After several hectic weeks of packing, loading, moving, cleaning, and unpacking, you are probably ready to just sit back and kick your feet up. However, it can be difficult to relax in a new space that doesn’t quite feel like home. It can be hard to fully unwind when you aren’t accustomed to your new surroundings and everything feels different. Sometimes, this feeling of newness makes it difficult to find comfort. Fortunately, there are things you can do right away to cultivate a sense of warmth and help your new house feel more like home. Here are some great ideas to get you started.

1. Give It a Good Clean

When you first move into a new home, it can be dusty and dirty from all the boxes and heavy foot traffic from movers. It’s certainly hard to get comfortable in a space that is dirty so start by giving your new home a deep clean. Clean your floors, carpets, bathrooms, kitchen appliances, and windows before setting up all your furniture and decor. If you don’t have time to clean the whole house yourself, consider hiring professional cleaners. A comfortable and inviting home starts with a clean home!

2. Hang Art and Family Photos

Blank walls can make a home look and feel very bare and empty, so consider hanging some art and family photos right when you move in. Research has shown that looking at art can reduce stress and invoke feelings of calm. Furthermore, nothing makes a house feel like home more than personalized family photos. You can hang photo frames, create a gallery wall, or simply place framed pictures on your mantle and around your home. Looking at family photos will remind you of some of the most memorable moments in your life and help make your new house a home.

3. Candles or Fragrance

Everyone’s house has a signature scent that just reminds us of home. Whether you prefer the aroma of fresh linen or soothing lavender, giving your home a signature scent can help make the space more inviting. You can do this by lighting candles, spraying room fragrance, plugging in air fresheners, or using essential oils and reed diffusers.

4. Create a Calming Bedroom

Having a relaxing and calming place where you can retreat at the end of the day is essential when you have just moved. That’s why your bedroom should be one of the first spaces you set up when you move into a new house. Roll out a rug, set up your nightstands, hang some artwork, and make the bed so you have a beautiful and restful space to relax at the end of each day.

5. Add Some Greenery

Just light artwork, houseplants and flowers are known to reduce stress and positively impact our mood. There is something about bringing nature inside that instantly creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. If you have decorative trees or potted plants, consider setting those up as soon as you move in. You can also pot herbs in mason jars and place them in your kitchen window, display fresh flowers on your table, or pick out a few low-maintenance houseplants that can be placed throughout the home.