Adapting To A New Home

*collaborative guest post

We all know moving is difficult. The high number of expenses, the rush to get everything sorted, packing—these are just a few of the things that could increase your stress. Add the fact that you’ll need to deal with a major change and it could be too much to handle. There are factors to consider if you are questioning if you should move house.

If you’ve recently moved or will do so later this year, you’ll have to manage change. There are many reasons why you could feel unsettled and disorientated after a move. For example, you could feel uncomfortable due to the lack of friends and family, problems with your new house, or the uncertainty and unknown. Here are a few tips to make the transition period much easier.

Research As Much As Possible

Adapting starts before you even step into your new home. Take the time to research and inquire about your new area to make your transition go smoothly. Research your new neighbourhood, the shops, restaurants, and facilities nearby, as well as parks and other green spaces to get more comfortable with your new environment.

Also, look up places that you’ll need to know, such as the doctor’s clinic, hospital, and fire and police services. This way, you’ll be prepared for any emergencies and can feel more safe in your new home.

By gathering as much information on your new place, you can minimise the feeling of unease at not knowing your area. Also, you’ll be better prepared for the next tip…

Explore Your New Area

Now that you know the area around your new home, it’s time to explore! Go out and visit the shops, try out the new restaurants, and stroll around the town or city. Not only will you potentially discover new favourite places, you’ll develop a sense of familiarity with your area.

Rather than holding yourself up inside your house, you’ll need to spend time outside to get used to your new surroundings. You can meet your new neighbours and people by joining clubs and societies around town. Also, stepping outside to explore is incredibly important for facing your new reality head on.

Change What Doesn’t Work

When setting up the things inside your home, it helps to arrange everything in a way similar to your old place. Try to place things in a way that resembles your old rooms. This is to give you a sense of familiarity and calm.

However, this might not necessarily work. For example, your home layout could be significantly different to your old house, making a recreation of the furniture very difficult. In this case, don’t be afraid to experiment with new furniture and item arrangements—it’s important to do what works for you. Another way to look at it is that a new home is the perfect opportunity to renew or improve your interior design vision!

If there are some parts of your home that you are not satisfied with, you can always do some home improvement projects. For example, you can clear out garden junk, paint a few walls, or renew your doors and windows. This is a great way to make your new home fit your tastes, helping you adjust.

Add A Personal Touch

An empty home definitely doesn’t feel lived in, making it much more difficult to adapt to your new surroundings. This is why it’s so important to unpack your items as soon as possible. You might be tempted to keep your things in storage for a while, either because of laziness or lack of time, but putting this off will make it difficult to transition.

After you unpack your stuff, you can start personalizing your space. Put up a few personal photos in your rooms and living room, hang up paintings and prints that you like, and decorate your home with things you’ve collected from your travels.

By displaying these personal items, you’ll feel more comfortable with your new home. Even though it might seem like a small detail, this will have a huge effect on the way you look at your new environment.

Take An Overnight Trip Away

Another great way to help you adjust is to take an overnight trip somewhere. If you go on a short trip or vacation to a place that you’re even more unfamiliar with, you’ll feel relief once you return home.

A trip away can be the break that you need—a sort of refresh from all the stress and chaos of moving house. Also, even though it is relaxing, nothing beats coming home and sleeping in your own bed. Doing so will help strengthen the sense of home that you associate with your new house.