The Times Australia
Fisher and Paykel Appliances
The Times House and garden

.

Make your Home your Own

  • Written by NewsServices.com

You’re moving into a new house – but it just doesn’t feel like home, yet.  There are still traces of the previous owners everywhere, from handprints on the windows to smudges on the walls, and you just want to feel like it’s your space. Here are some tips that will help you to put your stamp on the place.

Redecorate and revamp

Redecorating is a great idea, particularly if it needs to be done due to smudges on the walls or chips in the paintwork.  It can be a huge task to tackle the whole house at once, so why not focus on the areas where you’ll spend most of your time?  The living room, hallway, kitchen and bedroom are the most commonly used parts of the home, and often where paintwork will look tired first, so focus on those areas to make your new house feel like home in no time at all!

Put up some photos

Whether you’re putting them up on the wall or propping them in frames around the bed frame, adding photos is a great way to make your house feel more like home.  Just looking at the faces of those you love will make you feel safe and happy, and a happy house is a great place to be.

Bake a cake

There is nothing like the smell of freshly baked goods to create a homely feel.  Let the sun stream in through your kitchen blinds as you whip up an apple pie or spiced gingerbread – turn the radio on and really enjoy being in your new kitchen. The smell will be amazing, but sitting down to enjoy your creation with the family will be even better.

Throw a housewarming party

Throwing a housewarming party is the perfect way to feel settled in your new home.  It’s considered to be good luck to invite friends and family to your new residence, and after a few glasses of wine, some rather silly dancing and the mandatory tour of the house, you will feel relaxed and happy. More importantly, if it’s a good party, your friends will want to spend more of their time at your place! Not only will you be Mr or Mrs Popular, but your house will always be filled with warmth and laughter.

Add some rugs

Rugs are a great way to add a cosy feel to any space.  They’re cheaper than carpets, easier to clean and you can change them whenever you like!  Deep pile leather shag rugs are both tactile and beautiful – they feel soft and comforting underfoot but also look stunning in any home.  Sit back on the sofa and let your feet sink into a soft, cosy rug. You can’t go wrong with a rug, no matter what your budget. From cheaper options that you’ll find in Ikea to one off designer rugs that will turn heads, rugs never fail to add that all important sense of homeliness.

By following these simple tips, your house will feel like a home in no time at all, and you can relax and unwind in your beautiful new space.
Active Wear

Times Magazine

How to Reduce Eye Strain When Using an Extra Screen

Many professionals say two screens are better than one. And they're not wrong! A second screen mak...

Is AI really coming for our jobs and wages? Past predictions of a ‘robot apocalypse’ offer some clues

The robots were taking our jobs – or so we were told over a decade ago. The same warnings are ...

Myer celebrates 70 years of Christmas windows magic with the LEGO Group

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Myer Christmas Windows, Australia’s favourite department store...

Kindness Tops the List: New Survey Reveals Australia’s Defining Value

Commentary from Kath Koschel, founder of Kindness Factory.  In a time where headlines are dominat...

In 2024, the climate crisis worsened in all ways. But we can still limit warming with bold action

Climate change has been on the world’s radar for decades[1]. Predictions made by scientists at...

End-of-Life Planning: Why Talking About Death With Family Makes Funeral Planning Easier

I spend a lot of time talking about death. Not in a morbid, gloomy way—but in the same way we d...

The Times Features

Research uncovering a plant based option for PMS & period pain

With as many as eight in 10 women experiencing period pain, and up to half reporting  premenstru...

Trump presidency and Australia

Is Having Donald Trump as President Beneficial to Australia — and Why? Donald Trump’s return to...

Why Generosity Is the Most Overlooked Business Strategy

When people ask me what drives success, I always smile before answering. Because after two decades...

Some people choosing DIY super are getting bad advice, watchdog warns

It’s no secret Australians are big fans[1] of a do-it-yourself (DIY) project. How many other cou...

Myer celebrates 70 years of Christmas windows magic with the LEGO Group

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Myer Christmas Windows, Australia’s favourite department store...

Pharmac wants to trim its controversial medicines waiting list – no list at all might be better

New Zealand’s drug-buying agency Pharmac is currently consulting[1] on a change to how it mana...

NRMA Partnership Unlocks Cinema and Hotel Discounts

My NRMA Rewards, one of Australia’s largest membership and benefits programs, has announced a ne...

Restaurants to visit in St Kilda and South Yarra

Here are six highly-recommended restaurants split between the seaside suburb of St Kilda and the...

The Year of Actually Doing It

There’s something about the week between Christmas and New Year’s that makes us all pause and re...