How to enjoy a new house that I don't really like?

[trainingwills]

Looking for some inspiration and happy stories to try to love my new home.

I'd been in the same house 4 years and I love it so much.

Our landlord decided to sell out the blue and I was left with very few choices as I need to be near my son's school, near enough to work to still do the school run and near to my mum's as I help her out.

I settled on a house that more or less fitted the bill as I didn't have many options.

We moved in yesterday and I'm just so sad. It's such a downgrade from the old place and I'm stuck with it. I quite liked it when I saw it but now I just hate every inch of it. It's too small, there's very little natural light and I don't have anywhere to store stuff like suitcases and the Christmas tree as there's no loft.

I'm not looking for advice on breaking the lease or trying to buy or anything, I'm here for 3 years, I reckon.

I'm just looking for inspiration on how you've made the best of the situation when you've had to live somewhere you don't love.

Hi OP, you only moved in yesterday so it’s really really fresh, try to relax, it will almost certainly grow on you once you start to make it your own. Put things up on the walls, put up some mirrors to circulate the light, is there anything you can do with the curtains to let in more light? If you are in for three years it might be worth painting some walls, go brave with it. A small house can be wonderful. Sell on the fake Christmas tree and get a real one this year. I really wasn’t sure about my current house when I first moved in, 6 years on, I adore it. Good luck!

Give it a deep clean, unpack, light a scented candle, a vase of flowers. It will be yours soon.

Our house was very much a head over heart decision. We've been here for 15 years now and will be here for many more as it will be too much hassle to sell. I still dislike it but it's our family home and so I get a buzz parking outside each night knowing my family are inside and it's probably a complete tip. We've got random things stored in random places and it's got to stage now that that is where those things live and you just don't see them any more. I don't even think now before turning sideways to go through one doorway as it is partially blocked by furniture. We had friends over recently and it was only when they'd been here for a couple of hours that I noticed the ironing board was still leaning against the wall in the sitting room rather than being hidden in our bedroom as it normally is when visitors are over.
Wishing you lots of happy memories in your new home

This is partly the shock of trying to feel at home in a new place - when we moved recently I cried myself to sleep for the first few weeks and thought I would never be happy. I think it takes many months to feel at home.

What is the garden/ light situation? Just work on bringing what colour and life you can to the home and outdoor space if you can.

With storage - thats tricky - can you hire some external storage? and declutter as much as possible. ?

Can you buy a bed with storage underneath?

Or check for deals on storage nearby? Look on Pinterest/insta/FB for ideas on how to create lots of storage.

Helpful.

Here's a few things I've done in this situation in the past.

• Paint rooms light and beautiful colours
• Paint some rooms warm and cosy colours and use lovely lamps, to embrace the lack of natural light
• Use tension rods and curtains in alcoves or narrow rooms as dividers or to make a hidden storage area
• Mirrors everywhere to reflect what little light I did get
• Outdoor furniture if you have a garden, so the garden becomes another room
• This one is a bit mad. I once kept one room completely empty except for one cosy chair. All the rooms where so small I often felt claustrophobic, and this one room felt spacious because it was basically empty, so I could go there when I needed to. It was also a brilliant room for yoga
• In a flat with no outside space I positioned an armchair in front of a window. On sunny days I'd open the window wide and put my feet on the window sill. On cold days I'd open the window and cover myself with a blanket. It was my favourite reading spot. The flat was miserable but I loved living there just because of that armchair with a view of trees and sky.
• Big fan of multifunctional furniture. Chairs, sofas, beds and benches must have storage. Storage ottomans or blanket boxes to double as coffee tables or side tables.
• Making sure the space works on a practical level and that everything has a place. I get very bad tempered if I feel like there's nowhere to put stuff out I can't find things when I need them
• Make it pretty. Make sure you have things that make you smile when you see them, like photos or art, the quilt your nan made, or DCs craft efforts. Make sure that all the rooms you use regularly have one or two pretty, happy things in them.

If you love reading and have a book you know you’ll enjoy. Or love music and have a favourite song. Make some time where you can just curl up on the sofa with the book/song and maybe some hot chocolate or a mug of tea. It will help to make the house feel like home as you settle in.

This is such lovely, helpful advice. Love that you had a room with just a chair in, I can totally see how soothing that would be when the rest of the house feels claustrophobic- what an inspired idea!

Oh you poor thing.

Being evicted is the most horrible feeling - we were to and also needed to stay by school.

If you can afford to I would treat yourself to some items/ new decor that really spark joy. You can change the bricks and mortar / aspects / natural lighting but you can totally boss the ambience inside.

Also it's okay ti just find it sad and a bit shot for a bit. It's a horrid feeling having your home taken back but you will make memories and come to be used to your new place and at least by renting you're not stuck forever. I've read a few buyers remorse threads on here lately.