New house... How to make into a home

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Saw our new house for first time today Nd my heart sank. Kitchen looked decades old, walls are woodchip (and magnolia... Always magnolia). Rooms are awkward shape and seem small. The joys of military housing.

I'm trying to convince myself it will look better with furniture in and our pictures etc. I quite like the garden.

What cheap and easy ways are there to make a house feel better when you are stuck with the crap stuff like woodchip and bedroom sinks?

Photographs!
Nice cushions and soft throws ready for the autumn coming
Candles (not necessarily scented if they aren't your thing, but tealight holders with little candles look lovely)
Also for me it's organisation, so having the kitchen organised with storage boxes for food etc. So it's how you want it

happy new home!

I think it will be better once we have our stuff in it. This move has been a complicated one and I can't build up the usual excitement for the new house.

Can you paint it? I think that's the quickest way and doesnt have to be expensive.

Then large chunky cushions (asda actually do nice extra large cushions).
Floor lamps and throws.

Yes, paint, if you’re allowed. Never underestimate the difference colour makes, it’s astounding really.

I always think plants, pictures and cushions ‘make’ a room. Also piles of books but that’s just me! Lamps dotted around. A nice throw. Good luck!

I read somewhere once, that a room needs 5 light sources to make it homely. Now, that's a lot of lamps and not a theory I've tried out (we can manage 3 lamps per room max!)

No painting allowed (or easy to turn back to magnolia). We have decals for kids rooms. We are changing curtains and lampshades. We have a few rugs.

At least the youngest is six now so we don't have to childproof.

There is also a severe lack of plug sockets!

I think I would paint some rooms white with a hint of grey and buy nice art work. Plants would be great.

My plants will soon be reclaimed from their temporary homes. Might need a garden centre trip as well.

This is our sixth quarter and I've never had a negative feel before,which I'm taking as a sign we can make it feel like ours.

Thank you for tips.