When you’re looking for a place to call home there are plenty of things on your mind. Where should we live? What can we afford? Is it worth the hassle of moving? And even deeper questions like what sort of memories will you make in this home? Will you start a family here? Throw an epic party to go down in the history books? Meet the love of your life? Or will this house just be a place for you to hang your hat before you move on to other things?
As the saying goes: ‘home is where the heart is’ but what takes a house and makes it into a home? To make your home as perfect as it possibly can be, and to make the move itself as stress-free as possible, check out these six pieces of advice.
Location, location, location
It’s all about location. Figuring out where you want to live can be a particularly tough call. It all depends on what your priorities are. Do you want to be near good schools, near your workplace, near the beach, are views important to you or do you just have to be in close proximity to a killer cup of coffee? In Australia, matters are complicated by the fact that real estate is just so darn expensive. So check out this article about the cheapest and most livable suburbs.
Make sure you’re getting the right home loan
When you’re looking to buy a home, whether you’re a first-time buyer, you’re upsizing or you’re planning on expanding your portfolio, chances are you will need to take out a home loan. Taking out a home loan can seem daunting and it is unquestionably one of the more complex aspects of personal finance. However, if you’re scratching your head wondering what sort of loan or repayment schedule is right for you you might want to do some research. To learn more and have some of those questions answered you can check out this informative article.
Get some friends to help you move
Moving in is potentially one of the top three most stressful tasks you can do. You’ve got to wrangle your whole life into boxes (not to mention dryers, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.) and move them across towns, cities, maybe you’re even moving across the country! Either way, you’ll probably be aghast at the sheer amount of belongings you have, it’s enough to make Marie Kondo blush! Packing and moving is a daunting task so invite your friends over, make a night of it. Bring your most judgemental friend around to help you cull your stuff, your craftiest friend round to help you assemble boxes, have plenty of wine and take out and take the time to savour the memories you’ve made in your old place before moving onto the next stage in your life.
Put art on the walls
Art is the thing that makes a house feel like a home, it helps you put your mark on your living space and make it your own with your own style, flair and personality. It helps take a space and make it interesting, makes it your own. Something that distinguishes a home living space from a hotel or dorm room is that your home should be filled with things you find beautiful. Looking for inspiration, head here to check out these beautiful, Australiana themed prints by local artist Carmen Hui.
Kit out your kitchen
We love take-away as much as the next guy but, getting take away every night can make you feel like a bit of a squatter. Make sure you have enough flatware, pots, pans, cutlery and the like in order to cook a proper dinner for yourself and your friends. Invest in kitchen stuff right away, to make your home feel homey and avoid the dreaded ‘washing of the one fork’ or arguing with your housemates over who gets to use the pasta pot.
Have people over!
What makes a house a home is the people it’s filled with, so have friends and family over – and often! The difference between a house and a home is that one is bricks and mortar and the other is a feeling, we feel at home where we feel safe, loved and valued so fill your home with the people that make you feel that way. The laughter of loved ones is the quickest, most surefire way to make you feel at home.
READ MORE:
- Revamp your home with these amazing suggestions
- 8 ways to make use of a spare room
- How to organize and kick the junk in your home to the curb
