Home Sweet Home

No matter how excited you are to move into your new place, your first few weeks will probably feel foreign and, well, a little strange. Here are some tips on how you can feel settled and happy — even while you're living among boxes.

1. Start with the closet. As interior designer Nate Berkus once said, "Most people start unpacking the common spaces first, but I focus my efforts on my closet because Monday's are hard enough without having to search for your favorite sweater."

2. Prioritize the kid's rooms. For instance, make sure that your child’s favorite toys or possessions are easily accessible and unpacked first. This way, he or she will be content even when the rest of the house is still a complete mess. 

3. Recreate familiar sounds and sights. Make sure, for example, to hang that cuckoo clock that you've had hanging on your wall for years. The sound of the clock is home, and having it running right away always does the trick. 

4. Mimic your regular routine. Your routine shouldn't have to change just because your location does. For example, create a space where everyone can drop their keys and bags -using the same hooks and bins that you used in your old home sometimes helps the family adjust.


5. Make your bed. On the day you move in, make sure to pull out your clean linens and make your bed as it was in your previous home. Come bedtime, you can snuggle up in your old, cozy bed. 

6. Bring out all of your favorites. Light your favorite candles and play your favorite music for immediate consolation.  

7. Don't order pizza. Granted you are probably exhausted after the long day, but if you want your place to feel like home, cook a homemade meal. Make it a priority to unpack the kitchen as soon as you move in. Even if you are living among boxes, eating a simple recipe on the floor is worth it.