When you’ve just moved in to a new house, it’s easy to feel like you’re staying in a creepy hotel. Large spaces with not quite enough furniture present, bare walls and floors, it’s always a big task making a house feel like a home, so here are a few tips on how to get that cosy, almost antique feeling.

Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a very powerful concept, that can make anyone feel more at home and comfortable. The best way of getting your home to have some nostalgic powers is to include a few key pieces that can remind you of your own childhood home. Whether that comes in the form of framed photographs of childhood memories, or from small bits and pieces from your childhood that can decorate the shelves.

Art

Artwork is one of the most important ways to make your house really feel like you. Maybe you have a favourite artist or art style that you can turn to and find that perfect piece. If not, consider other interests you may have, favourite films or video games, for example, can lead to framed posters on the walls adding those essential touches. If you have a strong creative streak, you can make some art yourself – even if you just buy a paint-by-numbers and have a fun afternoon creating something lovely for yourself; it’s also a great way to start making new memories in your new house!

Light

The lighting in any space is key to making it a comfortable atmosphere that makes you want to hang out and relaxes you. If you’re like me, overhead lighting is your worst enemy. The flat, often too-cold lighting of overhead lights makes every space look stark and bland and not at all homely. Floor lamps and table lamps are the key to making the atmosphere cosy and inviting. Atmospheric lighting can also be found through the use of coloured bulbs or even smart bulbs – a real thing – that allow you to control the warmth and shade of the light being emitted.

Plants

Green is a special colour, it causes a chemical reaction that tells you to relax, and it makes any house feel like a natural, jungle-y space that you just can’t resist. Getting plants gives your home an earthy feel, creating a sense of exoticism that can’t be beat. If you’re interested in learning about plants, how to care for them and which ones will suit your lifestyle best, then adding plants to your house will definitely make you feel much more at home. If plants sound like a little too much responsibility for you, however, then fake plants are always an option. Super easy to look after, and nowadays pretty realistically made, faux greenery will make you feel every bit as chill as the real deal.

Antiques

Now, if you’re going for the very specific vibe of ‘antique’ in your space, or if you just want an old-timey touch here and there, then flea markets or antiques dealerships are the go-to spot to find what you’re after. Antique silverware such as photograph frames, teapots, candlesticks, and bowls are all ways of getting your house to feel a little bit bohemian and old-world. The life of the well-travelled explorer is hard to achieve – especially in the current climate – and so utilising antiques in the smartest ways possible can really make your house feel like the cosy and interesting nest of a frequent flyer.

These are only a few ideas to get the ball rolling if you’re wondering what steps to take to ensure that your home is truly yours. A room with proper lighting, a welcoming plant, and some beautiful pieces of art and antiques sounds like the kind of place you want to be; and it’s definitely a great place to start in order to get your house in order. Good luck!