Home decorating after a move leaves you feeling a bit meh? Furniture that used to fit perfectly in your old house now better left behind? Or staring at a blank slate of a family picture wall that has you wondering if you could crush geometry just one more time? Or maybe just feeling drab about the interior of things and how to simply start anew?
It’s how I feel nearly every single time, and then I have to remind myself…
Moving into a new house after leaving your perfectly styled one can leave you a bit deflated. But it’s also a great excuse to clean house and add fresh pieces to reflect this new part of your life journey.
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Home Decorating Tips After A Move
Whether you’re living somewhere new on a permanent or even temporary basis, creating a life you love starts with loving where you live….including your home. This means getting those moving boxes unpacked or starting with nothing more than a suitcase.
Getting settled into a new place can feel insurmountable. But there are easy decorating ideas to lower the moving in overwhelm. This is important in order to start embracing your new surroundings and acceptance of living somewhere new.
Whether I’m in a place for a year or ten, I need to feel at home there. – designer Meredith Ellis, Cottage Style
Here are 7 tips for decorating that will immediately get you excited about making your house a home again.
1 – Get To Know The Local Style
Take the time to absorb your surroundings. Go for walks and plan a coffee/tea date at a friend’s house.
If you’re in the States, then you know how wide home decorating can vary. From New England coastal charm to Florida Tropicana to Texas ranch country and contemporary California, style can range A LOT.
And there is nothing wrong with inserting flamingo decor as a statement piece during a hot summer pool party even though you’re not in Florida, but there is something to be said about consistency, flow and fitting in with the neighbors.
When we moved to Texas in 2011 I really, really wanted a house with cedar shakes. I’m in love with Nantucket style homes and when I found one on Zillow I had to have our realtor show us. Soon enough I discovered that the house had very poor resale value because it was so unlike the typical Texas exterior. With resale being so important, I passed on what I consider to be the ultimate exterior for a home.
2 – Get Inspired
Start exploring. Use Pinterest. Buy home decor magazines.
Go explore the home shop on the corner not far from that coffee shop you’ve been meaning to try.
Decide what look you’re after that will work with your existing style. Is it farmhouse chic? Contemporary? Or perhaps reviving the period of the property?
Finding inspiration is what will make your statement style unique!
3 – Make A List
It’s easy to overdo it in the heat of a shopping moment. You don’t need to redecorate your entire home, but if you don’t plan you could really end up overdoing it. Focus on the areas that “don’t fit” anymore, are empty or just need a freshen up.
Before you go, know what you really want or need to fill the space in mind and put together a budget. What would you spend by area? Have numbers in mind before you start shopping.
Complete some basic research to understand what items typically cost. Use Facebook marketplace or another reseller to know what an item might cost used vs new. This way you’re informed and can plan room by room according to your budget.
4 – Measure Before You Go
There have been so many times that I’ve gone shopping and then realized 2 things:
- I forgot to measure the space beforehand, and
- I forgot to bring the measuring tape with me.
So annoying!
Now I typically keep a lightweight measuring tape in my tote bag, on my desk and even in my car.
Avoid delays or the chance of buying the perfect piece because you weren’t prepared. It’s a hassle buying furniture because of the logistics getting it home, so try to be certain.
And don’t forget to take pictures of the space you’re trying to decorate. Pictures help you imagine its placement. They also make it easier for the shop assistants to provide advice. And who doesn’t like a personal stylist when it comes to shopping.
5 – Turn It Upside Down
Not actually turn it upside down but think out of the box.
Who says that a chair doesn’t belong in the bathroom or that an old magazine cover can’t be used as centerpiece art. Whatever it is you’re looking for, consider alternative solutions when you can’t find that seemingly straightforward piece.
And go for something that makes a statement, that you can take with you if you move again, or easily sell later. Pieces that reflect this part of your life journey; conversation starters.
After a couple of months living in the UK, I realized that I had nowhere at all to hang my necklaces and therefore, I wasn’t wearing them. I forgot that I even had most of them because they were still packed away in Container Store boxes.
After searching high and low online for a new jewelry stand, ranging from $17 (Target.com) to £50 (Oliver Bonas), I settled on a very old picture frame from an antique shop for £10 ($13). It holds my long necklaces and is a mantlepiece in the master bedroom. Even my husband was impressed.
Antique frame doubles as a jewelry stand
6 – Yes, Antique Shops.
I never ever considered antiquing until I moved to the UK. And I honestly don’t know why because Fixer Upper with Chip and Joanna Gaines, is my FAVORITE tv show. I miss it terribly (but that’s a post for another time).
I know to hit the antique shops sound expensive and time-consuming, which both can be true, but this is where Joanna finds all the things to complete the home; where the personality of the family living in it comes to life.
Junk is the term that I used to consider synonymous with antiques. I’d drive past all the antique shops in Maine growing up and say to myself, “Junk, junk, and more junk.”
Now I think “statement, unique, complete and fun”! I want to stop and explore all of them now.
I’ve learned after nearly a year of popping into my favorite antique shop every few weeks that I had previously been overspending on things like baskets, picture frames, and even art. Like this one here for £10 ($13) that pulls together all the colors of my dining room.
Antique find for £10
7 – Have Fun
Pulling it all together takes time but can be a lot of fun. Especially when you find a friend or two that loves antiquing as much as you do.
Final Thoughts On Easy Home Decorating Tips After A Move
With some inspiration, a little time to sort out what you want and how much you want to spend, making a new home totally yours can go from deflating to pretty exhilarating.
Fresh decor with a fresh perspective can help kickstart loving your new home. And depending upon how patient you are, it can help save some money in the end, too!
Looking for more resources to settle into your new home? Try these.
- English Home Demystified: 5 British House Chores You Can’t Ignore
- American Cleaning Products Not In the UK
- Moving abroad? Learn about my MOVING ABROAD CHECKLIST
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