- Utility provider details

- Wi-Fi login and router instructions

- Bin collection days and recycling info

- Council services and local amenities

- Important paperwork (insurance, warranties, manuals)

Having all your essential contacts and documents in one place creates a feeling of control and reassurance. You’ll know exactly where to look whenever something comes up which will make your new home feel organised and grounded.

Get to know your surroundings

Getting to know your surroundings helps your home feel truly yours and makes settling in much easier. Take the time to introduce yourself to neighbours, greet the postman, and explore local spots like the supermarket, a nearby coffee shop, or the local park.

Familiar faces and places create a sense of connection and belonging, and the more you engage with your community, the more others start to recognise the home as yours too. When people see you as part of the neighbourhood, it reinforces that sense of ownership and makes the space feel even more like home.

Add personal touches

Even if each room isn’t fully unpacked, adding a few personal touches to each corner of the house can make it feel like home from day one. Small items like photographs, favourite ornaments, or meaningful keepsakes start to give each space personality and warmth, slowly building that sense of family and belonging over time.

You don’t need to decorate everything at once - letting the home evolve gradually takes the pressure off and allows each room to grow into a space that truly reflects you. Little by little, these familiar touches turn an empty house into a lived-in, welcoming home.