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Just bought a house? Here’s how to personalize it in the first 30 days

home design

Buying a home is a massive undertaking and an even bigger accomplishment. But once the home buying process has ended, you’ve reached the next exciting step of your journey as a homeowner. It all starts with the opportunity to design and create the perfect new living space for your family.

Think of your new home as a blank slate for the vibrant masterpiece that is your future: Sure, it may take time to finish, but there are plenty of ways to make it feel like home during the first month or sooner.

For homeowners who are eager to personalize their property, here are six tips on getting started during the first 30 days at home.

1. Spend time on your vision.

It can be tempting to dive in headfirst with painting, furnishing and decorating once you’ve moved into your home. But unless you’ve taken time ahead of your move to plan, it may be wiser to sit with the space for a few days and decide the best path forward for each room. This way you can act with purpose when you finally begin.

Odds are, you’ve at least designated bedrooms prior to move in, which is a great place to start. If you have kids, allowing them to take ownership by deciding on a theme for their new room can be the perfect way to get the whole family involved and make the new house feel like home for everyone while the adults focus on making plans for the kitchen, living room, master bedroom and more.

2. Use what you have.

If you’re bringing over furniture from your last home, finding ways to use it thoughtfully will be one of the first and simplest – not to mention budget-friendly – ways to personalize the house. There may be some items that just don’t fit your vision, but you’re likely to find that a lot of it is attached to cherished memories that will make your new house feel like home as you get settled.

3. Paint for today and tomorrow.

Once you have a basic vision for the home, why not start painting? Painting an entire home can be a feat, so pick a few rooms (or accent walls) to start. Remember, you’re not just painting for your life today, but your life for years to come – so unless you want to repaint, which is always an option, consider choosing timeless over trendy color palettes.

Don’t want to invest in a bunch of paint right off the bat? Just paint the front door. It’s a quick and simple way to put a colorful mark on your new home right at the entrance.

4. Choose décor that inspires.

Decorations can range from totally cost-free to wildly expensive. But more important than the cost is the meaning behind the décor – what it says to you and what it says about you. Decorating with objects of significance is a great way to personalize a new home, whether it’s something old like your grandmother’s quilt, hung tastefully or something new like a painting of an elephant, your favorite animal.

Decorating is another great way to get the whole family involved. Ask your kids to pick fresh flowers – they are, after all, free – and dedicate a wall or two to the art they create at home.

5. Buy some new basics.

If you’ve moved to a larger home, odds are you’ll eventually need some new furniture. You may also want to upgrade some of your old items as part of your vision for the new space.

It can be an expensive and timely prospect to furnish a new home, so do yourself a favor and choose one or two “splurge” items to start with in your first month. Consider starting with something that will be useful right away, like a new sectional couch or mattress.

6. Grow with the flow.

Making a new house feel like home is to live and grow there. With many people working from home and homeschooling this year, odds are you’ll have plenty of time to break in your new house and learn what it needs to best serve its inhabitants. The first month is a time for you to follow your instincts. Maybe you’ll find yourself gardening and putting up patio lights or setting up a home office. It all depends on your situation!

Ultimately, it’s important to remember that while planning is key, being flexible is also an important quality as a new homeowner. Because homes, just like people and the world, change every day. Enjoy every moment as you live and learn.

This article was originally published by Jennifer Markert, usatoday.com. 

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