How do you make a house your own?

[kitchenrollholder]

I'm in the process of buying my first house. While I do like the house, I struggle to imagine it looking like anything other than the current owner's house. It is in good condition so don't need to do anything to kitchen or bathroom etc, it would just be decorative changes.

I don't want to live in someone else's house, so what do I do to make it mine?!

Even just having your stuff - both bigger furniture, and smaller pictures, plants etc will start making it more yours. After a bit it will also smell like yours.

I'd live with their choices for a bit. We've redecorated most of the house now (after 18 months), and one thing I thought would definitely go has stayed. Some has been re-done in similar shades, and some has completely changed. But if you can live with it firca bit, and work out what the light does, and how you use the space, you stand a good chance of getting it right first time rather than wanting to change it again in a year or 2.

Enjoy your new home.

I think you have to take your time to live in it for a while and the things you need/want to do become obvious. I wouldn't rush to try and make it 'yours' straight away because you could make some expensive mistakes.

Meanwhile, once you have your own plants, pictures, books, bedding etc in place, it won't look like the previous home owners at all.

I find smell is important to me so if it's the same for you, put some oil diffusers around the house so they waft your favourite home fragrance into the air.

Take your time

Work out how you use the space , what the light and general vibe is like

Remember things like paint or cushions can be changed more cheaply than flooring and sofas

Think practical as well as what you like ( white might be lovely but white doesn't suit my accident prone nature !)

It takes time to work out want you want. We bought a house that was all grey and mushroom this is definitely not my thing, but which colours I replace it will takes time. Seeing how the light acts in different seasons at different times of day.
Read lots of decorating magazines, look at insta follow people you like.

Live in it for a bit. It'll feel like yours when it's got your stuff in and then you can start planning decorating - we've been in here a year and only just started redecorating now we've worked out what we like, dislike, what bits of the house annoy us and where we want strong pops of colour.

If we'd had redecorated when we moved in it would have ended up playing bland and safe and I'd be annoyed by it now but feeling obliged to live with it.

As others have said, get your stuff in and your rugs and curtains about the place, especially if you have things that are very personal and very you.

For me, it means getting at least some bookshelves sorted for my vast hoard library and getting some of my pictures hung. Others like family photographs, plants, cushions, etc.
I play my music and get my scented candles on the go.
As I am sure of my paint colour preferences, I would do at least one room in my familiar colours more or less straight away.

As a pagan, I also do a ritual in a new house, which normally consists of an announcement, a blessing, the use of incense, salt and water and chanting.
I also walk the perimeter of the garden in the same way, a bit like beating the bounds. Then it really does feel like mine.