Hey muffins! As I mentioned in my last post, my boyfriend and I are officially moved into our new place. π While it was difficult to stay sustainable throughout this process, there were a few things we were able to do during Plastic Free July to reduce our waste. Now that we are a few days into the unpacking process, I wanted to share some of my favorite tips for making a new apartment/space feel like “home”. Moving can be a chaotic process, so I find it absolutely essential to do these things to keep my mind at ease. Let’s jump right into it!
Ways to Make You Feel at Home
*Burn a candle while you unpack. Scents have always helped me cope with stress and anxiety, so keeping a candle burning is a must. Plus, it can get your new apartment smelling delightful! When choosing candles, make sure you buy soy wax from local sellers. Many candles from brands like Bath & Body Works are quite bad for the air/environment… So keep yourself healthy by choosing soy! π―οΈ
Also make sure you buy an eco-friendly lighter, like The USB Lighter Company’s! I wrote a whole review of this product, and I still LOVE their lighter. It is rechargable, has a sleek design, and is one of the first things I unpacked – definitely a must have for making your apartment feel like a home! π
*Keep the window shades open and get some natural light! Nothing is more depressing than unpacking boxes in dim lighting; make sure you get plenty of sunlight for your Vitamin D! Plus, this will keep you in a nice and happy mood in your new home.
*Add some nature to the space. My plants were some of the first things carried into the new apartment; my boyfriend’s family also gave us some flowers to celebrate us moving in together. π While a simple touch, having a bit of nature and bright colors/greens truly help make your new space feel homey.
Ways to Make You Feel at Home When Unpacking
*Get rid of the boxes as you go! I have been unpacking one room at a time; as soon as I am done with a box (or a couple of boxes), I take them outside to the recycling bin. This helps both to declutter the space and to declutter my mind… And it gives a more accurate depiction of what else needs to be unpacked! While it might sound like a small thing, it definitely helps a new space feel more like your own. π₯°
*Get rid of any clutter than somehow made the move. While one of the things in my eco-friendly moving post is how I declutter as I pack up, there were still a few things that slipped through the cracks. It is important for everything to have a meaning in your space, so donate items that you don’t want! This will ultimately make you feel at home and at peace with the material goods in your new space.
*Save the decorating for the final step of unpacking! Decorating the walls is my absolute favorite step whenever I move, so I often set aside a corner of the apartment and pile up all my wall decor there. After everything is cleaned and unpacked, reward youself with the decorations. π I think this step is the cherry on top for making a new space feel like a home! What are some of the first things you do when unpacking?
Love,
Jenna β₯
Great tips! I’ve been packing up boxes all summer because we are selling our house soon. I will be able to use some of these ideas when we get in our new place.